...it doesn't come with a database program like Access... Well--yes and no. No, there is no easy-to-use interface that looks like Access.
However, OOo does use Data Sources, which can read and write to just about any database format out there. You just have to configure it properly under the Tools-->Data Sources menu. It will access MySQL, dbase, any ODBC or JDBC database, plus a few more.
No, there is no easy-to-use interface that looks like Access.
The problem is that there's
519 of them. Of that 500 either suck or are special use cases for someone's database.
That's the trouble with open source people -- everyone thinks that their idea is the best thing since sliced bread and you end up with hundreds of projects that reinvented the wheel, each with their own quirks. While that might seem good for some people ("Look at all the choices you have") its also bad -- and is why a lot of people use Access. It does one thing, does it pretty well, and everyone uses it.
If the Open Office people picked out one database GUI and promoted that then there would be one product to rally around and put effort into.