Switch from MS Office to Open Office (PDF)

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by Cyrus_the_virus

Dude, get a life, this is not a review or a head to head comparison to anything, this is just an article for helping anyone make the switch. Stop your cr@p whining at once before it's reported and try somewhere else to start a fight.

It is a flawed & unfair article telling you to switch to latest version of OpenOffice.org from 5 years old version of Office. Why didn't he compare Office 2007 with OpenOffice if he wanted to talk about Ease of Use, features etc. Does OpenOffice has an online library of more powerpoint effects, word tamplates etc?

All those fighting here.. temme frankly how many of you actually read the pdf?

I have.

OpenOffice is good, if you are in 1995. If you are a single user in a home & hardly need word processing applications other then writing letters or Resume once in a while then yeah, OpenOffice or even Abiword is enough along with Word/PowerPoint/Excel 2007 viewer.

[din]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

OpenOffice is good, if you are in 1995.

I have no clue on what basis you are talking this !! Do you go out of your home / office to see what others use ? I go and what I wrote is from what I see.

Open office is good in 2008 and it wil lbe even better in the coming years. A lot of people / offices / institutions in India use open office and that is quite adequate for them.

Please remember, majority of the office softwares are NOT tech gurus or even in the IT field ! Yes, I mean it, any doubts ? ?

The huge majority who use office suite use it for not-very-complicated stuff which may be available only in MS Office or other commercial product. As I mentioned already, there are two types of people - one, who need MS office as it is has things like VBA and second, blind followers of MS. These does not means the majority.

And most users use MS office because it is "free" for them installed by the hardware guy and secondly they think office suit = MS office (before it was computer = windows lol).

When you get a a chance, go out of the office or home, go to super markets, govt offices, institutions and places where office suits are used more and using an un-biased analysis (give it a try !) you can very easily find out OO is best suited for that section of the society which is majority.

Open eyes sometimes, it does not hurt

[legolas]

Originally Posted by Cyrus_the_virus

.... and hopefully make a switch if they feel like.

Personally, I don't have any difference in opinion regarding the content of this thread. However, I realize your title "Switch from M$ to OOo" has made all the difference. You better knew about Chit Chat section and its difference from Fight Club. It is not difficult to know this title definitely seeks combatting replies. It simply is.

However, again, as I have quoted your post, it doesn't insist or advertise and is written by not villifying any. I therefore only think that the intended title of the post is only an honest mistake.
I read the pdf and honestly am not impressed. It doesn't even discuss 10% of the humongous potential M$ has. Which misleads me to the possibility of an advertisement, but then its sick of the original author to have posted so... Taking on M$ office by telling that OOo has more potential features is funny... while they must insist on sufficient features for amateur users as Din pointed above and exploit it being open source...

Take it easy guys!!

[lywyre]

I am still convinced that all features in O2007 (not the GUI) are backward compatible in 02003. I just think it as an effort by MS to stop the advance of OO, as OO is capable of handling .doc, .xls, .ppt etc, well enough. They have just changed the UI, skewed the features a bit and gave an extra character to the file extension.

On the other hand, I am convinced with the features of OO, but I would like to be much faster than it is now. Also, I feel it is getting as bloated as MS Office suites are getting.

In my opinion, Office 2000 is more than enough for most office works.

P.S: I use Office 2007, because I have share documents of other people who use Office 2007. I always save my files in .doc and also .rtf whenever possible.

[gxsaurav]

Please remember, majority of the office softwares are NOT tech gurus or even in the IT field ! Yes, I mean it, any doubts ? ?

Wait, who told you that u need to be a tech guru to master or use Office 2007??

When you get a a chance, go out of the office or home, go to super markets, govt offices, institutions and places where office suits are used more and using an un-biased analysis (give it a try !) you can very easily find out OO is best suited for that section of the society which is majority.

I see them using Office 2003/2007 flawlessly.

gave an extra character to the file extension.

