Don't pirate MS-Office: use ours, says OpenOffice.org

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NEWS

OpenOffice.org has launched a campaign to persuade companies worried about software compliance to move to its open source productivity application.

The project has launched a Web site for the 'Get Legal -- get OpenOffice.org' campaign, and hopes to drive traffic to the site by encouraging Webmasters and bloggers to display the campaign banner on their sites.

The Web site highlights the recent drive by Microsoft and the Business Software Alliance to clamp down on unlicensed software, including Microsoft's purchase of asset-tracking company AssetMatrix and the expansion of its Genuine Advantage program, as well as the the BSA's decision to offer a £20,000 reward for anyone informing against the use of unlicensed software in UK organisations.

"If you have a copy of MS-Office at work, at school, at home -- are you sure where it came from?" asks the campaign Web site. "Fortunately, there is a completely legal and free alternative. OpenOffice.org 2 is a fully featured office suite, similar in functionality to MS-Office. OpenOffice.org 2 does everything you need: word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and much more."

The success of the campaign is likely to depend on how much support the project gets from its user community. The Mozilla Foundation achieved considerable success with its SpreadFirefox campaign, which helped drive more than 100 million downloads of the Firefox browser in its first year.

Talkback

Beautiful !!!

Now I'm looking forward to the version of the page with the upcoming MS-Office 'plugin' (to create ODF files).

(1) Open File formats == good.

(2) Convicted Criminal Monopolists hiding your data in secret codes== bad.

(3) End of Story.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 03:30
Reply

I use OpenOffice and I find it just as good, if not better than Microsoft Office 2003.
My daughter liked it and has got rid of her office and installed OpenOffice.
Thank you

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 12:43
Reply

The fact is, it doesn't do everything that Office does. Where is a calendar/diary app in OpenOffice? I can't work without one. OpenOffice lacks this important feature and will never be considered as a serious alternative to Office until it does.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 13:29
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I think OpenOffice would attract a higher adoption rate if the '.org' was dropped from the name and installation directory. It's offputting for both aesthetic and practical reasons.

For those who need the calendar function, bundle one or include a link to obtain one.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 14:03
Reply

My big problem with OpenOffice is the fact that it's Java based. It's not really a "standalone app" per se. The tie-in with Sun Java makes it difficult to use the program. Using the File --> Open dialog was so painful I had to give up. I HATE Java based apps.

Also, its naming conventions for its apps are terrible. "Word" and "Excel" are household names, have been for years. "Calc" doesn't cut it for me.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 18:03
Reply

Note: OpenOffice.org is NOT Java based.
The vast magority of the code is C++. The new Database module uses Java and some Wizards and tools.
Without the Base application and Wizards OpenOffice.org can be run just fine.

There is more to OpenOffice.org than most people realize. Is it MS Office? NO, but how many people need everything MS Office offers for normal Home and Small Business use? A few.

p.s. It's called OpenOffice .ORG because of licensing reasons.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 21:23
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Well, there is always the Mozilla calendar app and while it may not be as automatic and hand holding as MS Outloo it is free.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 21:51
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Also, Rick, don't forget that you can output to Acrobat files for free with OpenOffice.

via Facebook 5 May, 2006 21:54
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I've been using OOo for two years. I use it for the reason that they advertise... I couldn't afford to purchase a complete Office suite for home use.

It does nearly everything I need. I agree that it needs the e-mail / calendar client, but as others mentioned, Mozilla has some free offerings.

I think the main point here is not to compare it to MS Office, but rather, see if it suites your needs.

Funny how I get annoyed from time to time when I use MS Office at work, but it lacks a feature from OOo. Much of what I read here is just that... "This is what I am used to"... or ... "I hate that look", or my favorite was the guy who doesn't like the "Org". OK.. but I made a business decision to save $400, and the name never played a role in that decsion.

My favorite feature is the improvements they made on Word and PowerPoint imports. I can start a project at work, and finish it at home without a second thought. Not bad for the price.

via Facebook 6 May, 2006 03:48
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Decision makers should be demanded to disclose in full why they didn't opt for alternative Microsoft solutions and be held liable in full for the short and long term consequences of such decisions. After all, it's just (tax) money that's being wasted.

via Facebook 6 May, 2006 23:32
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With note to the guy complaining about the _naming_ of Calc vs. Excel etc - has he not heard of trademarked names?

If OOo (Or _any_ other software company) started calling their _own_ spreadsheet 'Excel' they could reasonably expect to be sued into oblivion.

via Facebook 9 May, 2006 00:54
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Yes, that's a nice story. My wife bought a laptop and read the licence statement of Microsoft Office's website for the use of Office 2003 on a second computer. It was legitimate under certain circumstances and she complied to this. But at the installation of the software this licence told her that it was bound to one computer only because it was an OEM product, delivered by DELL. So, she aborted the installation. Meanwhile I looked around for prices of Office 2003: €500,-. No way she said for a product already 3 years old. I already knew about StarOffice and looked on the internet and found besides StarOffice, OpenOffice.org. I installed OpenOffice and was baffled. What a good product. You must know that I have 10 years of experience in Microsoft Office products. What is now the next step. I ported her company letters and faxes to OpenOffice.org so she can use it on her laptop. After this positive encounter we decided to support OpenOffice and we'll start building simple solution for OpenOffice.org.

via Facebook 11 May, 2006 21:40
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