Open office users - would you ever go back to Microsoft?

[KidsBeeHappy]

I have openoffice on my netbook and the kids computers, but still MSoffice on the main PC's. Was thinking about the leap of moving it all onto open office, but, worry mostly about compatability when sending files etc to colleagues.

So, question, has anyone that made the switch to open office ever gone back to MSoffice?

 

[brownie]

After having used Open Office for a couple of months now, no I wouldn't move back to Office. I'm a typical user and only use 20% of the functionality 80% of the time hence Open Office performs exactly what I want and in some cases (producing PDFs) is better than MS Office.

I've had no compatability problems with Office 2k3/2k7, however with Office 10 I reckon there will be some problems.

Why not run the two side by side for a while?

 

[KM-Tiger]

I can't, you cannot install M$ Office on Linux.

There are compatibility issues. Most I've seen are minor annoyances rather than showstoppers, so it's going to depend a bit on what you do, and what the M$ users will need to do to files you send.

If it's just viewing then export to PDF.

 

[spreadsheetsdirect]

Personally, from the spreadsheet side of things, OO can be a right pain. As good as it is for a free piece of software there are certain things that are simple to do in Excel that aren't in Calc. OO Basic is a nightmare too. One line of code of VBA can take numerous lines in OO.

Can you not make your computer dual boot or try running Office in WINE if you want to have both?

 

[Faevilangel]

I am a light user, I only use OO writer once every so often, so I wouldn't move to MS.

It's an expensive purchase for little use, so using OO is my best option, it does what I want well, I can save my documents as a .doc so MS will open it. I haven't had any problems from clients not being able to open my OO documents, or me opening their MS documents.

 

[AndrewUK]

I quite like the Microsoft Office package. It is amazing what some people can achieve with the features. Faevilangel is right though, "It's an expensive purchase for little use". Most users simply don't need the latest versions or Open Office is more than suitable for their requirements.

For colleagues using MS Office you can save files in their formats or export to a pdf. Plus when using a linux system Open Office is the perfect suite to use.

Open Office contributes to helping keep costs down when running a business as long as it's not going to limit your productivity.

 

[Seb de Lemos]

After a while using NeoOffice (the Mac version of OpenOffice), I had enough of it crashing and causing bugs so switched to Ms Office.

I use Word for one document a day Maximum, and probably the same for Excel -and then only for pretty basic calculations- but compared OpenOffice it is staggeringly more reliable.

Can't say how different NeoOffice is to Openoffice though.

 

[RedEvo]

Eh.....no, but I might change over to Google Docs.

d

 

[Subbynet]

I personally think MS Office still wins from a productivity viewpoint. Org is alright - I use it myself with Ubuntu.

People complain about the ribbon in MS office, moving from left to right along the menu bar it leads you through whole process of creating a document pretty well. It also exposes a lot of functionality that you'll be struggling to find in Org.

Like with much open source stuff, it doesn't lack the features, instead it lacks in its User Interface - and making those features easily accessible to users.

 

[Astaroth]

In a word, no, currently use OO, Neo and MS Office as run Ubuntu, Mac OS X and Windows and given the choice (excluding the cost element) would use MS Office every time. The only thing OO/ Neo wins on its the out the box ability with PDFs but there are no shortage of ways of achieving this with MS Office too.

That said, my mac dual boots windows so have the choice of using either when at home. For basic operations I happily use Neo but for anything more complex or if I am sharing with MS users (particularly presentations) then switch to Office.

 

[sysops]

We've been using it across our network for 8 years. Would never go back. Add up the saving over that time, quite shocking.

 

[onesixtyfourth]

I can't, you cannot install M$ Office on Linux.

There are compatibility issues. Most I've seen are minor annoyances rather than showstoppers, so it's going to depend a bit on what you do, and what the M$ users will need to do to files you send.

If it's just viewing then export to PDF.

If you install it through WINE you can.

 

[MarcusMiller]

Yup, wine should do it, or worst case it's simple to run a virtual windows machine with virtual box so... that could do it.

From my own point of view, have used open office for nearly 3 years on my linux desktops and even on the one XP laptop I keep and would not go back to microsoft office. Whilst I appreciate that it is the best of bunch from a feature perspective it is bloated with features that I simply don't need and Open Office Writer and Calc handle my needs admirably.

