Your Opinion About OpenOffice.org?

[JakeStratham]

I'm thinking about getting a new box, and don't want to pay for MS Office again. The alternatives are Google Docs and OpenOffice.org. Google Docs is off the table (for now).

Have you used OpenOffice? If so, do you like it? Any problems with it?

I use Word and Excel. I'm not a power user in either. Most of my stuff is basic. Given that, would you recommend OpenOffice as a viable alternative to MS Office?

The only relatively recent mentions I found on the board are here and here. Beyond those two posts, we're digging into 2008 and earlier.

If you have an opinion, please share.

 

[Sonny Forelli]

Better option is pirating ms office

 

[megatabbers]

^^^ What Sonny said ^^^ although I do use OpenOffice. I prefer its spreadsheets to Excel but I don't like the word processor at all, use Word for that.

 

[stmadeveloper]

Open office literally fills my needs. I have an old copy of ms office and I haven't put it on my last three computers.

I can make cvs sheets, basic docs, etc... Haven't found a need for others yet.

Just download it and if it doesn't fit your needs get a peg leg and parrot.

 

[johnmatrix]

Microsoft Office Live <-- Works like Google Docs, but doesn't look like a cheap knock-off

 

[DanWesson]

I was using only OpenOffice up until a few months ago, and was perfectly happy with it for most things. There were a few times where I had to go digging around for a bit to find out how to do something when I knew that the answer for the same MSOffice problem would have tons of results, but it's easy enough to do the basics for the most part. File compatibility with MSOffice is good as well.

 

[Grindstone]

Love it. I get pissed off when my computer opens something in MS instead and then I go and change the default for that file type.

Scalc + textpad = winrar

 

[potentialeight]

I've used OpenOffice for years with great results.

Microsoft Office Live <-- Works like Google Docs, but doesn't look like a cheap knock-off

Sweet.

 

[JakeStratham]

Thanks for your opinions thus far. They help a lot.

Better option is pirating ms office

I'm not much of a pirating guy. For now, I'm gonna avoid this option.

I do use OpenOffice. I prefer its spreadsheets to Excel but I don't like the word processor at all, use Word for that.

Care to share the reasons you dislike the OpenOffice word processor?

Open office literally fills my needs. I have an old copy of ms office and I haven't put it on my last three computers.

I can make cvs sheets, basic docs, etc... Haven't found a need for others yet.

Just download it and if it doesn't fit your needs get a peg leg and parrot.

Good to know. My "office" needs are very simple, maybe even simpler than your own. Sounds like a good fit for OpenOffice.

Microsoft Office Live <-- Works like Google Docs, but doesn't look like a cheap knock-off

I'm leery of using a cloud resource for my doc and spreadsheet stuff at the moment. My concerns are mostly based on issues I've had with Google Docs. That's unfair to MS, but irrationality for ya.

I was using only OpenOffice up until a few months ago, and was perfectly happy with it for most things. There were a few times where I had to go digging around for a bit to find out how to do something when I knew that the answer for the same MSOffice problem would have tons of results, but it's easy enough to do the basics for the most part. File compatibility with MSOffice is good as well.

Good to know about the file compatibility. Thanks. That's gonna be important for me. Was there anything in particular that made you switch to another option a few months back?

Love it. I get pissed off when my computer opens something in MS instead and then I go and change the default for that file type.

Scalc + textpad = winrar

lol If you love, I'm bound to, too. Also, I've been looking for a replacement for my text editor (UltraEdit). I'll check out textpad.

 

[MSTeacher]

Better option is pirating ms office

this. Although the quick pdf export in openoffice writer is pretty sweet.

 

[Rage9]

I think if most people pulled their heads out of their asses and used Open Office you'd see a nice chunk of MS Office revenue go away. Would probably easily cover the needs of 90%+ of users out there.

 

[kingfish]

man open office just sucks

 

[DanWesson]

Was there anything in particular that made you switch to another option a few months back?

A couple of things: The wife needed Office specifically for her new profession, and I went back to school. One of the basic classes I needed to start with for my major was about 50% based on Excel usage, so we bought the Home and Student edition which is licensed for 3 machines.

