If you think that you always get what you pay for, the just-released beta of OpenOffice 3.0 should convince you otherwise. This free, open-source software suite provides most of what anyone could want in an office suite, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, database, drawing tools, and math equation editor. Although it doesn't include all of the high-end features and the slick user interface of Microsoft Office 2007 (for the PC) and Microsoft Office 2008 (for the Mac), it will handle just about any job you need done. If you're not working in an enterprise that has standardized on Microsoft Office, you should think twice before paying full freight for Office, and give serious consideration to this free alternative when the final version is released.
Keep in mind that OpenOffice 3.0 is in beta and should be used for evaluation purposes only. I tested the Windows version on a 1.83GHz Core Duo PC with 1 GB of memory, and found it to be somewhat buggy. For example, I was unable to create a document and save it without crashing -- I had to first create a document in another program, and then open it in OpenOffice; at that point it worked fine. These types of problems should come as no surprise; the final version isn't due until September, and this is a very early beta.
View: The full story @ InfoWorld
Keep in mind that OpenOffice 3.0 is in beta and should be used for evaluation purposes only. I tested the Windows version on a 1.83GHz Core Duo PC with 1 GB of memory, and found it to be somewhat buggy. For example, I was unable to create a document and save it without crashing -- I had to first create a document in another program, and then open it in OpenOffice; at that point it worked fine. These types of problems should come as no surprise; the final version isn't due until September, and this is a very early beta.
View: The full story @ InfoWorld
Hello? I said Microsoft OUTLOOK
Can OpenOffice finally replace MS Office? Are you retarded?
MS Office has Outlook, a great tool for use in the office. It works great with an Exchange server. Email, contacts, scheduling, shared address lists, etc. I spend more time in MS Outlook than any other Office app. My co-workers use Outlook more than any other Office app. Our clients use Outlook more than any other Office app.
To most of us, Outlook *IS* Microsoft Office. We can get word processors and spreadsheet programs anywhere. But there isn't an alternative to Outlook.
OpenOffice has ... a math equation editor?? Who needs contact management when you do math problems, right?
Really? That's going to replace MS Office??? Again, is this writer retarded?
While I cannot be without it at work, at home, where I have a legal copy of Office 2007, I do not use it. I have gotten so used to the paradigm shift that is GMail's interface, with it's "labels" instead of folders, as well as other innovative features that it brings to the table.
Now, I am not trying to compare GMail to Outlook, as they are in different arenas all together, but for home use, I prefer anything but Outlook.
My 2 cents.
OO is great for students who dont really need the the whole Office 2007 experience.
OO Math is great for doing physics projects reports. You dont need it but do you have to knoct it down? (Office 2007 has a math equations also)
RAID0 I think ThatOne6uy knows that you can get Gmail in Outlook but he likes Gmail's labels instead of using folders.
Great way to get yourself warned in here - trust me, I have experience. *looks at warning bar*
Many businesses are actually moving away from having static mail servers in the traditional sense and moving more and more towards having the whole system run on a web based application - just look at products like Zimbra that offer mail, calendar, contacts etc. in a web based environment - always the same UI from any device or operating system.
"But I can't take my contact information or emails on the road if I have no internet.."
Yes you can because you can sync the data to a local client, the suite like so many other supports syncing to dozens of programs.
With the prevalance of WiFi, 3G and WLAN in general, there aren't really that many places where you don't have internet, especially if you are a business person as you stated.
Hello? I said Microsoft OUTLOOK
Can OpenOffice finally replace MS Office? Are you retarded?
MS Office has Outlook, a great tool for use in the office. It works great with an Exchange server. Email, contacts, scheduling, shared address lists, etc. I spend more time in MS Outlook than any other Office app. My co-workers use Outlook more than any other Office app. Our clients use Outlook more than any other Office app.
To most of us, Outlook *IS* Microsoft Office. We can get word processors and spreadsheet programs anywhere. But there isn't an alternative to Outlook.
OpenOffice has ... a math equation editor?? Who needs contact management when you do math problems, right?
Really? That's going to replace MS Office??? Again, is this writer retarded?
Interesting you mention this - Evolution supports Exchanage servers; then again, if you use exchange servers, then you've got bigger issues than just that. You've got an incompetent CIO who doesn't do their homework.
I'm sure the CIO for Cisco Systems is really that incompetent. Maybe you should talk to the BIGGEST networking company in the world and advise them to use something different. Got any suggestions?
You know what's even better? Microsoft Office 2007 Home/Student edition. And oh yes! It's priced affordably for students. When I was a student I had to shell out over $300 for Office. Kids have it easy today.
OO is great for students who dont really need the the whole Office 2007 experience.
OO Math is great for doing physics projects reports. You dont need it but do you have to knoct it down? (Office 2007 has a math equations also)
RAID0 I think ThatOne6uy knows that you can get Gmail in Outlook but he likes Gmail's labels instead of using folders.
Screw that. I'm a student and I got Office 2007 Ultimate from Microsoft for $70 through the Ultimate Steal program (which I believe ended last month). Even thought that's gone, you can still get Office 2007 Student at an affordable price and it'll do everything you need it to.
