OpenOffice.ORG

Here ^ | Now | GB

[GulfBreeze]

Has anyone used or is anyone out Free Republica using Open Office Suite?

What has your experience been like?

When did it switch from free to member fee based?

[Mr. Know It All]

The best typesetting system out there, however, is LaTeX, hands down. And LaTeX is open-source, free, and cross-platform. Sigh... everyone want WYSIWYG these days...

Another vote for "Open Office is very good."

[cizinec]

Yeah, it’s too bad it doesn’t use VBA and have all kinds of crappy security holes. Gee, it would be nice if any junior high thug could write some code, send an email to some idiot who thinks they really will see a naked picture if they open the file and crash half the servers in the nation thanks to MS Office’s integration . . .

It’s structured differently and takes a bit of getting used to. There is a small functionality gap.

It can also read more formats and exports into more formats than Office. It does different things than MS Office

I’m not saying I don’t like MS Office at all. I have to use it at work.

P.S. Sorry. I’m in a bad mood from the debate.

[pvoce]

I use it on my linux laptop, and it works great! I’ve used it since it was known as “Star Office”, that was before Sun Corp bought it out.

Also free is Abiword, but OOO is the full suite of appilcations - including a database

[pvoce]

No to mention no hidden easter egg games

[paudio]

The Word equivalent is okay. If you simply want to use it for writing without any other add-ons (e.g., Endnote, MathType), then it’s fine. The powerpoint equivalent is not quite there yet, especially the interface between them. File created in one may look different when you use the other.

[krb]

I have tried to use OpenOffice on my mac and I think it totally sux. half the time it won’t even start up. it causes X11 to start up, then times out.

Had to uninstall it.

[prophetic]

yeah I use it at work and its ok and best of all - its FREE!!

While saving the files you create you can always save it in a older microsoft office format.

[Brown Deer]

on my mac <<<=== maybe that's the problem, lol ;)

[krb]

I was disappointed...but part of the disappointment was the sheer surprise of actually finding an app that really really sux on the mac.

Everything else about the experience, so far, is many multiples higher in quality than on Windows or Linux.

[backhoe]

I use it on both home PC’s, and like it well. My wife however, swears “you have to know Microsoft Works to work in any office...”

Then again, I miss Volkswriter...

[Drango]

http://zoho.com/ some of the zoho apps are free

[Knute]

Then again, I miss Volkswriter...

I use Open Office on my "extra" computers. The one that my wife uses two or three times a month, the spare laptop, etc.

I still remember Electric Pencil on my TRS-80 Model 3

[ShadowAce]

Another recommendation from me as well.

[ArrogantBustard]

Use it routinely ... in some ways, I prefer it to MS Office.

[Knitebane]

The best typesetting system out there, however, is LaTeX, hands down. And LaTeX is open-source, free, and cross-platform. Sigh... everyone want WYSIWYG these days...

Why choose one or the other?

Lyx combines the power and flexibility of TeX/LaTeX with the ease of use of a graphical interface.

[Mr. Know It All]

I’ll look at that, thanks.

[Knitebane]

And now you have to change your nick.

=)

[Red in Blue PA]

Use it at home.....Just as good as MS Office.

[Big Giant Head]

Thanks for the ping. I use Open office, MS office, and Koffice for PCLinuxOS. They’re all fine, work, do what I need. I only use MS office because I was gifted a CD from my BIL. I would never spend that kind of money when Open Office and K Office are just as good.

Oh, I also use Google documents some as well. Nice, limited but do what I need. We also used to use another office type thing, 602 or something like that. It’s been years ago.

[Still Thinking]

I still remember Electric Pencil on my TRS-80 Model 3

Never forget the dreaded Scripsit!