Lolz....do u know about the benefits of the new XML based file format of Office 2007

[vish786]

with 35 bull$hit replies... Did anyone cared to click on link... its not even working...

@cyrus.... upload it on rapidshare or somewhere else if you have the copy.

[din]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Wait, who told you that u need to be a tech guru to master or use Office 2007??

Oh no !! Not the iMav syndrome, please no.

All others got what I meant. What I meant is (assuming you are not into iMavism much) the huge majority of office suit users, use it not for any hi-fi things. Do I need to explain again and again and again ? ? I never meant to say someone has to be a tech guru to learn Office 2007 lol, if I say that it will be a nice joke, you know it very well.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

I see them using Office 2003/2007 flawlessly.

I also see a lot of people who will be using Office 2007 / 2008 flawlessly, but I categorise them into 4 now (yes small change - lol)

1. MVPs who get things free

2. Blind supporters of MS

3. Those who get the "free" version from computer hardware guys

4. Those who really need MS office to do their work (may be less then 10% ? )

Now how many offices / institutes you see people using MS Office very happily after paying for it ? Please type in the number (it will not take much space to type that number ) I am eagerly waiting for it.

It may sound rude, but as I mentioned before, it is pretty easy sitting in the office chair and typing things by assuming everything, again, give it one more try to open your eyes, give it one more try to go out, to see what people use, why they use it, what they really need, how much they need to spend for it and try to analyze un-biased.

@Others, I am sorry, but couldn't resist lol.

[nish_higher]

Making the leap: Microsoft Word to OpenOffice.org Writer
http://www.linux.com/articles/44314

The pdf link posted in this thread does not work but i think the article would be similar.this article posted in 2008 compares Office 2k3 and OO (no i m not saying MS rocks-so stay quiet!) and yea what Din mentioned is totally true.and its worth shifting to OO rather than living life of a thief

[din]

Originally Posted by nish_higher

and yea what Din mentioned is totally true.and its worth shifting to OO rather than living life of a thief

Oh, thanks a lot for the support man, and I see there is "country for old men"

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by iMav

o cmon ani there are ways of posting,give an appropriate title acc. to u as u are not quoting some life changing or an influential individual's post. if 1 actually needs to do things ethically, politically and morally correct then the original title should be given in the beginning of the post with as a link to the original text and followed by an excerpt of the article in quote because now u are quoting an individual

What happens when users are given freedom to change the title according to what they wish?? Fanboy wars!!! MS users will give a title: FOSS software sux and post an article about Linux/BSD; FOSS guys will say: MS are a bunch of ******* and post something bad about MS/Products. See the implications of allowing users to choose their titles? Aren't we hafing enuf of it already?

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

It is a flawed & unfair article telling you to switch to latest version of OpenOffice.org from 5 years old version of Office.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Why didn't he compare Office 2007 with OpenOffice if he wanted to talk about Ease of Use, features etc.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

I have [read].

Clearly states you are lying! You haf just scrolled thru the screenshots and I'm 100% sure of it (tho I haf no means to prove it!).

The author has shamelessly asked people to Switch from MS Office in the first 3 pages. In the next 12 pages or so he says that UI of OOo is similar to what UI of MSO was (again, what UI we see in MSO 2k7 wasn't an eternal one. They've just made a switch to ribbons). Hence people would not find it difficult to get many things done in OOo. He's not comparing features of OOo in those pages but suggesting things on how to make lives earier for those who are used to OOo. Comparing is one thing and suggesting changes is another!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Does OpenOffice has an online library of more powerpoint effects, word tamplates etc?

If you'd not blatantly lied but really read the article then you'd haf noticed that the author has mentioned exactly what you said. OOo doesn't haf the huge cache of templates/online library.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

OpenOffice is good, if you are in 1995. If you are a single user in a home & hardly need word processing applications other then writing letters or Resume once in a while then yeah, OpenOffice or even Abiword is enough along with Word/PowerPoint/Excel 2007 viewer.