-Spenser
Hello? I said Microsoft OUTLOOK
Can OpenOffice finally replace MS Office? Are you retarded?
MS Office has Outlook, a great tool for use in the office. It works great with an Exchange server. Email, contacts, scheduling, shared address lists, etc. I spend more time in MS Outlook than any other Office app. My co-workers use Outlook more than any other Office app. Our clients use Outlook more than any other Office app.
To most of us, Outlook *IS* Microsoft Office. We can get word processors and spreadsheet programs anywhere. But there isn't an alternative to Outlook.
OpenOffice has ... a math equation editor?? Who needs contact management when you do math problems, right?
Really? That's going to replace MS Office??? Again, is this writer retarded?
Interesting you mention this - Evolution supports Exchanage servers; then again, if you use exchange servers, then you've got bigger issues than just that. You've got an incompetent CIO who doesn't do their homework.
What? Exchange is a pretty awesome product, it integrates mail and scheduling into one application and then shares it through the entire userbase. It's available on both PCs, Macs and phones, and even Apple has bent over and implemented Exchange support.
Have you even used it?
I'm sure the CIO for Cisco Systems is really that incompetent. Maybe you should talk to the BIGGEST networking company in the world and advise them to use something different. Got any suggestions?
Easy, the little UNIX company called Sun sells a complete Exchange replacement (and more):
http://www.sun.com/software/communications_suite/index.xml
The fact that you can't even Google tells me that you shouldn't even be allowed on a computer let alone managing computers (if you are employed).
OO is great for students who dont really need the the whole Office 2007 experience.
OO Math is great for doing physics projects reports. You dont need it but do you have to knoct it down? (Office 2007 has a math equations also)
RAID0 I think ThatOne6uy knows that you can get Gmail in Outlook but he likes Gmail's labels instead of using folders.
Screw that. I'm a student and I got Office 2007 Ultimate from Microsoft for $70 through the Ultimate Steal program (which I believe ended last month). Even thought that's gone, you can still get Office 2007 Student at an affordable price and it'll do everything you need it to.
-Spenser
Screw what?
You bought it ok... What is the point of your post? To tell me you bought it?
Apple actually implemented OWA support and not true Exchange protocol support because it's proprietary - only Outlook (Entourage) itself currently implements this on a Mac.
Exchange is bad because it enforces multiple nasty things - OS/vendor lock-in is one of them and forced upgrade path is another one. Exchange 2000 had several flaws that were never fixed, Microsoft more or less shafted users and told "You shall buy Exchange 2003 or you're fscked - if you don't like it, haha because there are no alternatives."
I have, I have also spent countless hours fixing myriad issues in the 2k and 2k3 versions including such trivial little issues as MDB/STM file corruption, store.exe crashing due to a number of myriad issues (Which I've spent a good hour exchanging emails and phone calls with Microsoft support and Technet guys) and loads of other fun stuff.
Tried Exchange 200 - the new System Manager replacement was enough to **** us all off and write down 2k7 as a "never upgrade" - the day 2k3 support ends, so ends Exchange and Win2k3 servers that runs it at our business. Luckily alternatives already exist.
It's a nice program but like most Microsoft programs it looks pretty, runs great for a while but eventually it will - for no apparent reason - completely explode. Then again, that's what I get paid the big bucks for, eh
I'm sure the CIO for Cisco Systems is really that incompetent. Maybe you should talk to the BIGGEST networking company in the world and advise them to use something different. Got any suggestions?
Easy, the little UNIX company called Sun sells a complete Exchange replacement (and more):
http://www.sun.com/software/communications_suite/index.xml
The fact that you can't even Google tells me that you shouldn't even be allowed on a computer let alone managing computers (if you are employed).
Is it really nessesary to get so agressive over a Email server?
I realise Email servers must be really exciting for you, and you must prefer Sun's alternative Email server product.
But regardless of how passionate you are about Email servers, it still doesn't give you an excuse to be rude.
Edit: I mean, it's not like he came and ejaculated over your copy of Sun Java Communications Suite before you had, right?
http://www.sun.com/software/communications_suite/index.xml
The fact that you can't even Google tells me that you shouldn't even be allowed on a computer let alone managing computers (if you are employed).
The fact that you can't comprehend a rhetorical question tells me that you shouldn't even be on the internet let alone telling other people what they should or shouldn't do.
As for OO.o, I have used it (and, more frequently, Abiword and Gnumeric) without problems for years, so yes, it can replace MS Office for many users. Even my wife used it on her Windows PC. We're still on OO.o 2.x, so will wait for 3.0 final before considering upgrading.
EDIT: Sorry I took so long to type my post. I guess it is because I am "retarded", right, Xenomorph?
"If you think that you always get what you pay for, the just-released beta of OpenOffice 3.0 should convince you otherwise."
" was unable to create a document and save it without crashing "
Great, more open source garbage hoisted upon the unsuspecting WalMart crowd, looking for a cheap alternative. Please.