I have moved a few bods across to open office, non tech peeps and all had no problem, in fact, I think many people prefer the simple OO interface to the new ribbon.

 

[leemason]

I've run Open Office for many years on Mandriva Linux. I only ever use Windows in a VMware virtual machine when I absolutely need to on a customer site. I do support customers running Windows desktops. My number of support issue is always Outlook. Don't use it myself and would rather my customers didn't but they do.

I've recently started to install OO for them on a few PCs. No complaints so far...

 

[edmondscommerce]

tbh i barely need an office suite..

lightweight word processing duties - OO is absolutely fine and with built in PDF support its great.

the spreadsheet is actually the best one out there for my needs, I would use it over excel any day because it doesn't mess up my data - back in the day excel used to cause all kinds of problems

so no I would never go back

 

[edmondscommerce]

for my mum, I installed open office and then renamed all the shortcuts to the apps in the familiar MSOffice names..

she never even knew the difference

 

[Atilla]

I've run Open Office for many years on Mandriva Linux. I only ever use Windows in a VMware virtual machine when I absolutely need to on a customer site. I do support customers running Windows desktops. My number of support issue is always Outlook. Don't use it myself and would rather my customers didn't but they do.

I've recently started to install OO for them on a few PCs. No complaints so far...

Slightly off tack, With reference to Outlook, what alternative would you recommend?
Requirement for synching with WinMo mobile phone - contacts and calendar, emails synched via imap.

 

[chesslau]

no, not MSOFFICE, i hate it.

 

[ZMakarov]

I have openoffice on my netbook and the kids computers, but still MSoffice on the main PC's. Was thinking about the leap of moving it all onto open office, but, worry mostly about compatability when sending files etc to colleagues.

So, question, has anyone that made the switch to open office ever gone back to MSoffice?

Hi,
I installed open office and liked it very much, the fact that its free and low on resources made me like it more. But, Microsoft has made a name of itself and in all office environments we see Microsoft Office 2k3/2k7 installed. Its become a trend now to follow Microsoft products. :redface:

 

[Markei]

Yes and no -
I had it installed when I was running Ubuntu for a short time, but when I switched back to Windows I automatically installed MS again.

I'm not that fold of its interface.. and as a student I spend quite a lot of time staring aimlessly at it! hah, I need something that's pretty easy on the eye aswell as usability.

 

[Subbynet]

What I find interesting is the amount of you who have said you use it because you have simple requirements and/or its free.

That says to me Org doesn't have a single feature above and beyond its competitors. (Exporting PDF's is hardly worthy of a fanfare) Also most complaints against MS Office are also largely anecdotal.

I just can't help thinking Org needs another hook to grab more market share - something which clearly stands out from what MS are doing.

 

[edmondscommerce]

i would hate it if they spoiled it by bloating it with features i wont use tbh

 

[brownie]

Slightly off tack, With reference to Outlook, what alternative would you recommend?

Thunderbird.

Requirement for synching with WinMo mobile phone - contacts and calendar

Not by default, with Thunderbird you'd need to buy a 3rd party plugin.

emails synched via imap.

not clear what you're saying, with IMAP mails are left on the server so no sync required.

 

[Subbynet]

i would hate it if they spoiled it by bloating it with features i wont use tbh

But no doubt you'd love it if they introduced something you did turn out to like.

That's the trouble really, not a lot of people know the functionality they want or what is available without being given/shown it.

 

[edmondscommerce]

i don't know, I can't think of a feature that I wish I had tbh..

its so long now since I used Office - what can it do that would impress me?

 

[Subbynet]

i don't know, I can't think of a feature that I wish I had tbh..

its so long now since I used Office - what can it do that would impress me?

You see its a funny one trying to predict what people want... And I'm not sure about MS Office, I don't know what impresses you.

The biggest impression I have of MS Office is a much better UI... That's my biggest and main gripe about Org, its ugly as hell. The icons and button layout are not intuitive in any sense. I mean just look how ugly the Bold/Italic/Underline icon is... When were they last updated?

About the only thing I think works better are Data Sources. Its very simple to work with and pull in external data in Org apps.

I just wish they would group the functionality is a "ribbon"'ish way, and not scattered among poorly designed icons, widgets and drop down menu's.

 

[drounding]

...I just wish they would group the functionality is a "ribbon"'ish way, and not scattered among poorly designed icons, widgets and drop down menu's.

