With the release of Open Office comes a new review. This release features many changes, so I’ll only highlight a few changes.
What is Open Office?
Open Office is a free and open source alternative to MS Office Suit. It features OO Base (Data management),
The Open Office suite is able to open every MS Office equivalent and save as one, except Office 2007. Instead, it can save as .doc–the MS Office 2003 format.
Why not just have OpenOffice.org tell us?
OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in a international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.
What makes Open Office great?
Now that you know what Open Office is, here is what makes it great and better than MS Office:
- It is free.
- It is available for Linux, Macs, and Windows. MS Office 2007 is only available for Windows XP SP2 and newer version and OSX for Macs.
- You can save your documents in open format. This allows for future compatibility. MS Office changes their formats every few releases.
- Easy to learn. Compared to learning MS Office, the Open Office suite is easier to understand and find what you need.
- Scores of plugins are available. Since Open Office is open source, developers from around the globe are able to create extensions for the office suite to better suit your needs.
Changes to Open Office
- Visual improvements (courtesy of the implementation of a new Aqua UI). New colors and icons for the toolbars and desktop along with and a new splash-screen. The zoom is now a scrollbar in the bottom right corner.
How are the changes? Honestly, I don’t care too much for the prettying up. OO isn’t as grey as before, so some users will find it more appealing. As far as the new zoom, I hate it, but it will grow on me.
- PDFs can be imported and changed without the source file.
How are the changes? Very much welcomed. Being able to import PDF files without the original source file is a huge plus to OO.
- New multi-page view in Writer.
How are the changes? I haven’t found a need for this yet, other than viewing consistency in layout. However, I’m sure there are others who will welcome the addition.
- Calc has a new column limit (1024 instead of 256).
How are the changes? This is huge news for data lovers and possibly one of the best additions to OO 3.0. The more data you can enter the better.
- Draw and Impress now have the ability to crop images.
How are the changes? The addition of the crop tool is welcomed. But, the usability needs to improve. Cropping to a specific size was almost to the point of undoable. I’ll stay with GIMP until then.
- Mac users can install OpenOffice without X11.
How are the changes? No more X11 complications for users? Hell, yes.
- A new grammar checking tool in Writer.
How are the changes? The grammar tool isn’t perfect, but it is a welcomed addition to OO. This will definitely help bring more people to Open Office, especially students.
MS Office still holds the lead in grammar and image manipulation. But, Open Office has come through once again with additional tools not found in the commercial giant, like PDF import. With Open Office’s large support community and worldwide developers users can feel at home with Open Office 3.0. As such, I recommend OO to all students, teachers, and businessmen.
Written: Oct 11, 2008
Twinks
October 12, 2008 @ 8:41 am
I started using OO last week just to give it a try and so far so good. Honestly I’m liking it especially the idea that its free!
Have a great day. Nice post!
gLf
October 12, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Nice review, thanks!
Dennis Edell
October 13, 2008 @ 1:06 am
Excellent review Gary, and I love the program as well
Beau71
October 13, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Open Office saved us thousands of dollars in licensing costs. Perfect solution for the a company that doesn’t have any need for the advanced features of MS Office.
Tom
October 14, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Does it still take a year to start?
Greg
October 14, 2008 @ 8:35 am
Tom: Does it still take a year to start?
On my PC, <10 seconds for first start (much less if Java disabled)
<1 second on subsequent starts.
Greg
October 14, 2008 @ 8:37 am
I’ve been using OpenOffice for over 3 years now, mostly Writer and Calc. Great stuff, rarely had any issues with it. I work on documents between work and home with no difficultly, work uses MS Word.
Randy
December 22, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
I am very impressed with Open Office and I have used Writer for a 3,500 word short story. The first time it did take about 10 secs to start, but I had only just installed it then!!! Now it starts much quicker. For me it is like like using MS Office 2003, which I have installed on my P.C. When I get a lap top in the new Year 2009 I shall download Open Office, because it is free, user friendly and as dexterous as MS Word. Thank you for such a benefit. Now that the Credit Crunch means that commercial firms will start looking around for cheap/free software for their office systems; MS should be trembling in its boots.
Thanks a stack for a wonderful piece of software.