Wish You Could Afford Microsoft Office? Try Open Office.

ibnuasad · 12-06-2005, 11:12 PM

Many people may already know about Open Office but we thought we would post this for those that have no idea about it.

Basically it's an open source version which can read and save Microsoft Office files, and best of all it's FREE.

http://www.openoffice.org/

kelp · 12-07-2005, 03:48 PM

I used OpenOffice to open Word and Powerpoint files from school. It actually works pretty well for something so free. It's a little basic, though, but what else can you ask for since it's a free program?

ibnuasad · 12-07-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelp

I used OpenOffice to open Word and Powerpoint files from school. It actually works pretty well for something so free. It's a little basic, though, but what else can you ask for since it's a free program?

Yeah, maybe not all of Words features are there but it's enough for people to write/make simple documents and presentations. The best thing is that it is FREE!

pyowomaniac · 12-08-2005, 01:01 PM

That's cool. Thank you for sharing this. Whenever I receive Microsoft Word files, I had been emailing the files to friend and getting them to open the file and copy and paste it to me. LOL

imported_Steve · 12-08-2005, 06:17 PM

I have never used Open Office but I hear its just as good, if not better than Microsoft Office.

I'm pretty fed up with Microsoft Office at the moment. Word plays up, Excel annoys me as the cells always become unformatted.
Not to mention that annoying paper clip. :P

cmpolis · 12-08-2005, 06:18 PM

I've used both, and I can tell a difference. OpenOffice is lacking some features that you can only get with the real office. However, if you don't have the money or need to get something quick, it's a good program.

-C

Fry · 12-15-2005, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmpolis

I've used both, and I can tell a difference. OpenOffice is lacking some features that you can only get with the real office. However, if you don't have the money or need to get something quick, it's a good program.

-C

What features doesnt it have?
Probably some of the advanced things most people dont use.
Im sure it covers the basics just fine

compnut · 12-17-2005, 12:44 PM

I haven't heard of this, but this is interesting. I repair computers sometimes, and some people just can't afford to purchase an Office Suite with XP, so this helps greatly in that respect. If they just want to use it for basic typing and printing, this is the way to go. Thanks for the tip!

zeroth · 03-07-2006, 10:23 PM

Open Office is quite useful if you do not have Microsoft Office for your computer. MS's files are found quite often and it is frustrating not being able to read them, so Open Office solves this problem.

Faucet · 03-08-2006, 09:09 PM

... what do you mean by features that Microsoft Office has but Open Office doesnt? Do you mean like page breaks and other not commonly used features for writing documents?

zeroth · 03-09-2006, 01:51 AM

I'm not sure what Open Office lacks, since I already use MS programs.

dave7 · 03-16-2006, 02:47 AM

I already own Microsoft Office, so I do not have a use for Open Office.

zemus · 03-23-2006, 08:31 PM

Open Office sure sounds nice for those that don't have MS office, but I already have the MS office.

catalyst · 04-12-2006, 02:29 PM

I have been looking for a good long while now and it doesn't appears as though there is a straight forward comparison list of features between MS Office and OpenOffice. If anyone knows where one might be it would probably help a lot of developers and users.

Will.Spencer · 04-12-2006, 04:58 PM

TechSoup recently published Microsoft Office vs. OpenOffice.org, which includes a fairly decent head-to-head feature comparison between the two office suites.

catalyst · 04-12-2006, 11:41 PM

The article is by far the most straight forward comparison I have read but it doesn't go deep enough. I have read through a lot of literature on this matter and the comparison points they listed have all been said before. I have a hard time believing that it really is just interface design and macro support that are the major distinctions between the two. That is what it seemed to me that the article was implying.

Will.Spencer · 04-13-2006, 02:08 AM

Most users utilize such a small portion of the features of these office suites.

The requirements of most users could be met by AppleWorks for the Apple ][e from 1984. :lol:

tilldoomsday · 04-13-2006, 02:22 AM

It has a pretty nice sized fan base around it so it must be pretty good.

catalyst · 04-13-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

Most users utilize such a small portion of the features of these office suites.

The requirements of most users could be met by AppleWorks for the Apple ][e from 1984. :lol:

This is true but I've come to realize that often it is more about style than substance when it comes to what people choose to use. I have used both office suites and I really do feel that there is a significant difference, it's just really hard to pinpoint it. This is one of the reasons that I had been looking for a good comparison -- to see if the interface design was just throwing me off or if there really is a difference.

By the way, I am one of those that are not a typical user. College projects often necessitate the use of many of the advanced features of these office suites.

darviria · 06-15-2006, 10:21 AM

OpenOffice owns MS Office, I wouldn't look at it as software for people that can't afford or haven't got MS Office, I look at it as far superior.

MS Office....like all MS software is "bloatware"

pctec · 07-23-2006, 01:18 PM

I only found about this after I paid for MS Office... wish I had found it earlier... :

darviria · 07-25-2006, 04:12 AM

If you must use the official MS Office, use 97...or maybe 2000. They were fine, didn't have a stupid interface and do almost exactly what the new versions do....I mean there's not really much you can add to an office suite to "improve" it is there?

Microsoft need to learn something:
If it's not broken, don't fix it