Apparently you've never used early Office betas - for example the Microsoft Office Beta 2008 for Mac crashed on resizing the window - limiting its usefullness a bit.
But I can't see using it in a business environment. Besides Outlook, businesses usually have all those Access files laying around, & are heavy VBA users. And last I heard (unless they've fixed it?) OpenOffice 3.0 still can't handle Office 2007 files properly, not something I'd want to deal with in a business environment.
i agree with it. open office can take home and small office away from ms but it still take time for them to take large businesses. i hope that time will come soon.
In my case i have already bought 2007 ,and theres no reason to switch,otherwise i would loose my money
8 out of 10 for me
OO.o works well in alot of areas where MS is just overkill and not needed. 90% of the users out there do not use enough of the "features" within MSOffice to justify that cost. I have most of my home customers using OO.o quite well and the fact that I did NOT have to spend HOURS trying to reteach them how to use MSOffice 2k7 is a big part of that also. They do not have a need for the bloatware of MSOffice 2k7 when OO.o meets their needs and they are still compatible with others that do have MSOffice.
As for the MSOffice 2k7 compatibility, there is a little company out there called Novell, you might have heard of them. They have an extension for OO.o that is used to give you compatibility to open, edit, and save MSOffice 2k7 files. The fact that I can add functionality to OO.o through extensions is very nice plus! The speed of OO.o 3 on a Mac makes MSoffice 2k8 look like a sloth at best.
I have used Lookout and it sucks in comparison to GroupWise from that same little company, Novell. Their web access is hands down years ahead of MS Lookout. I have also used Thunderbird with Sunbird and that is not bad at all as is Evolution. On top of that, they don't have the stigma/downsides to using Lookout. I don't like using an email client that is a VBS (Virus Broadcasting System).
I have used OO.o for 3 years and Firefox for 4 years without any real incident that required that I MUST go back to MS for their kool-aid and am better for it. Xenomorph, try to be a little more open-minded about things. Lookout will NOT meet or exceed everyone's needs. Without competition, we end up with something like IE 6 that is just stagnant because the people behind it don't HAVE to listen to their customers.
BTW. I have 3 small business' using OO.o and gmail. They had no need, currently, for calendars. When they do, things like Zimbra may be the fit for them but we will help them determine what will meet their needs since "I need a calendar" can mean different things to different people. Lookout may be what they need after all the fact-finding and we will approach it then...
"90% of the users out there do not use enough of the "features" within MSOffice to justify that cost."
An excellent point. Of all the users who use Excel, I bet less than 1% use even half of it's capabilities. But what is Microsoft to do, follow suit of Adobe and offer Excel Elements? I believe that's called Microsoft Works.
I think what the article questioned wasn't whether OO would replace the majority of Office users, but whether it could work as a good replacement for Office. There's an important difference here.
However, OpenOffice is light years behind MS Office 2007/2008 for mac in terms of what can be done. I have files doc and docx files that are displayed terribly using OpenOffice. It cant be taken seriously until it can read all of doc and docx files 100%.
Again... if you are just writing simple papers and letters, OpenOffice is more than enough. Heck you could use notepad to do the same things. But if you are some one who is a power user, or needs full compatibility with every single file, OpenOffice is just a weak wannabe.
But anyway, I'm so used to Office 2007 that I HATE when I have to use the current open office version. NOt sure about open office 3.0 And I'm beginning to hate GTK, because its lack of responsiveness and somewhat limited interface options. So I dont think that any GTK based app can be considered 'sleek experience'.
OO is a nice office suite, unless it has to compete with office 2007.
OO is for Linux people who do not have the choice of using Microsoft Office (blame MS??). Office 2008 for Mac is also so good and its compatible with Office 2007 and vice versa. I have Macbook and have Office 2007 and Office 2008 installed. Editing my documents are now so easy with these two tools.
OO is good for students? Students can get Office for cheap prices and MS Office 2007 (please note that its not Office 2003) has really good features for even writing thesis. I am currently writing my thesis using MS Word 2007 - I tried OO, but it sucks!
So, it boils down to personal choice. For me MS Office Suites are really great and worth paying for!
OO costs = $0. MS Office costs ≠ $0
It's the one feature you can't disparage.
Oh, and frankly I like the OO GUI a lot better than that stupid "ribbon-bar" that Office 2007 swiched to.
[q]OMG, OO is such a dumb interface to work and missing live previews makes my writing time more![/q]
Apparently it's not helping you spelling or grammar, though. Perhaps Clippy can help you.
(Here's a hint: You can't make writing time "More". You can make your writing time longer, but not more. It's like having more run. Or more drown. Or more stupid. You get the picture?)
Comments such as these make you look stupid and are not worth reading. I think the ribbon interface takes up too much space in my honest opinion but I don't go around complaining about it.
This is so true, the spreadsheet solution from OO is no way near as good as Excel
Don't get me wrong. If you want a free equivalent to Microsoft Office, than get OpenOffice and Thunderbird, by all means!
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