Please no! I hate that new MS ribbon, can't find anything I want any more. Worst thing they did with MS Office in years.

 

[edmondscommerce]

for bold I [ctrl]+

if the UI is the only major draw for Office as compared to OO then I'm happy enough - with anything a UI is something you get used to and once you are it stops being important (IMO)

btw I have no idea what all this ribbon stuff is about??

 

[KM-Tiger]

... That's my biggest and main gripe about Org, its ugly as hell.

Each to their own.

I couldn't give a FF what the interface looks like, as long as I can produce the documents to run my business and make a profit.

And I drive a Skoda for similar reasons!

 

[Subbynet]

Please no! I hate that new MS ribbon, can't find anything I want any more. Worst thing they did with MS Office in years.

I didn't say copy the ribbon. Although it does surprise me that people "hate" it. Its not that bad at all, but it does seem like marmite. You love it hate it.

Org shouldn't copy or want to be a direct clone of MS Office. That I'm sure of, but in the same respect, MS in my opinion has a better UI than the scattering of icons adorning Org.

I'd like to see Org try develop a third way, which can pull in the benefits of both systems in something a little more intuitive.

But IMO most Open Source apps have poorer designed UI's.

 

[Subbynet]

Each to their own.

I couldn't give a FF what the interface looks like, as long as I can produce the documents to run my business and make a profit.

And I drive a Skoda for similar reasons!

Sorry mate, that's a poor comparison.

If the seats were facing backwards with the peddles in different corners of the car and the steering wheel in the boot - you'd care. Even if the car would get you from A to B.

The reason its not is because that's unintuitive and not what people expect. Even in your car, the layout of controls is important.

 

[edmondscommerce]

Each to their own.

I couldn't give a FF

couldn't give a firefox eh ?

lol

 

[drounding]

LOL I wish the ribbon was Marmite, that I love.

You are correct, so many open source apps have dated UIs. I think it's possibly because the programmer types that get involved are under-the-hood types keen to get involved with the nitty gritty. They're obviously not usability/graphic designer types.

UIs aside though most apps have an open source equivalent that's pretty good these days.

 

[cjd]

I couldn't get used to OO - and I did try. I miss M$2007, it just works better and does a few specialised things that I needed that OO couldn't. Now using Office for Mac, which is better than OO but not as good as M$20007.

Just can't win I guess.What I need is a Linux machine that's as well thought out as a Mac running OO that's as well built as M$.

 

[brownie]

so many open source apps have dated UIs.

Not an uncommon statement, something I've heard many times before but I don't understand. :|

I cannot say the Windows 2k8 UI is any better than the NT4 UI, they may look different but both perform the same job.

 

[Subbynet]

Not an uncommon statement, something I've heard many times before but I don't understand. :|

I cannot say the Windows 2k8 UI is any better than the NT4 UI, they may look different but both perform the same job.

But Win 2k8 performs the same job (main tasks) just a bit easier from a end-user viewpoint.

NT4 or Win2k were blank. You made them what they were - but out of the box, Win2k8 knows its going to be used for a number of functions by a wide range of people, and setting up these services is made simple.

 

[Atilla]

Thunderbird.

Not by default, with Thunderbird you'd need to buy a 3rd party plugin.

not clear what you're saying, with IMAP mails are left on the server so no sync required.

Thats why i singled out contacts and calendar.

Seems like it may be just as easy to stay as is.

 

[Atilla]

The biggest impression I have of MS Office is a much better UI... That's my biggest and main gripe about Org, its ugly as hell. The icons and button layout are not intuitive in any sense. I mean just look how ugly the Bold/Italic/Underline icon is... When were they last updated?

That's the first time i come across anyone praising the ribbon UI.
Bloody useless thing it is.

 

[GaryMc]

I will second subbynet - I think the ribbon is great. Use Office 2007 at work and Office 2000 at home and the difference is immense. Used to use Office 2003 at work as well but the ribbon is so much easier.

Like the menu's but always open

 

[spreadsheetsdirect]

I will second subbynet - I think the ribbon is great. Use Office 2007 at work and Office 2000 at home and the difference is immense. Used to use Office 2003 at work as well but the ribbon is so much easier.

Like the menu's but always open

I'll third it. It just takes a bit of getting used to.