Openoffice.org 1.1.3?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DH
  • Start date Start date
D

DH

Thanks in advance.

I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services include
troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase computers
for the companies. They always balk about the extra ~$200US/computer for MS
Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable alternative? Is this question
addressed in any pages? Have others with a similar businesses considered
this option? I am especially concerned with the learning curve with their
product. It doesn't take much time to justify 200 bucks.

Again Thanks,

Dave H.

--
 
Bjorn Simonsen said:
On <http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/index.html>
get: "11 Tips for Moving to OOo"

Try a Google search, say like:
<http://google.com/search?num=50&q="comparing+openoffice">

Also browse OO newsletter and articles:
<http://www.openoffice.org/editorial/>

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
Click to expand...

Okay, so I'm lazy. I was hoping that someone has crossed this bridge. Here
is what I am coming up with:

My initial search through google search takes to a page that addresses my
exact question. From http://www.kegel.com/openoffice/talk1.html :

OpenOffice 1.1 Not Perfect

* Loads slower than MS Office '97
* Can't load all MS Office documents properly
* Not very intuitive for people switching from MS Office
* Stability problems
* Awkward installation


I am discouraged because I would love to say "I will save you the $200US and
install Openoffice", and be able to support it. Again, it doesn't take much
time to justify $200.

Dave H.
 
My initial search through google search takes to a page that addresses my
exact question. From http://www.kegel.com/openoffice/talk1.html :

OpenOffice 1.1 Not Perfect

* Loads slower than MS Office '97
Click to expand...

OOo only loads up slower because it hasn't got half the dlls already
resident. Use the quickstarter and its as fast as MS Office.
* Can't load all MS Office documents properly
Click to expand...

Some Macros and special functions but mainly hidden away stuff used by
power users of MS Office.
* Not very intuitive for people switching from MS Office
Click to expand...

Alot of it is the same, some stuff is in different places.
* Stability problems
Click to expand...

Not here.
* Awkward installation
Click to expand...
If you can open a ZIP file and double click on setup you can install
it. Bit wierd for multiple users as you do an Admin install then run
setup for eah user with a /net switch.
 
Thanks in advance.

I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services include
troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase computers
for the companies. They always balk about the extra ~$200US/computer for MS
Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable alternative? Is this question
addressed in any pages? Have others with a similar businesses considered
this option? I am especially concerned with the learning curve with their
product. It doesn't take much time to justify 200 bucks.
Click to expand...

Only the most avid MS Office power users will find OOo wanting. I wouldn't
hesitate.

-- Bob
 
Thanks in advance.

I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services include
troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase computers
for the companies. They always balk about the extra ~$200US/computer for MS
Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable alternative? Is this question
addressed in any pages? Have others with a similar businesses considered
this option? I am especially concerned with the learning curve with their
product. It doesn't take much time to justify 200 bucks.

Again Thanks,

Dave H.
Click to expand...

Dave,

OpenOffice (OO) and several other worthy programs are excellent MS Office
replacements. Although I have not used the other programs, I am sure that more
acf members will supply you with more info.

I have and still use OO for several of my clients. They love it. The initial
learning curve (in their opinion) was not bad at all :)
They especially loved the cost (or lack thereof).

They were initially concerned about their suppliers/contacts/sources supplying
media/documents in MS propietary format & felt that they would be stuck in a
pinch... but that never happened. They found it very easy to either have their
suppliers use alternate formats or they themselves converted the docs. It was
NOT a big issue.

We made a decision to provide one or two of their office managers with a
separate standalone pc loaded with OO for a week or so; either to take &
experiment at home or in the office. They opted to use it at home. On the 4th
day, we noticed the pc back in the office & the office managers wanted MS
Office removed from the work computer & OO installed :)

I would suggest that you might do the same. Hands on; in their own time, own
speed will allow them to be more receptive to weaning away from MS Office.

There was an excellent thread in acf awhile ago on OO. I, too, was reluctant to
change to it but the persistent acf members convinced me. I didn't have a leg
to stand on against them :)

ozzy
 
ozzy said:
Dave,

OpenOffice (OO) and several other worthy programs are excellent MS Office
replacements. Although I have not used the other programs, I am sure that more
acf members will supply you with more info.

