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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Black3agl3 on August 15, 2009, 05:31:21 PM

Title: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Black3agl3 on August 15, 2009, 05:31:21 PM
I would also wish to have as detailed a description of the advantages and disadvantages of the two as possible... :)
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: MFB on August 15, 2009, 10:31:51 PM
Hi Balck3agl3,

A simple google search on "Open Office vs Microsoft Office" will give you the answer that you need.

In fact, this link came up first:
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/software/page4765.cfm
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Lisandro on August 15, 2009, 11:47:34 PM
Can't be compared.
Office is powerful, but it's paid.
OpenOffice is the best suite you can get for free. It's also crossplataform (Linux and Windows).
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Confused Computer User on August 16, 2009, 12:12:15 AM
Office is powerful, but it's paid.

That remains to be seen. ;)

Micro Soft might be hit were it hurts.

Quote
Updated: Microsoft is barred from selling any Microsoft Word products that can open XML files (.xml, .docx and .docm), according to a U.S. District Court ruling in favor of i4i, a small Canadian company that sued the software giant for patent infringement.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=22595


Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: spg SCOTT on August 16, 2009, 02:32:22 AM
Office is powerful, but it's paid.

That remains to be seen. ;)

...

For you maybe ;)
Something tells me fractals in Excel wont work with OpenOffice...(it only works with 2007)

-Scott-
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: speckledbird on August 16, 2009, 06:12:33 AM
With openoffice can you open word documents?
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Alan Baxter on August 16, 2009, 06:22:58 AM
Yes you can. http://why.openoffice.org/
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: BRANDONN2008 on August 16, 2009, 07:16:41 AM
I had OpenOffice installed by the shop that fixed my computer and I've used MS Office my whole life. OpenOffice has almost the same interface and button placement, and I easily can run OpenOffice files on Word, PowerPoint, etc, especially since you can save the file in MS Office formats.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Sesame on August 16, 2009, 08:20:39 AM
especially since you can save the file in MS Office formats.
True...  So, if you are unsure of shifting to OpenOffice.org, you can start with your less important documents first.  Also, this can be said to any applications but, checking the availability of portable version (http://portableapps.com/apps/office/openoffice_portable) would be a good start for beginning to use a new application.  As the app itself is huge, it always takes time for the portable version to be updated, though.  Why not visit the official site (http://portableapps.com/apps/office/openoffice_portable)...it contains quite lot of information.  Also, although I think English version is quite good but it also depends on the language you mainly use.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: DavidR on August 16, 2009, 03:06:57 PM
I tried Open Office (an earlier version) and it infuriated me, if I opened a word document and then closed it without making any changes I would be asked if I wanted to save the changes. So it would seem that when it opens a word document in an old word version (MS Office 97, never saw a reason to update) it converts it.

That was a deal breaker for me and I haven't been back since as for me Office 97 wasn't broken, I only use Word and Excel and they both do what I need without undue bloat. So perhaps it wasn't a fair test by me as I didn't really need OO.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Confused Computer User on August 16, 2009, 03:46:56 PM
Office is powerful, but it's paid.

That remains to be seen. ;)

...

For you maybe ;)
Something tells me fractals in Excel wont work with OpenOffice...(it only works with 2007)

-Scott-

That is true...

I'm stuck with MS since some of the files done in MS won't open properly in OO. By this I mean they will not have the same font or shape as they did in MS. That's my only issue.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Black3agl3 on August 16, 2009, 04:22:49 PM
So, it seems most of the evangelists don't like openoffice... hmmm...
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: RejZoR on August 16, 2009, 04:25:24 PM
I'm using OpenOffice because it's free and i really don't need anything more. I don't even use OpenOffice fully...
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: spg SCOTT on August 16, 2009, 04:29:08 PM
Yes I do - Its FREE...and it is portable (Rumpel's post)
But I use office more, because I always have - and it is more powerful...(my other post)
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Pedro Hin on August 16, 2009, 04:59:08 PM
I would also wish to have as detailed a description of the advantages and disadvantages of the two as possible... :)

I use both on different PCs. I have a laptop that is a few years old, and I find OpenOffice annoying simply because it takes too long to load. This brings to mind an interest in finding out if there is a way to prevent certain elements (that I may never use) from loading when all I want to do is put a few entries into a spreadsheet.

Also, as Confused Computer User mentioned, I too have a problem with some spreadsheets which were made in Excel. When I open them to print from OO, they don't print correctly. I can be certain that this is the result of Microsoft's purposeful attempt at 'breaking' compatibility with other applications which might use their documents.

I am not conspiracy-theorizing, I have worked in the PC support field for 12+ years, and have seen that Microsoft routinely does this to maintain the perceived value of their bread-and-butter applications.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Black3agl3 on August 16, 2009, 05:47:49 PM
Does Microsoft office work on linux?
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Go Pack Go on August 16, 2009, 05:55:40 PM
Does Microsoft office work on linux?

I think MS Office 2003 works with WINE, I'm not sure about Office 2007.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: maxwachtel on August 16, 2009, 06:09:29 PM
I use SoftMaker Office 2006 http://www.softmakeroffice.com/ (http://www.softmakeroffice.com/) small and can be made to use on a USB drive. Works well.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Black3agl3 on August 16, 2009, 07:48:51 PM
I use SoftMaker Office 2006 http://www.softmakeroffice.com/ (http://www.softmakeroffice.com/) small and can be made to use on a USB drive. Works well.
Does that software work on linux?

I think MS Office 2003 works with WINE, I'm not sure about Office 2007.
how do u install the MS office? with wine directly?
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: Go Pack Go on August 16, 2009, 09:42:55 PM
I actually have no idea how to use Wine.  More info can be found here. http://www.winehq.org/ (http://www.winehq.org/)
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: maxwachtel on August 17, 2009, 12:43:28 AM
I use SoftMaker Office 2006 http://www.softmakeroffice.com/ (http://www.softmakeroffice.com/) small and can be made to use on a USB drive. Works well.
Does that software work on linux?


sorry no, windows only
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: scythe944 on August 17, 2009, 01:27:51 AM
The only problem that I've found with OO, is that it doesn't come with an exchange compatible email client (er, any email client for that matter).  Then again, if you have the cash to setup exchange, you can probably afford Office.

If not, you could probably use Mozilla's Thunderbird for email, qmail for a mail server, and OO for everything else.  Or one of many other free offerings out there.
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: CharleyO on August 17, 2009, 06:19:56 AM
***

I have used OO for the past 6 years. Unlike some other posters, OO opens quick for me and I have no problems with using it with any MS files.


***
Title: Re: OpenOffice.org vs Microsoft
Post by: mkis on August 17, 2009, 07:02:10 AM
I use OO on the internet as I had so many problems with page controls embedded in MS Office documents. This may no longer be the case, but I still prefer OO for documemt files on the internet, particularly with Docs Google, where the file may be accessible through hyperlink from many different browser scenarios. This was not the case with MS Office - MS page controls would appear in the page view that was returned to the browser.

As far as desktop goes, I use MS Office.