OpenOffice

Matblack · 18-02-2008, 20:38

Does anyone here use this?

I managed to find a decent copy go Office 2007 for myself but now my parents want it I any having trouble turning it up so decided to try OpenOffice instead, from what I can see it seems OK and will probably do what they need. Anyone have anymore extensive experience that just installing it and seeing if it works though

MB

PvtPyle · 18-02-2008, 20:40

I used it for a while and it is a decent bit of kit. Only stopped because the native file formats are not compatible with MS which I needed them to be. For most word-processing tasks and similar it will more than do the job, and it doesn't inexplicably do all the infuriating stuff that M$ Office does, such as randomly change fonts or bugger up your tabs.

Dymetrie · 18-02-2008, 20:41

I believe Mr Slater uses it's freeware goodness, I shall nudge him this way next time I see him

Kell_ee001 · 18-02-2008, 20:42

I installed it on my Mums last laptop and it worked a treat.

Stan_Lite · 18-02-2008, 21:18

I used it for a while and got on perfectly fine with it. It's very similar to MS Office to use and you can configure it to automatically save files in MS format if you want so that MS users can open your files.

Only reason I stopped using it is because I love Outlook and if I'm going to use Outlook, I may as well use the rest of the suite.

I would heartily recommend it - one of the best pieces of (official

) freeware I've ever used.

Daz · 18-02-2008, 21:26

Agree with the Bij one on all counts

My only niggle with it has been startup times, but it's a small annoyance.

Belmit · 18-02-2008, 21:31

We now have this installed on all PCs by default at work, as well as MS Office. So far the only advantage I can see is that you can create pdf files with it, which we find a lot of people want to do. Of course if you don't have MS Office then this is a great free alternative.

Edit: Something tells me you may now be able to create pdfs in Office 2007 too, but I can't remember.

Dr. Z · 18-02-2008, 22:24

OpenOffice is great if you cant get Office 2007, but like BigStan and Daz, Outlook is just so important to me that I wouldn't bother with OO.org just because of that really.

Its also hellishly slow on Windows in comparison to MS Office

MarcLister · 18-02-2008, 23:29

Think all I can say has been said already. So I shall say it again.

You can make PDFs in OO but Office 2007 lets you do that, with a plugin. OO can be a bit slow on Windows and the interface is a bit difficult to get used to but I suspect that is due to being used to MS Office for so long.

I don't use Outlook 'cos I hate it. I use Thunderbird for my email although I could be converted.

If you want something cheap and something that will be the same for Windows and Linux then OO is good.

Stan_Lite · 19-02-2008, 06:24

I forgot about the PDF bit, that's a good enough selling point on it's own. I agree about the start-up, it does take a bit longer than MS but if you think about it, it only takes about 20 seconds longer to open and you'll probably be working on a document or spreadsheet for up to an hour or more - what's 20 seconds?

I like Thunderbird, it's a pretty good tool but Outlook just does everything so much better.

18-02-2008, 20:38	#1
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	OpenOffice Does anyone here use this? I managed to find a decent copy go Office 2007 for myself but now my parents want it I any having trouble turning it up so decided to try OpenOffice instead, from what I can see it seems OK and will probably do what they need. Anyone have anymore extensive experience that just installing it and seeing if it works though MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

18-02-2008, 20:41	#3
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	I believe Mr Slater uses it's freeware goodness, I shall nudge him this way next time I see him __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

18-02-2008, 20:42	#4
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	I installed it on my Mums last laptop and it worked a treat. __________________

18-02-2008, 21:18	#5
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	I used it for a while and got on perfectly fine with it. It's very similar to MS Office to use and you can configure it to automatically save files in MS format if you want so that MS users can open your files. Only reason I stopped using it is because I love Outlook and if I'm going to use Outlook, I may as well use the rest of the suite. I would heartily recommend it - one of the best pieces of (official ) freeware I've ever used. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

18-02-2008, 21:26	#6
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Agree with the Bij one on all counts My only niggle with it has been startup times, but it's a small annoyance. __________________ apt-get moo

18-02-2008, 20:40	#2
PvtPyle Sofa Boy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wield of the Shire Posts: 701	I used it for a while and it is a decent bit of kit. Only stopped because the native file formats are not compatible with MS which I needed them to be. For most word-processing tasks and similar it will more than do the job, and it doesn't inexplicably do all the infuriating stuff that M$ Office does, such as randomly change fonts or bugger up your tabs.

18-02-2008, 21:31	#7
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	We now have this installed on all PCs by default at work, as well as MS Office. So far the only advantage I can see is that you can create pdf files with it, which we find a lot of people want to do. Of course if you don't have MS Office then this is a great free alternative. Edit: Something tells me you may now be able to create pdfs in Office 2007 too, but I can't remember. __________________

18-02-2008, 22:24	#8
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	OpenOffice is great if you cant get Office 2007, but like BigStan and Daz, Outlook is just so important to me that I wouldn't bother with OO.org just because of that really. Its also hellishly slow on Windows in comparison to MS Office __________________

18-02-2008, 23:29	#9
MarcLister Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leighton Buzzard Posts: 1,282	Think all I can say has been said already. So I shall say it again. You can make PDFs in OO but Office 2007 lets you do that, with a plugin. OO can be a bit slow on Windows and the interface is a bit difficult to get used to but I suspect that is due to being used to MS Office for so long. I don't use Outlook 'cos I hate it. I use Thunderbird for my email although I could be converted. If you want something cheap and something that will be the same for Windows and Linux then OO is good. __________________ Website (sod all on there!) \| MSN \| Email

19-02-2008, 06:24	#10
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	I forgot about the PDF bit, that's a good enough selling point on it's own. I agree about the start-up, it does take a bit longer than MS but if you think about it, it only takes about 20 seconds longer to open and you'll probably be working on a document or spreadsheet for up to an hour or more - what's 20 seconds? I like Thunderbird, it's a pretty good tool but Outlook just does everything so much better. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

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