Temme what features does an admin/HR dept. of a company need from an Office suite?

People just don't get it and argue just for the sake of it. Do you know there are companies which earn their bread and butter by making VBA modules for MSO???? What would happen if they switched to OOo? They'd go bankrupt! On the other hand what would happen if home users/small offices/admin depts. etc. switch to OOo? They would save a lot of cash.

So before blindly supporting OOo or MSO just use your rusted brainz a bit!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

Temme what features does an admin/HR dept. of a company need from an Office suite?

Basic Word processing, making presentations, Statistics on spreadsheet....

Colloborating with other HR/Admins on the same data. Real time convertion & integration of new data, overseas transfer of sales stats etc...

Let me know of OpenOffice can do it.

If the auther has said himself that OpenOffice lacks an online library, then why switch? What makes OOO better then Office 2007? Isn't it simply advertising an inferior product?

OpenOffice is good cos most people only use basic things which even OOO supports. This is enough for home users, but when it comes to accessing more stuff via the online library which is free for users of MS Office, OOO fails.

[iMav]

not to forget the live office integration which having used the beta i absolutely love

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Basic Word processing, making presentations, Statistics on spreadsheet....

Colloborating with other HR/Admins on the same data. Real time convertion & integration of new data, overseas transfer of sales stats etc...

Do you even haf an idea what you typed? Or are you posting just for the heck of it??!!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

If the auther has said himself that OpenOffice lacks an online library, then why switch? What makes OOO better then Office 2007? Isn't it simply advertising an inferior product?

Quote me an instance where the author has said that OOo is better than MSO!!!!!!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

....but when it comes to accessing more stuff via the online library which is free for users of MS Office, OOO fails.

This is exactly what the author has said, that OOo doesn't haf an exhaustive library like MSO. Many things can be imported. But still MSO is the king

READ READ READ...

Originally Posted by iMav

not to forget the live office integration which having used the beta i absolutely love

True. +1 for MSO

[lywyre]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Lolz....do u know about the benefits of the new XML based file format of Office 2007

Yes. Indeed I am and I most welcome MS using the XML standards. But, I insist that MS embrace the technology in full and extend the same to all, instead of keeping it closed and proprietary.

As I already said, I myself use Office 2007, just because I have to share documents of other people, which they are forced to save with .docx or .xlsx or so (read MS Office 2007 format).

[Maverick340]

Office Suite( Word and Powerpoint ) is used like once in a month , luckily. But thats just me maybe, there are plenty of students who need to make use of this suite so lets analyze them.
1. Typical College Student : Need to type project reports make presentation for seminars and talks. OpenOffice is good enough. In fact i have seen some people facing UI troubles with the "new" UI of MS Office 07. Since its not required , Open Office fits. However since i doubt their systems will have Open Office installed and i am pretty sure they have a copy of MS Office(2003 mostly) and it doest the work too, i see no reason why such person would go out of his way , download the Open office suite and learn to use it..
at this point i can only comment from a students view , don't know about working class .. others may elaborate

The only reason i see to remove MS Office 07 from my PC and install Open Office is space constraints ( i am guessing OOo takes lesser space ) or if guys in black suits with a shiny star like golden badge came over to inspect my PC
Oh also i wish MS would'nt have been such a female-dog and introduced the new XML format. Any particular advantage ?

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by Maverick340

The only reason i see to remove MS Office 07 from my PC and install Open Office is space constraints ( i am guessing OOo takes lesser space ) or if guys in black suits with a shiny star like golden badge came over to inspect my PC

Yep, Thats coz we are used to eating "free food"!

Originally Posted by Maverick340

Oh also i wish MS would'nt have been such a female-dog

lolz...

Originally Posted by Maverick340

and introduced the new XML format. Any particular advantage ?

