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Best MS-Office open-source alternative?

Posted on 09/23/2013 2:29:33 AM PDT by djf

I am running a very, very, very old version of MS-Office, as in like the first version!

I am curious about people who have tried some of the open-source newer versions of Office compatible software. My OS is still XP SP3 with all the fixes.

Recommendations? Horror stories?

I have a second laptop I can try suggestions on without losing anything.

Thanks in advance!


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: msoffice
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To: GeronL
Didn’t Star Office the proprietary version allow the user to create java (or something) animation very easily?

They may have...I remember it when it was free and then became O-O. They may have developed a proprietary ("Star Office Pro" or the like) version, but I just don't remember it.

21 posted on 09/23/2013 3:00:12 AM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good -- Leo XIII)
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To: markomalley

It was FLASH..

according to...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarOffice


22 posted on 09/23/2013 3:04:34 AM PDT by GeronL
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To: Conspiracy Guy

lol


23 posted on 09/23/2013 3:06:03 AM PDT by GeronL
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To: markomalley

Thanks! Right to it!

I hate it when I know what I want, but get tied up in one of those damn download loops where every time you click a link you think will download something, it takes you to a new link offering some other crap... toolbars and porn... thats what Internet 2013 is all about!

Kinda sad. It can be a GREAT research tool. The biggest library in the history of mankind!


24 posted on 09/23/2013 3:09:36 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

I use open office. Never heard of Libre Office, will give it a shot at some point.


25 posted on 09/23/2013 3:28:46 AM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Evil must be punished.)
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To: djf

You could also always download a full working version of the newest MS-Office for free (depending on your POV).


26 posted on 09/23/2013 3:31:06 AM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Evil must be punished.)
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To: FreedomStar3028

I checked.
Thirty days “free” trial, plus you have to register, and it would probably quit working when they finally drop WinXP.

No thanks.


27 posted on 09/23/2013 3:34:10 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

Open Office works great for me.

I am not paying hundreds for software which has not changed in 20 years.


28 posted on 09/23/2013 3:38:11 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA (When Injustice becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.-Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Agreed. I just need basic functionality, a couple spreadsheets, once in a while read/compose a .doc thing.

I don’t need all the over the top whiz-bang-flashy publish your stuff right to Facebook crappola...

Problem you run into is that other people send you stuff crated with the latest versions, an the old-time stuff chokes.


29 posted on 09/23/2013 3:42:51 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

crated SB created...


30 posted on 09/23/2013 3:43:54 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

Open Office.
It is almost as functional.


31 posted on 09/23/2013 3:47:45 AM PDT by cunning_fish
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To: djf

I’ve been using Open Office for years. No issues.


32 posted on 09/23/2013 3:48:35 AM PDT by Marie (When are they going to take back Obama's peace prize?)
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To: markomalley; All

Gonna try LibreOffice 3.5.7

Four months between 3.5.5 and 3.5.7, so it’s probably relatively stable. Also, it is one of the few versions that use the .MSI Microsoft installer.

Currently installing as I type... will update thread with my results/impressions!

Thanks to all!

Hope everyone caught my little post about the Firefox PDF viewer and how it’s junk and slows down FF in general.

To turn it off:

Tools>Options>Applications find PDF in the left column and reset the default for Firefox PDF viewer to whatever PDF software you have, Adobe or Foxit or whatever.


33 posted on 09/23/2013 4:01:58 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

I have used Open Office for years.


34 posted on 09/23/2013 4:37:30 AM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's Economics In One Lesson ONLINE http://steshaw.org/econohttp://www.fee.org/library/det)
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To: djf

I’m still using Word Perfect 8.0 (from the middle 90’s sometime). It has loaded on every version of windows including 8 and is still a great word processing program.


35 posted on 09/23/2013 4:51:14 AM PDT by Abby4116
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To: Abby4116

I believe you!

Somewhere I have a floppy with WP 5.1 on it...

Back then, they were writing programs to run on machines that MIGHT have 32 meg of memory. So they did the absolute best they could with what they got.


36 posted on 09/23/2013 4:57:27 AM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
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To: djf

I’m wondering if anyone has tried Office365.


37 posted on 09/23/2013 4:58:40 AM PDT by Daveinyork (IER)
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To: djf

The free cloud based version of office.


38 posted on 09/23/2013 5:15:59 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: Abby4116

Using Office substitutes that work ok some of the time and fail miserably at other times, especially when you need them the most, remind me of how people try to use an electric car for their main form of transport.


39 posted on 09/23/2013 5:20:03 AM PDT by bigtoona
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To: djf

Thirty days “free” trial, plus you have to register, and it would probably quit working when they finally drop WinXP.


And you pay an annual fee. I believe it’s aroun $99. My “office lite” that came with windows 7 seemed to quit working a few days ago and when I checked out the “purchase” option, that’s what I got.

Fortunately I got it working again. I have the last version of office (non-ribbon) that I can install if I ever need to, but I like using the same stuff I have at work...


40 posted on 09/23/2013 5:22:00 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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