 

[Staccs]

I believe OpenOffice is a dead project, LibraOffice being the new one that some of the OO guys are working on.

OpenOffice is dead | ZDNet

 

[thevoucherguy]

Most of the staff of the OOo team shifted to LibreOffice. Openoffice users may not find it any different. But I'm using it for last 6 months and it's awesome.

 

[IMHopeful]

OpenOffice just has a different menu layout. If you're only doing the simple stuff, you'll have no problem with it whatsoever.

The biggest problems I had with it were tweaking the auto-format options. To give you an example: When you're writing an article these days, it's standard to use a double dash (--) when joining certain phrases together in a sentence...OpenOffice by default will join the double dash together into one big dash, that isn't compatible with other word processors.

It isn't terribly difficult to correct issues like this, but there is a bit of a learning curve and the "help" option within the program isn't terribly intuitive -- so you'll have to look (sometimes hard) for the information.

LibreOffice is just a re-branded OO as far as I've heard (a few new Linux distros have replaced OO with LO.

 

[cziffra]

I've been using OpenOffice for years. I don't really use much other than Calc, so can't comment on how good the rest of the components are. However, I've always been able to get Calc to do anything I needed. I also regularly open Excel spreadsheets in it and have never had a problem.

 

[JakeStratham]

I've used OpenOffice for years with great results.

Good to know. That suggests it's relatively stable.

this. Although the quick pdf export in openoffice writer is pretty sweet.

I completely forgot about the pdf export. That'll come in handy. Thanks for the reminder.

I think if most people pulled their heads out of their asses and used Open Office you'd see a nice chunk of MS Office revenue go away. Would probably easily cover the needs of 90%+ of users out there.

Rage, I'm gonna assume you're in the "OO camp."

man open office just sucks

Any particular reason you'd like to share?

A couple of things: The wife needed Office specifically for her new profession, and I went back to school. One of the basic classes I needed to start with for my major was about 50% based on Excel usage, so we bought the Home and Student edition which is licensed for 3 machines.

Got it. Thanks for explaining, Dan. Glad to know it wasn't a major bug.

I believe OpenOffice is a dead project, LibraOffice being the new one that some of the OO guys are working on.

OpenOffice is dead | ZDNet

Thanks for the link. Hadn't heard of Libre. I like the fact that OO has been around awhile, but also know the dev team is important. I'll check it out.

Most of the staff of the OOo team shifted to LibreOffice. Openoffice users may not find it any different. But I'm using it for last 6 months and it's awesome.

Thanks for sharing. Six months doesn't make me completely comfortable, but I'll definitely keep it in mind when looking into Libre.

OpenOffice just has a different menu layout. If you're only doing the simple stuff, you'll have no problem with it whatsoever.

The biggest problems I had with it were tweaking the auto-format options. To give you an example: When you're writing an article these days, it's standard to use a double dash (--) when joining certain phrases together in a sentence...OpenOffice by default will join the double dash together into one big dash, that isn't compatible with other word processors.

It isn't terribly difficult to correct issues like this, but there is a bit of a learning curve and the "help" option within the program isn't terribly intuitive -- so you'll have to look (sometimes hard) for the information.

LibreOffice is just a re-branded OO as far as I've heard (a few new Linux distros have replaced OO with LO.

Thanks, IMHopeful. Good info. Also back up what Dan said about digging around for answers to issues.

I've been using OpenOffice for years. I don't really use much other than Calc, so can't comment on how good the rest of the components are. However, I've always been able to get Calc to do anything I needed. I also regularly open Excel spreadsheets in it and have never had a problem.

Thanks, cziffra. I dig the fact that OO has been stable for years.


To all: sorry for the long-ass reply posts. I figured it'd create less pollution. Thanks again for your opinions on this. Given what most of you have shared, I'm gonna go with OO - unless Libre kicks ass or kingfish drops a major bomb.

 

[kneedeep]

Used it for 3 days, got pissed and bought MS Office through my old school for $50.

 

[crackp0t]

OpenOffice is fine and works great. I haven't used MS Office in years.