Read more here: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...enewfileformat

Personally, I don't care if OpenXML or OpenDocument becomes the standard. I just want a format to become standard so that I can use it on any platform/software.

[Maverick340]

True, the day the "free food" is no longer available , hands down OpenOffice will rule.. 8 out of 10 will go download OpenOffice. And not just because no one wants to pay. I am sure 6 out of 10 will pay for a good AV like Avira or Kaspersky, but because OOo CAN DO IT !

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by lywyre

As I already said, I myself use Office 2007, just because I have to share documents of other people, which they are forced to save with .docx or .xlsx or so (read MS Office 2007 format).

No, Wrong, FUD. You can save to the old Office 2003 compatible format too with Office 2007.

[lywyre]

^^ Thats the problem. I cannot push every one to save in classic format (97-2003), cause I don't even know the people who bring me those files before they give it to me. They just use it because they, as some one said above, are having "free food". They want to have the latest for free.

[Cyrus_the_virus]

Originally Posted by vish786

with 35 bull$hit replies... Did anyone cared to click on link... its not even working...

@cyrus.... upload it on rapidshare or somewhere else if you have the copy.

It's working, i just checked.

[MetalheadGautham]

whats wrong in a simple tutorial teaching people how to try out something new?

@saurav: you say that its unfair to compare OOo with M#Office 2003. But you fail to get the point of this tut. There are people out there using Office 2003. They can't just cough up lots of cash for a program upgrade. Instead, the author is helping them rid this problem. Does microsoft help these people by offering M$Office 2007 in exchange for their old copy of M$O2003 ? No it doesn't. So you can't try to argue on that point.

comming to the fetures OOo lacks. all of them have workarounds, but these can't be argued against, due to the fact that nobody cheats you by selling a product without some fetures which you expected. Its offered to you for free. And for the premium you pay to M$O2007/8, I would instead gladly apply the workarounds to OOo.

Then there is the original question, as to why this is not an advertisement. This is just an article that helps you avoid unnessassary finantial investments on your part. Just imagine. You could save the 2k for M$O and use it to get a better CPU or GPU for the new comp you are buying. or you could get more RAM for your current comp. Or, you can get an years supply of bhelpuri, which you can happily eat.

[din]

@MetalheadGautham

Sorry, but no use in telling that point to GX ! I tried it many times, and failed lol. We had similar thread before comparing Open Office and others. He know it very well (OO can save a lot of $$ and a lot of people can use it) but he wil lnot agree it openly lol.

[lywyre]

No, Wrong, FUD. You can save to the old Office 2003 compatible format too with Office 2007.

I mean by default.

[faraaz]

Originally Posted by lywyre

I mean by default.

The option is there if you go into Word settings...but to be honest, not many people bother with that anymore. And file sizes are SOO small when you use .docx or .pptx format. Not a problem with Word files usually, but try emailing 80 slide ppt presentations in the old format...cant be done.

[legolas]

guys, I think we are making a big deal out of this. Lets stop here!

[drgrudge]

Originally Posted by din

Sorry, but no use in telling that point to GX ! I tried it many times, and failed lol. We had similar thread before comparing Open Office and others. He know it very well (OO can save a lot of $$ and a lot of people can use it) but he wil lnot agree it openly lol.

Hehehe.. true. He came and posted things in another thread. I asked a simple question: "What can't OOo do which MS Office can?". I'm not a big office suite geek or use it extensively - so was just curious.

Then came a barrage of replies from you-know-who which I couldn't understand. He says this and that is possible or ornamented in MS Office, some wacky stuffs are possible, etc.. which I've never heard in my life or have any practical usage. What's the point of using something if you can't understand or have common day today use.


I've seen many offices. They use MS Office only but only for basic tasks which OOo is more than sufficient. I'm not saying OOo is better than Paid softwares. I use MS Office 2008 and iWork because I found FOSS alternatives not 'working' properly in my PC.