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Review: OpenOffice.org
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16-Jan-2009
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Just about everybody these days who uses a computer has a use for a productivity suite. Productivity suites are beneficial and preferential because of their interoperability, general compatibility with other users, and the fact that they are feature-rich and have many updates and subsequent attachments and plug-ins that allow you extra usability. Although most users are of the Microsoft Office persuasion, and I have no criticism of Microsoft Office, except I really think OpenOffice.org is a much preferable alternative for a number of reasons. And here they are:
The Good:
For starters, OpenOffice.org is free. Whereas you could expect to easily throw down $300 to $500, you won't spend a single dime with this free alternative. And it isn't as though this is a trial version that you have to pay more for more features – not a cent. You get everything right with the download.
It comes with everything any top rated productivity suite comes with; a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a database program, a presentation program, and of course a drawing program (that is somewhat clunky...). It even comes with a full featured mathematical calculation program that...I haven't figured out the use for, other than for students. But, hey, it's free.
It offers different settings, including one that auto-defaults to Microsoft Office document compatibility. So you don't have to worry about using OpenOffice.org and then not being able to transmit documents to friends, coworkers and colleagues; full compatibility (within normal limits, namely formatting issues...) is afforded for incoming documents as well.
You might expect that, being completely free, the usability or formatting/features would be a little on the light side; you would be wrong. I personally only use OpenOffice.org for all my productivity suite needs (including preparing all my blogs). If you grew up on Microsoft Office 97/98/2000/XP/2003...then you will be right at home. The layout is almost exactly the same, if not completely. Advanced document formatting is handled in a similar style as well, allowing you to be a textual virtuoso due to it being exceptionally intuitive.
One of the smallest features, but of increasing importance and popularity, is that it has an instant PDF creation tool. You don't have have to fumble around with PDF converters or anything like that, you literally have a button that sits at the top of the screen and will make all your compatibility worries disappear.
The Bad:
Honestly, there really isn't that much to say against OpenOffice.org. It's free, it's great, it's FREE, so what could be said? Surprisingly lightly, but a few things nonetheless...
Whereas Microsoft, seeing its dominance being encroached upon, has really gone all out in creating a very sleak Microsoft Office 2007, OpenOffice.org still resembles the older versions. As well, there is no bundled E-mail client like Outlook. This may be in response to Microsoft's original position to drop Outlook from its' productivity suite; and then decided to change that with Outlook 2007.
I also tend to shy away from Open Source programs (which OpenOffice.org most definitely is), as there tend to be more potential for security holes and vulnerabilities. This is hard to prove because given a blueprint of software allows you unprecedented access to finding vulnerabilities and exploiting them on a level that is almost undetectable (ever wonder why Linux and Mac brag about being virus free? The don't check!!!). So, definitely a flaw in my book, but considering most things that would exploit this type of vulnerability would have to already be on your system and passed your security, I tend to let this fly by a little easier.
The Verdict:
My verdict is in, and so is OpenOffice.org. Frankly, it's just a great product. I wish it had more security, and the interface could use to keep a little better with the times, but I have no complaints, and neither will you. |
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