- Company or Source:
- OpenOffice.org
- Skill Level:
- Intermediate
- Platform:
- Windows, Mac, and Linux
Requirement(s):
- Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista
- Mac OS X 10.4.x
- Linux kernel 2.2.13 or higher, glibc2 version 2.2.0 or higher
- Java JDK/JRE 1.3.1 or higher
- 128 MB of RAM
OpenOffice.org is an open-source, multiplatform and multilingual office suite. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
Average Rating: 
Based on 23 Ratings
- Rating:
- Pros:
- Reads Word and WordPerfect docs and many PDFs, Excel files. Outputs nice PDFs (unlike Weird) Consistent interface. Even our curmudgeon users like it.
- Cons:
- The spreadsheet takes a little getting used to ...but once you do, it's more consistent than Excel. The graphics aren't as polished as Excel ...yet. Complicated documents not as solid as WordPerfect. The merge system is primitive compared to WP, but about as good, and simpler, than Weird.
We have moved all our office operations to OO. No more virus paranoia! And open source just feels right in the NGO world.
- Rating:
- Pros:
- New version 3.2 does nearly all that Office 2007 Pro does and then some! Can import WordPerfect files, as well as some PDF files for editing. Templates are via add-ons, but that's a plus for me. Integrates with eFax nicely. If email client is needed, one can download the open-source Mozilla Thunderbird or Evolution, both of which can work with MS Exchange servers.
- Cons:
- Fairly large download (100+ megs), so broadband connection is required.
The price is *definitely* right, and this is well worth the time to download and take a look at it for a MS Office replacement without the licensing fees.
- Rating:
- Pros:
- the price is right, and it does virtually everything well that Microsoft Office Professional trys to do! OOo reads all MS Office Files as well as having its own less space consuming formats.
- Cons:
- There are a few differences from MS Office but more features for the computer savey.
It is well worth downloading and installing.
- Rating:
- Pros:
- Most important: Open Document Format (ODF) this is THE open standard accepted worldwide and you CAN'T get this with MS Office. Documents created in ODF can be read and edited by any software which complies with this open standard. Until then: we have PDF and OOo can output to a PDF file with a single click. The drawing program is also often overlooked, but quite powerful.
- Cons:
- Lack of templates and clip art in the basic installation (though these are available with a little extra effort.)
I have been using this office suite since version 1.0 and have seldom found limitations. There is a tremendous support community and answers are never far away.
- Rating:
