OpenOffice.org... able to unseat MS Office yet?

hot_pastrami · 11-06-2003, 12:01 PM

Microsoft Office
-Office 2003 Standard Edition: $399.99 (at CompUSA)
-Office 2003 Standard Edition Upgrade: $239.99
-Created by one of the most evil companies ever to smear the Earth (Microsoft)
-Closed source
-An End-User License Agreement that allows Bill Gates to eat your babies.

OpenOffice.org
-OpenOffice 1.1: $0 (www.openoffice.org)
-OpenOffice 1.1 Upgrade: $0
-Created by a less evil company (Sun)
-Open source
-Licensed under the LGPL (allows Richard Stallman to allow other people to eat your babies)

I've been using MSOffice and (occasionally) WordPerfect Office for years. I just tried the new version of OpenOffice 1.1, and so far, it's done everything I need. It opens MSOffice documents without a hitch, with only minor, occsaional quirks in the conversion. It also saves files as MSOffice with only a few minor problems.

So far, it has had every feature I've needed. And it's free. And it's open-source. And it's multi-platform. I'll take it.

Anybody else tried it yet? Problems?

bmgb · 11-06-2003, 01:23 PM

I'll definitely check it out. I got rid of MSOffice a while ago (I'm trying to decrease the amount of unauthorized software I use). Since then I've been using the 602 Suite (also free, but nagware), but its word processor really messes up tables.

Elspode · 11-06-2003, 01:28 PM

I am a staunch WP user since DOS version 3.something-or-other. I *HATE* MS Word completely and in every way conceivalble. It is unintuitive as hell, burying common functions in multiple layers of menu selections.

Yes, I know...it is configurable. So what? I want a word processor to be designed right in the first place. WP all the way.

Torrere · 11-06-2003, 01:45 PM

WordPad!? but that is so limited! At least use AbiWord!

I use vi, Abiword, and OpenOffice.org (and my preferences are in that order).

OO.org just takes /soooo/ long to load, and it has motley irritating problems for me in Linux.

Griff · 11-06-2003, 02:37 PM

I downloaded OO mostly for their power point knock off. I couldn't print three slides to a page with lines for note taking, so I bagged it.

Elspode · 11-06-2003, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torrere
WordPad!? but that is so limited! At least use AbiWord!

No...Word Perfect...not Wordpad.

stir · 11-06-2003, 07:54 PM

Abiword for Windows is very nice and polished. I think it's a little better than OO Writer.

The spreadsheet program in OO does everything excel can at this point.

OO Presentation can open most powerpoint slides.

I still have Office installed for those docs that won't open in anything else.

Uryoces · 11-06-2003, 08:55 PM

I have Office XP installed because I support it at work, but I have OpenOffice 1.1 installed and Abiword. Abiword's perfect for word processing and fairly lightweight. OpenOffice is a pretty good replacement for MS Office. Most of the training material from work, and the sample files from them work just fine in OO, with out too much of a learning curve.

The big difference I've noted is that in MS Office you can format a paragraph, or frame, or a picture with a certain drop shadow or formatting, what have you, and you can use the formatting paintbrush to copy that formatting to a new object.

In Open Office, the focus is on styles. You have to define a style for your paragraph, frame, picture, and then apply it from the styles list. It depends which method you like best. I can use either one; they both get the job done.

edit: Oh yeah, I like the icons in abiword. The Newest Linux version of OpenOffice has that style as well. It's a little easier to look at and not as bland.

jaguar · 11-10-2003, 10:38 PM

Still needs a farking OSX version.

Used it under windows, not bad, about the same under linux. Slow but does the job. I rarely need a document creator that complex. I have Office V.X installed under OSX but rarely if ever used - just reading crap i get sent

Scopulus Argentarius · 11-11-2003, 06:38 AM

Got it...

I use it...the kids use it....
Still have that other office around...