I have and still use OO for several of my clients. They love it. The initial
learning curve (in their opinion) was not bad at all :)
They especially loved the cost (or lack thereof).

They were initially concerned about their suppliers/contacts/sources supplying
media/documents in MS propietary format & felt that they would be stuck in a
pinch... but that never happened. They found it very easy to either have their
suppliers use alternate formats or they themselves converted the docs. It was
NOT a big issue.

We made a decision to provide one or two of their office managers with a
separate standalone pc loaded with OO for a week or so; either to take &
experiment at home or in the office. They opted to use it at home. On the 4th
day, we noticed the pc back in the office & the office managers wanted MS
Office removed from the work computer & OO installed :)

I would suggest that you might do the same. Hands on; in their own time, own
speed will allow them to be more receptive to weaning away from MS Office.

There was an excellent thread in acf awhile ago on OO. I, too, was reluctant to
change to it but the persistent acf members convinced me. I didn't have a leg
to stand on against them :)

ozzy
Click to expand...


Wow, I'm encouraged.

I have a system that I am delivering early next week. I'm thinking "guinea
pig". The user is very computer savvy and will make a perfect sample and
will not mind being the tester.

Thank You,

Dave H.
 
Wow, I'm encouraged.

I have a system that I am delivering early next week. I'm thinking "guinea
pig". The user is very computer savvy and will make a perfect sample and
will not mind being the tester.

Thank You,

Dave H.
Click to expand...

I have just been on the OOo website intending to download version 1.1.3.

I got as far as almost starting the download, and then noticed that the
filename for the Windows version included the word "Intel".

That put an immediate doubt in my mind (or what passes for such) whether
it would work for me, as my processor is an AMD, not an Intel - and I am
NOT about to waste fifty-mumble megabytes of dial-up-speed download time
(four-odd hours) on something that looks like it may be of no use to me.

Comments?

--
Regards,
Nicolaas.


- How much of what we see is caused by what we expect?
 
Wow, I'm encouraged.

I have a system that I am delivering early next week. I'm thinking "guinea
pig". The user is very computer savvy and will make a perfect sample and
will not mind being the tester.
Click to expand...
THe best part is being able to save files as Adobe PDF thus ensuring
anyone no matter whether they're running Linux, Mac OS or Windows can
view them.
 
OpenOffice 1.1 Not Perfect
Click to expand...

Am using oo 1.1.2 no problems
* Loads slower than MS Office '97
Click to expand...

Use Quick Start Option
* Can't load all MS Office documents properly
Click to expand...

As some else has said, usually macros and the like used by advanced users
of MS... have had no problem with the average users file.
* Not very intuitive for people switching from MS Office
Click to expand...

I say the same thing with MS Office as I have to use it at work...
All depends what you are use to... Most of the things are the same or
similar... Just may be in a different menu or called something else..
* Stability problems
Click to expand...

I have had no problems...
* Awkward installation
Click to expand...

Err download, extract, double click the setup icon...
 
Thanks in advance.

I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services include
troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase computers
for the companies. They always balk about the extra ~$200US/computer for MS
Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable alternative? Is this question
addressed in any pages? Have others with a similar businesses considered
this option? I am especially concerned with the learning curve with their
product. It doesn't take much time to justify 200 bucks.
Click to expand...

I would say it is. However, I suggest that you download OpenOffice and try
it. Then perhaps have someone less computer-savvy try it.
 
Nicolaas Hawkins <[email protected]> wrote:
Click to expand...
I got as far as almost starting the download, and then noticed that the
filename for the Windows version included the word "Intel".
Click to expand...
That put an immediate doubt in my mind (or what passes for such) whether
it would work for me, as my processor is an AMD, not an Intel - and I am
NOT about to waste fifty-mumble megabytes of dial-up-speed download time
(four-odd hours) on something that looks like it may be of no use to me.
Click to expand...

This can be a problem. The only AMD I ever had acted up with strange
errors (quite awhile ago). I'm told that is to be expected, as most
software leans towards the Intel architecture and microcode. AMD might
be closer now to an Intel clone, I don't know. If not, the cpu simply
doesn't know how to react given an unknown instruction.


Try a jump drive and grab high speed somewhere... for just such
occasions.
 
