OpenOffice

[semi-pro waster]

I use it and have done for a couple of years since I decided that I wanted to try and use legal software wherever possible.

I find a few things less intuitive than in Microsoft Office but that could just be down to having used MS Office first and for longer. The speed thing is a pretty minor annoyance really, I simply assumed it was down to the fact that my PC is getting on a bit now, it does however seem significantly faster on the second time of your session when you open up a file.

[Matblack]

Thanks chaps, I've shoved a copy on the MyBook Arthur I bought him along with some films for him to watch

We'll see how he gets on, if he hates it he can pay for M$ Offfice

MB

[Mark]

Good luck with it. I installed it on the 'rents old laptop but they were happier using Works so I didn't bother when they got the new system (mind you - the state of their new system shows they are more then capable of installing their own stuffs ).

[Garp]

I use it at work on my Linux box and on the home machine as well. It does perform a lot nicer under *nix than under Windows. Not sure what it'll be like on OS X, but hopefully similar to *nix. Its perfectly serviceable as a replacement for Office.

Not particulalry keen on Outlook, too bloated, to over the top.
Thunderbird isn't so nice either, now I'm used to seeing what it does to back end servers (Thunderbird's IMAP stuff is extremely ugly.) but I still use that at home in preference.

[MarcLister]

Originally Posted by Garp

Not particulalry keen on Outlook, too bloated, to over the top.

Pretty much why I don't bother with it. Admittedly I haven't tried Outlook 2007 so perhaps I should. I also had to use Outlook at work for two years and it wasn't that bad, perhaps I just had bad memories of Outlook Express.

Originally Posted by Garp

Thunderbird isn't so nice either, now I'm used to seeing what it does to back end servers (Thunderbird's IMAP stuff is extremely ugly.) but I still use that at home in preference.

Would you mind expanding on that or perhaps PMing me? I quite like Thunderbird so I'd like to know what is bad about the IMAP code.

Sometimes I think I should stop using Thunderbird and just use the webmail interfaces for my three email accounts.

[kaiowas]

I have OO installed at work but I only use for fixing corrupt Excel files. Most files that Excel gets upset about can still be opened in OO then they can be saved and Excel is then happy with them.

[Goose]

I tend to use both, as I need to write code that works with MS and OO. OO always seems to be a little better, but MS tends to win due to familiarity. MS = less objects though, which was a surprise. My OO is a bit out of date though.

I echo Garps comments on Outlook. Hideous dog. Don't care what is going on behind the scenes, I just want a lightweight, fast mail system (that has a GUI!).

[MarcLister]

Originally Posted by Goose

I just want a lightweight, fast mail system (that has a GUI!).

What do you use now? Have you used Thunderbird? Or have you and are looking for something else?

[Goose]

At home, Thunderbird (which is starting to hack me off)

At work, Outlook (which has been annyoing me since day 1!)

Edit: I'm probably being a bit harsh on Thunderbird. I think the fact that my PC is dying makes me angry with every bit of software installed.

[MarcLister]

Sounds about right. What is Thunderbird doing or not doing to hack you off? I don't know anyone else amongst my group of mates who use Thunderbird. I do know that some of my lecturers use Thunderbird and Firefox. Silly boys! Thunderbird and Opera is where its at.