11-06-2003, 12:01 PM	#1
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	OpenOffice.org... able to unseat MS Office yet? Microsoft Office -Office 2003 Standard Edition: $399.99 (at CompUSA) -Office 2003 Standard Edition Upgrade: $239.99 -Created by one of the most evil companies ever to smear the Earth (Microsoft) -Closed source -An End-User License Agreement that allows Bill Gates to eat your babies. OpenOffice.org -OpenOffice 1.1: $0 (www.openoffice.org) -OpenOffice 1.1 Upgrade: $0 -Created by a less evil company (Sun) -Open source -Licensed under the LGPL (allows Richard Stallman to allow other people to eat your babies) I've been using MSOffice and (occasionally) WordPerfect Office for years. I just tried the new version of OpenOffice 1.1, and so far, it's done everything I need. It opens MSOffice documents without a hitch, with only minor, occsaional quirks in the conversion. It also saves files as MSOffice with only a few minor problems. So far, it has had every feature I've needed. And it's free. And it's open-source. And it's multi-platform. I'll take it. Anybody else tried it yet? Problems? __________________ Hot Pastrami!

11-06-2003, 01:23 PM	#2
bmgb Master of the Domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: MN Posts: 231	I'll definitely check it out. I got rid of MSOffice a while ago (I'm trying to decrease the amount of unauthorized software I use). Since then I've been using the 602 Suite (also free, but nagware), but its word processor really messes up tables. __________________ That gun will replace your tongue. You will learn to speak through it. And your poetry will be written in blood. - Nobody

11-06-2003, 01:28 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I am a staunch WP user since DOS version 3.something-or-other. I HATE MS Word completely and in every way conceivalble. It is unintuitive as hell, burying common functions in multiple layers of menu selections. Yes, I know...it is configurable. So what? I want a word processor to be designed right in the first place. WP all the way. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-06-2003, 02:37 PM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I downloaded OO mostly for their power point knock off. I couldn't print three slides to a page with lines for note taking, so I bagged it. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-06-2003, 08:55 PM	#8
Uryoces 2nd Covenant, yo Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pugetropolis Posts: 583	I have Office XP installed because I support it at work, but I have OpenOffice 1.1 installed and Abiword. Abiword's perfect for word processing and fairly lightweight. OpenOffice is a pretty good replacement for MS Office. Most of the training material from work, and the sample files from them work just fine in OO, with out too much of a learning curve. The big difference I've noted is that in MS Office you can format a paragraph, or frame, or a picture with a certain drop shadow or formatting, what have you, and you can use the formatting paintbrush to copy that formatting to a new object. In Open Office, the focus is on styles. You have to define a style for your paragraph, frame, picture, and then apply it from the styles list. It depends which method you like best. I can use either one; they both get the job done. edit: Oh yeah, I like the icons in abiword. The Newest Linux version of OpenOffice has that style as well. It's a little easier to look at and not as bland. __________________ The party's over ... the drink ... and the luck ... ran out. Last edited by Uryoces; 11-06-2003 at 08:58 PM.

11-06-2003, 01:45 PM	#4
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	WordPad!? but that is so limited! At least use AbiWord! I use vi, Abiword, and OpenOffice.org (and my preferences are in that order). OO.org just takes /soooo/ long to load, and it has motley irritating problems for me in Linux.

11-06-2003, 07:54 PM	#7
stir Questionist Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Abiword for Windows is very nice and polished. I think it's a little better than OO Writer. The spreadsheet program in OO does everything excel can at this point. OO Presentation can open most powerpoint slides. I still have Office installed for those docs that won't open in anything else.

11-10-2003, 10:38 PM	#9
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Still needs a farking OSX version. Used it under windows, not bad, about the same under linux. Slow but does the job. I rarely need a document creator that complex. I have Office V.X installed under OSX but rarely if ever used - just reading crap i get sent __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

11-11-2003, 06:38 AM	#10
Scopulus Argentarius Your current user title is: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: BTR Posts: 301	Got it... I use it...the kids use it.... Still have that other office around...

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