I have just been on the OOo website intending to download version
1.1.3.

I got as far as almost starting the download, and then noticed that
the filename for the Windows version included the word "Intel".

That put an immediate doubt in my mind (or what passes for such)
whether it would work for me, as my processor is an AMD, not an Intel
- and I am NOT about to waste fifty-mumble megabytes of dial-up-speed
download time (four-odd hours) on something that looks like it may be
of no use to me.

Comments?
Click to expand...

Hmmm... If it's good enough for Walmart to sell 'puters with AMD CPU's and
OpenOffice preloaded, then I guess it would be a safe DL for you :)

Here's a [rather dated] review of OOo, written on an AMD box:
<http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=6492>

<QUOTE>
I'm reviewing this software using an AMD Athlon 2000+ with 512MB of memory
– I'm not sure how well it will perform on much less humbly powered
machines.
</QUOTE>

I say it performs quite well on machines with more humble specs than this.
 
Guys,

AMD have been running x86 code since the days of 286's

There are no problems with compatibility.
 
Nicolaas said:
I have just been on the OOo website intending to download version 1.1.3.

I got as far as almost starting the download, and then noticed that the
filename for the Windows version included the word "Intel".

That put an immediate doubt in my mind (or what passes for such) whether
it would work for me, as my processor is an AMD, not an Intel - and I am
NOT about to waste fifty-mumble megabytes of dial-up-speed download time
(four-odd hours) on something that looks like it may be of no use to me.

Comments?
Click to expand...
Yes..you're worrying about nothing. All it means is ia32 compatible.
 
This can be a problem. The only AMD I ever had acted up with strange
errors (quite awhile ago). I'm told that is to be expected, as most
software leans towards the Intel architecture and microcode. AMD might
be closer now to an Intel clone, I don't know. If not, the cpu simply
doesn't know how to react given an unknown instruction.
Click to expand...
For **** sake...
 
DH scribebat:
Okay, so I'm lazy. I was hoping that someone has crossed this bridge.
Click to expand...

Well, there is documentation about OpenOffice.org on their webpage,
including the use of OOo in companies. I know of quite a lot companies who
use OpenOffice.org and reported no problems so far. (Nonetheless, I would
recommend companies to install OOo's commercial version Star Office, which
contains some additions to OOo but is still much cheaper than MS Office)
OpenOffice 1.1 Not Perfect
Click to expand...

Neither is any other program humans made. ;)
* Loads slower than MS Office '97
Click to expand...

Yes, it is slower than Office 97 (which is an unfair competitor because it
is not sold any more) but faster than the newer versions Office XP or 2003.
* Can't load all MS Office documents properly
Click to expand...

Not even other MS Office versions can open all MS Office documents
properly. The problem is that the format of MSO-files is not properly
documented, so third parties simply cannot implement perfect filters.
It is true that OOo cannot open all MSO-documents properly, I have stumbled
upon some of them myself.

On the other hand, OOo's file format was standardised just recently, which
means that it will be easy to write filters. Oh, and btw, the standard upon
which OOo's new file format is based was chosen as official data exchange
in the EU.
* Not very intuitive for people switching from MS Office
Click to expand...

It is almost an MS Office clone, the main GUI difference is that some
switches are in other places or that some functions are called differently.
* Stability problems
Click to expand...

I noticed less problems than with MS Office.
* Awkward installation
Click to expand...

Would only be a problem for you, wouldn't it? ;) There is really some
trouble with installing the spelling correction, otherwise I see no
differences towards MS Office.
 
Conor schreef:
OOo only loads up slower because it hasn't got half the dlls already
resident.
Click to expand...

That's not the only reason, and the OOo developers are working on it for
version 2.0.

OOo loads almost the whole program when it starts, while MS Office loads
most of the functionality after it has started; the first time you use a
function in MSO, it will be slower because it has to load it first.

The total load time of MSO is maybe twice as long as OOo's, but you can
start working immediately in MSO, while not in OOo. And for most humans
perception is more important than reality... ;-)
 
Hi Nocolaas. I have an AMD, and have no problems with Oo at all. I
like it better than Works. Word, and WordPerfect.

