OpenOffice.org (Windows) 2.4.1

Publisher's description of OpenOffice.org (Windows)

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OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. Localizations of OpenOffice.org are available in 27 languages, with more being constantly added by the community. OpenOffice.org runs on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), and Windows. Written in C++ and with documented APIs licensed under the LGPL and SISSL open-source protocols, OpenOffice.org allows any knowledgeable developer to benefit from the source.

Version 2.4.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

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Editor's review of OpenOffice.org (Windows)

A credible rival to MS Office, OpenOffice.org includes powerful applications for making text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, and databases, as well as HTML and XML documents. Not only does it let you edit basic documents, such as letters and faxes, it also handles equations and complex and multipart documents with bibliographies, reference tables, and indexes.

The interface is similar to that of MS Office, and even advanced Office users will find almost everything they're used to: templates, collaborative features (versions, recording changes), macros, and even a programming language. OOo, as it's known, lets you open and save documents in formats as diverse as MS Office formats, PDF, HTML, and XML. It can also import files from those formats, as well as WordPerfect and others. However, it normally saves files in the open-standard Oasis OpenDocument XML format, for maximum compatibility with other applications.

The latest versions of OpenOffice have seen a spurt of growth in the extensions available for the program. These include templates for professional writers, an export tool for bidirectional functionality with Google Docs, blog publishing, and others. Blog publishing assistance especially strikes us as a natural area for word processing to grow toward.

We were pleased to find that stability has improved too. No doubt about it, the multilingual and crossplatform OpenOffice.org is a compelling option for anyone in search of an alternative office suite.

User reviews of OpenOffice.org (Windows)

• Average user rating: out of 769 votes
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  OpenOffice.org (Windows)

  excellent free office suite

  by: dalmatianspots on 17-Jul-2008 12:59:40 PM

  Pros: Its Free

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  OpenOffice.org (Windows)

  It works and its free.

  by: Jngoi on 16-Jul-2008 10:04:23 PM

  Pros: It works and is a good substitute for Microsoft Office. When XP is discontinued and is not supported anymore, will probably switch to Ubuntu and use Open Office.

  Cons: Nil.

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  OpenOffice.org (Windows)

  Goodbye, Microsoft Office :)

  by: UnoriginalUninspired on 24-Jul-2008 01:32:41 PM

  Pros: OpenOffice.org includes software for Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Slideshows, and several others.

  Also, it's completely free.

  Cons: It is similar to old versions of Microsoft Office and doesn't include the ribbon, which is a very nice feature for Office 2007.

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  OpenOffice.org (Windows)

  outstanding for creating hardcopy publications!

  by: chinagypsy on 21-Jul-2008 12:33:51 PM

  Pros: I was in a rut! I took over a newsletter and the previous editor had taken all the software and cleared the computer of the necessary publishing tools! I researched a bit, because I had to come up with something that could help me put together templates for the next newsletter.

  OpenOffice had everything I could possibly need--very impressive.

  Cons: That it doesn't come installed already on most new PCs!

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  OpenOffice.org (Windows)

  MS Office will fade to dust

  by: twinsri on 19-Jul-2008 12:54:31 PM

  Pros: The fact that it is free is reason enough to just check it out. But the other fact that it works and works well is a sound reason for Microsoft to fear its competition!

  Cons: haven't as yet had time to check-out all the programs included in this suite.

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