Software: OpenOffice.org

[Salacious]

Okay, so I have just updated and rebuilt my computer and am in the process of installing software goodies. I have been directed to look at OpenOffice.org and am looking to the diverse experience and intellect here at Pixie's for any advice on if it's been tried, used, utilized, abused, neglected or rejected. Have you seen or heard of it?

Here's their quick sell benefits and features... first off it's FREEWARE!

OpenOffice.org 2 - Product Description

Compatible with other major office suites, OpenOffice.org is free to download, use, and distribute. Download it now, and get:

Writer(Word like) – a word processor you can use for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book.
Calc(Spreadsheet) – a powerful spreadsheet with all the tools you need to calculate, analyse, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics.
Impress(Presentation) – the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations.
Draw (Vector drawing tool ) – lets you produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations.
Base (Database) – lets you manipulate databases seamlessly. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, all from within OpenOffice.org
Math (Mathematical function creator) – lets you create mathematical equations with a graphic user interface or by directly typing your formulas into the equation editor.

Why OpenOffice.org?

OpenOffice.org is synonymous with quality

* the roots of OpenOffice.org go back twenty years, creating a mature and powerful product
* hundreds of thousands of users participated in the beta testing of version 2
* independent reviewers around the world have recommended the product
* with a fully open development process, OpenOffice.org has nothing to hide - the product stands or falls on its reputation

OpenOffice.org is easy to use

* the software looks and feels familiar and is instantly usable by anyone who has used a competitive product
* it’s easy to change to OpenOffice.org - the software reads all major competitors’ files
* few language barriers - if it’s not yet available in your language, the chances are it will be soon
* OpenOffice.org is supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, only too happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike

OpenOffice.org is free software

* you may download OpenOffice.org completely free of any licence fees
* install it on as many PCs as you like
* use it for any purpose - private, educational, government and public administration, commercial...
* pass on copies free of charge to family, friends, students, employees, etc.

OpenOffice.org is standards compliant - certified by OSI as open-standard compliant, and the first software package in the world to use OASIS OpenDocument Format (ISO 26300) as its native file format.

Well if you haven't seen it before now you can check it out. If you have, perhaps you can give me the lowdown and let me know if I will like it as well or better than my Microsoft Office2000 Professional Suite.

Thanks,
Sal

[jseal]

Sal,

You, like most office productivity software users (I included), will likely use only a small fraction of a suite’s functionality. So it will almost certainly do anything you will want to do.

As you will be reading files prepared by Word and Excel, find out what these tools can and cannot do with Word & Excel files. For example, what happens with macros? Just because OpenOffice.org is standards compliant does not mean that it will be able to run a PowerPoint presentations.

If you don’t need to do what it can’t help you do, then you can’t beat the price! :)

[Cheyanne]

Never had a problem with OpenOffice at all. In fact, many of our students who have computers at home typically have the minimum of what is offered by Microsoft and that doesn't include Word, Power Point, Excell, etc. Typically the word processing program that the computers come with is Works - which if they are working on a paper at home and then need to transfer it to school, the file has to go thru a conversion of sorts in order for Word to open it. (Right click on the file>open with IE> Save as Word file> and then open in Word).

However, OpenOffice doesn't have to do that, you can open it up in Word as long as it is saved as such. You have the option to save the file in a certain format. Same with the other programs in the suite. The only thing I have found that has a problem is some spread sheet commands in Excell. Works as well in 2000 as it does in XP and 2003. I have suggested to quite a few students and staff members to check it out and download it - so far everyone has been very happy with it.

I know of a few districts in the area that the Tech Coord. are using OpenOffice as the main suite on general lab computers.

[Jude30]

I just downloaded OpenOffice on my comp yesterday. I don't really have a need for it other than Works doesn't do much and I wanted something a little better. It seems really nice.

I'm a huge fan of freeware. I run Firefox for my browser, Thunderbird for my email, AVG for virus, winpatrol, adaware SE, Spybot Search and Destroy, CCleaner, DeepBurner (CD/DVD burner), Google Sketch up, and I know I'm forgetting something I use. I keep meaning to get Zone Alarm but I hate the idea of configuring yet another firewall to my online games. And I've really got a desire to load Linux (Ubuntu or Linspire) onto something.

[Steph]

I've got OpenOffice on this computer donated by Pixies & it's been great for me.

[Casperr]

You have a computer donated by Pixies?
Where do I sign up for that?



As for OpenOffice, it's awesome. The only reason I ended up installing Office on one of the computers at work was because we needed MS Access, and OpenOffice's database software isn't quite up to scratch.

But for Word and Excel, it's brilliant.

[dicksbro]

My son in Peoria installed Open Office on his machine and swears by it. Very satisfied.

[Emzo]

yeah its pretty cool.

i illegally download all my games and software, so i have a "legal" version of Microsoft Office 2007 so i dont need to worry about price, however, OpenOffice is a good genuinely free suite.

[Salacious]

Thank you everyone, price isn't really the issue as I have the Microsoft Office 2000; I'm just wondering if I'd be better off with the Open Office mainly due to Microsoft's notorious bug problems.

Getting a few view points increases my comfort level.

For those that have used Open Office is there a component that has similar functionality to Publisher? I have a project I need to do for a friend that is opening a store and wonder if it has capacity for creating a brochure/catalog similar to Publisher.

[scotzoidman]

Haven't tried it yet, but I may have to look in to it...I'm currently stuck with outdated Works 97, which causes nothing but glitches & headaches in Win2000...& my motto has long been, "If it's for free, it's for me"

[Cobalt]

The nicest thing about Open Office is that is written by the ones who write Linux, and there is very few if any viruses or bug with it as there is with MicroSoft software.