: <:
: > : >> On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 16:53:27 -0500, "DH" <[email protected](axe
the
: > x's)>
: >> wrote:
: >>
: >>>Thanks in advance.
: >>>
: >>>I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services
: > include
: >>>troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
: >>>network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase
: > computers
: >>>for the companies. They always balk about the extra
~$200US/computer for
: > MS
: >>>Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable alternative? Is this
question
: >>>addressed in any pages? Have others with a similar businesses
considered
: >>>this option? I am especially concerned with the learning curve
with
: > their
: >>>product. It doesn't take much time to justify 200 bucks.
: >>>
: >>>Again Thanks,
: >>>
: >>>Dave H.
: >>
: >> Dave,
: >>
: >> OpenOffice (OO) and several other worthy programs are excellent MS
Office
: >> replacements. Although I have not used the other programs, I am
sure that
: > more
: >> acf members will supply you with more info.
: >>
: >> I have and still use OO for several of my clients. They love it.
The
: > initial
: >> learning curve (in their opinion) was not bad at all :)
: >> They especially loved the cost (or lack thereof).
: >>
: >> They were initially concerned about their
suppliers/contacts/sources
: > supplying
: >> media/documents in MS propietary format & felt that they would be
stuck in
: > a
: >> pinch... but that never happened. They found it very easy to either
have
: > their
: >> suppliers use alternate formats or they themselves converted the
docs. It
: > was
: >> NOT a big issue.
: >>
: >> We made a decision to provide one or two of their office managers
with a
: >> separate standalone pc loaded with OO for a week or so; either to
take &
: >> experiment at home or in the office. They opted to use it at home.
On the
: > 4th
: >> day, we noticed the pc back in the office & the office managers
wanted MS
: >> Office removed from the work computer & OO installed :)
: >>
: >> I would suggest that you might do the same. Hands on; in their own
time,
: > own
: >> speed will allow them to be more receptive to weaning away from MS
Office.
: >>
: >> There was an excellent thread in acf awhile ago on OO. I, too, was
: > reluctant to
: >> change to it but the persistent acf members convinced me. I didn't
have a
: > leg
: >> to stand on against them :)
: >>
: >> ozzy
: >> --
: >> Contact me at phantomshroom(at)hotmail{dot}com
: >> to obtain my real email address. Spammers shot
: >> on site :)
: >
: > Wow, I'm encouraged.
: >
: > I have a system that I am delivering early next week. I'm thinking
"guinea
: > pig". The user is very computer savvy and will make a perfect
sample and
: > will not mind being the tester.
: >
: > Thank You,
: >
: > Dave H.
:
: I have just been on the OOo website intending to download version
1.1.3.
:
: I got as far as almost starting the download, and then noticed that
the
: filename for the Windows version included the word "Intel".
:
: That put an immediate doubt in my mind (or what passes for such)
whether
: it would work for me, as my processor is an AMD, not an Intel - and I
am
: NOT about to waste fifty-mumble megabytes of dial-up-speed download
time
: (four-odd hours) on something that looks like it may be of no use to
me.
:
: Comments?
:
: --
: Regards,
: Nicolaas.
:
:
: - How much of what we see is caused by what we expect?
 
DH schreef:
I service small businesses(2 -30 computers) in my town. My services
include troubleshooting, consulting and fixing their
network,computers,printers...... So often I am asked to purchase
computers for the companies. They always balk about the extra
~$200US/computer for MS Office. Is Openoffice's products a viable
alternative? Is this question addressed in any pages? Have others
with a similar businesses considered this option? I am especially
concerned with the learning curve with their product. It doesn't take
much time to justify 200 bucks.
Click to expand...

I know several companies & governments have switched, are switching or
prepare switching...

You might want to subscribe one (or some) of the OOo mailing lists:
- (e-mail address removed) (announcements of new versions + newsletter)
- (e-mail address removed) (might be a good place to ask about switches)
- (e-mail address removed) (how-do-I-do-this-or-that-in-OOo?)
Also, maybe read the recent newsletters. They always mention some success
stories, which might be interesting.

One thing that won't work in OOo is macro-automated .doc or .dot files;
you can re-make them with OOo (in more ways than is possible with MSO),
but existing VBA macro's won't work.
 
Back
Top