Open Source Word Processor

[karrie]

Does anyone here use an open source word processor?

I find Microsoft 7's decision to sell their Office suite separately maddening, and frankly, to be an ignorant cash grab. I have no inclination to run trials of their word processor and deal with switching over. Open source seems like a better buy to me... lol.

I've run Abiword in the past and didn't mind it, but, had some troubles moving files between profs and me. That's not as much of an concern right now since I'm not currently taking any courses. Has anyone tried any others? How do you like them?

 

[petros]

Open Office. It will even open MS docs and spreads.

http://download.services.openoffice.org/files/stable/3.2.1/OOo_3.2.1_Win_x86_install-wJRE_en-US.exe


I like it far better than any Microsoft product and it's free.

 

[karrie]

thanks for weighing in petros. It's the first one that comes up in a search, so I was thinking it was probably one of the more popular,but, that can also just mean it has the most financial backing.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

I'll second petros' recommendation. I've been using Open Office exclusively for years, works better than anything Microsoft ever sold, and it'll both open and save files in Microsoft's Word, Excel, and Powerpoint formats.

 

[karrie]

thanks Dexter

 

[DurkaDurka]

thanks for weighing in petros. It's the first one that comes up in a search, so I was thinking it was probably one of the more popular,but, that can also just mean it has the most financial backing.

Any software developed is going to require funding in some way or sort. Open Office is backed by many large companies; Sun Microsystems, IBM etc, but it is also a massive software package and various people need to be paid. You certainly won't be selling your soul to the devil if you decide to give it a spin.

In my opinion though, both MS Office & Open Office will be going the way of the dinosaur in their current form pretty soon as the need for locally installed productivity apps will be negated by the likes of Google, giving you a web front end to various office apps.

 

[karrie]

So, to attempt to translate that... you'd work on the net instead of your computer itself?

 

[DurkaDurka]

So, to attempt to translate that... you'd work on the net instead of your computer itself?

I mean, the application would be hosted on a remote server with an HTML based interface which you would use to manipulate documents. Similar to how web-mail works. http://docs.google.com/ for example.

 

[AnnaG]

We use Star Office on the desktop. My laptop has MS Office built in, though.

 

[petros]

I mean, the application would be hosted on a remote server with an HTML based interface which you would use to manipulate documents. Similar to how web-mail works. http://docs.google.com/ for example.

I'd never do my financial spread sheets on a web based application.

 

[DurkaDurka]

I'd never do my financial spread sheets on a web based application.

I agree, documents of that nature are probably are probably better served with a locally installed office suit, at this point anyways. But your PC could also be hijacked and have data stolen, there is no fool proof security.

 

[petros]

I agree, documents of that nature are probably are probably better served with a locally installed office suit, at this point anyways. But your PC could also be hijacked and have data stolen, there is no fool proof security.

The PC I use to do sensitive personal or work matters is never connected to the internet. Even updates are installed using a flash drive.

You can't be too safe.

 

[karrie]

I'd never do my financial spread sheets on a web based application.

No, but my son's chore sheet would be totally fine. lol. I just need it for household stuff... pantry inventory and the like.

 

[DurkaDurka]

The PC I use to do sensitive personal or work matters is never connected to the internet. Even updates are installed using a flash drive.

You can't be too safe.

Yeah, that's the best route if you want the utmost security.

 

[petros]

You'll really like Open Office.

Here is a generic handy template which might save you some time.



Basic 1-31 Tracker | OpenOffice.org Templates

 

[TenPenny]

One kicker with web-based applications is that it essentially gives the US gov't full access to anything you do, because most of these services are hosted in the US, or by US companies, and therefore come under US homeland security regulations. If you decide to write a work of fiction about terrorists, you'll probably end up on an FBI watch list.

 

[petros]

One kicker with web-based applications is that it essentially gives the US gov't full access to anything you do, because most of these services are hosted in the US, or by US companies, and therefore come under US homeland security regulations. If you decide to write a work of fiction about terrorists, you'll probably end up on an FBI watch list.

Every phone call (land & cel), fax, text, and email you send is recorded and held for one year by Homeland Security and CRTC in Canada.

Privacy is long gone. The agencies in North America of today hold more information about an individual than the KGB ever had on Soviet citizens.

Could you imagine being one of the people who have to sort through all the data that the computers flag as suspicious? I'd assume some would be mundane and others very entertaining to say the least.

But this is off track for making a 'to do" list for a young lad.

 

[AnnaG]

One kicker with web-based applications is that it essentially gives the US gov't full access to anything you do, because most of these services are hosted in the US, or by US companies, and therefore come under US homeland security regulations. If you decide to write a work of fiction about terrorists, you'll probably end up on an FBI watch list.

That sounds like a great opportunity to play with their heads.

 

[spaminator]

its not open source, but you can still give it a try if you want.

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