Who doesn’t like a good deal? I cannot pass up a sale, clearance rack, or even a table of free junk because I am addicted to finding a bargain. This is where my love of Open Office started. Open Office is a free, yes I will say it again a free program that allows the user to open any Microsoft Office file as well as create a file and save it in a Microsoft Office or Open Office format. For poor college students this pulls open office into a quick lead.
But what about how each program runs and operates. This makes the competition a bit more difficult and more complex. Experts have been discussion the difference over the Internet for years and all the outcomes from each discussion seem to slightly change from year to year but in the end are all close. Microsoft Office and Open Office are fierce competitors, which seems to be creating programs that are learning and building off of each other. Most critics describe the completion as getting closer and closer every year.
Major differences seem to be in the ability to save and open programs. Open office programs can open and operate any Microsoft office program as well as save them in that format. Microsoft Office cannot say the same, which limits the program as well as it, compatibility with other programs. Some sources have even said Open Office can open older Microsoft Office programs better. The ability to open any programs makes sharing files easy and stress free.
There is also some differences in formatting text that I as a designer feel are very important like kerning and lading that open office makes more accessible and easier. This however is not an aspect that many people are actually concerned with but for me is very important. It offers a bit more freedom for formatting and design.
I think as I review the difference am realizing more and more when I am creating documents with either of these programs they both function great. I am not terribly computer savvy and when using them my end goal is to write a paper, create a spreadsheet, or review a PowerPoint slide show. For me it really comes down to my ability to create files everyone can read and open as well as cost. This makes Open office my winner!
http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/openofficeorg-vs-microsoft-office?page=0,2
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/software/page4765.cfm
Thanks for the insight! To be honest before this week I hadn't ever heard about Open Office. You make it sound like it is worth a try. I would say the biggest challenge is compatibility...Recently many have ahd problems with the new Office program docx and the ability to open documents with doc...perhaps Open office is the simple answer...
ReplyDeleteI've found Open Office to be very nice as well - although I've also been able to get the Educator's discount on Microsoft products - or even free copies from my school.
ReplyDeleteGood evaluation of the two software options!
I"m with Chris. I had never heard of open office until now. It sounds like something worth knowing about if you get a student in your classroom that barely has enough money to have a cheap computer let along buying the office programming suite. Open office can do powerpoint like slides and database spreadsheets?
ReplyDeleteChris- I can understand the problems people are having with opening the newer versions of office on older versions. The nice thing I have found is that you can save the files on the newer version of office as older versions. I hope that makes sense. All you have to do is click on the "save as" portion and then select the version of office the person you are sending it to has.
Here is a nice blog post talking about some alternatives to expensive Microsoft products including open office!
ReplyDeletehttp://lifehacker.com/5611484/spend-a-semester-without-microsoft-office?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+lifehacker/full+(Lifehacker)