By LEROY MCLEAN, Contributor
THE LEGAL BATTLE between Microsoft and computer users still lingers on. Indeed, it is a situation that exists which requires us to purchase a copy of their expensive productivity suite, called Microsoft Office.
The last time I checked a copy of Microsoft Office 2003 is in the cost figure of around US$350. Clearly this is really an expensive venture, and for a normal working individual like me and you, purchasing this would be far out of our league. Microsoft overpowered Wordperfect and Amipro in the late '90s and pushed them out of the market. Now there is hope for us, OpenOffice is an alternative to Microsoft Office and is now available for free.
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 programme, a presentation manager, and a drawing programme, 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. I have been using OpenOffice for the past two months, and found that it can really match up to the powerful Microsoft Office.
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.
For most users, this free package can rival MS Office.
OpenOffice.org includes powerful programs for creating interactive text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and diagrams. Not only does it let you edit basic documents such as a letter or a fax, but it handles complex and multipart documents with bibliographies, reference tables, and indexes. Even advanced users will find almost everything they've become used to: templates, collaboration features (versions, recording changes), macros, and even a programming language. OpenOffice.org lets you open and save documents in formats as widespread as MS Office, PDF, HTML, XML, and StarOffice.
Similar to MS Office
The interface doesn't differ much from that of MS Office. Every document opens in a new window, and you can add toolbars and buttons. The drop-down menu provides quick access to recently opened documents. Some tools, such as Stylist, can be docked. Other features include powerful formula and diagram editors.
We had stability problems when working with several documents. You can assign the amount of memory the package and each document uses. Anyone looking for an alternative office suite should check out this package.
You can download a copy of OpenOffice from
www.openoffice.org.
Feel free to send your suggestions to
thestartech@yahoo.com
