Open Office - anyone have it ?

Having a Windows 8 laptop, I don't have Microsoft Office software installed.
A friend has recommended downloading something called Open Office.
Does it have Word, Powerpoint and Spreadsheet ?
Is it compatible with Microsoft Office software ?
If you have it, what do you think of it ?
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Comments

  • LION8TIGERLION8TIGER Posts: 8,484
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    I did have Open Office but changed to LibreOffice about a year ago ...... both compatible with Word, not sure about Powerpoint but spreadsheets it has .... I only use it as a word processor.

    Comes recommended on here.
  • barky99barky99 Posts: 3,921
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    used to have OpenOffice but switched to the fuller featured more MS office compatible LibreOffice a while back .... thanks to software licensing any good updates openoffice gets libreoffice is able to add BUT any updates/changes libreoffice makes can't transfer to openoffice
  • mac2708mac2708 Posts: 3,349
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  • scooby1970scooby1970 Posts: 2,797
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    Our business, and a lot of workplaces I visit use LibreOffice and OpenOffice with no problems at all when sharing data between businesses. I highly recommend LibreOffice, my office suite of choice.

    :) Mark
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    I have LibreOffice on my Macbook Air. It's not a bad office suite and it's compatible with MS Office. I do have Office 2008 for Mac on my Pro though if I need full compatibility with the Dark Side.
  • alan1302alan1302 Posts: 6,336
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    Having a Windows 8 laptop, I don't have Microsoft Office software installed.

    You say that everytime you post on here...as we and you know Office only comes with selected PCs and has never come with all PCs no matter what version of Windows.
  • mred2000mred2000 Posts: 10,050
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    Many more people already told you to pick up Libre Office rather than OpenOffice...
  • John259John259 Posts: 28,325
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    A friend has recommended downloading something called Open Office.
    LibreOffice is generally considered superior to Open Office. Details here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice

    Alternatively, the cloud based office systems such as Google Docs might be worth a try.
  • noise747noise747 Posts: 30,692
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    LibreOffice for me as well, on my windows 8 machine and Mint linux laptop.


    Even a friend of mine uses it on her Mac for business.
  • s2ks2k Posts: 7,410
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    Another option if you arent too fussed about Powerpoint is Office 2010 Starter. It's cut down versions of Word and Excel 2010 free for personal use. Whilst Libreoffice is good, I personally prefer this as it contains the modern UI and ribbon interface. At first I used to hate it but its not so bad when you get the hang of it.

    As far as OpenOffice goes I had problems with it in the past where the formatting of documents would get trashed but I imagine this has been improved over time.
  • !!11oneone!!11oneone Posts: 4,098
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    I can't tell if the OP is trolling or has short term memory loss?
  • noise747noise747 Posts: 30,692
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    s2k wrote: »
    Another option if you arent too fussed about Powerpoint is Office 2010 Starter. It's cut down versions of Word and Excel 2010 free for personal use. Whilst Libreoffice is good, I personally prefer this as it contains the modern UI and ribbon interface. At first I used to hate it but its not so bad when you get the hang of it.

    As far as OpenOffice goes I had problems with it in the past where the formatting of documents would get trashed but I imagine this has been improved over time.

    The Ribbon UI is a good reason for not using MS office.
  • John259John259 Posts: 28,325
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    noise747 wrote: »
    The Ribbon UI is a good reason for not using MS office.
    It's certainly a major dividing factor one way or the other.
  • TheBigMTheBigM Posts: 13,125
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    I used the Home Use Programme through my employer to get the full Office 2013 (professional version) for £8.95
  • TelevisionUserTelevisionUser Posts: 41,395
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    Open Office and Libre Office are pretty much comparable, they do the same job, they're free and they're both up to date so you can choose and use either of them:

    http://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html

    http://www.libreoffice.org/download

    The basic Microsoft Office Starter 2010 is available free from here http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/26083-microsoft_office_starter and if that doesn't work with an older system and OS then there's Kingsoft's basic and free office suite here http://www.kingsoftstore.co.uk/kingsoft-office-freeware.html.
  • barky99barky99 Posts: 3,921
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    Open Office and Libre Office are pretty much comparable, they do the same job, they're free and they're both up to date so you can choose and use either of them:

    http://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html

    http://www.libreoffice.org/download

    The basic Microsoft Office Starter 2010 is available free from here http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/26083-microsoft_office_starter and if that doesn't work with an older system and OS then there's Kingsoft's basic and free office suite here http://www.kingsoftstore.co.uk/kingsoft-office-freeware.html.
    libreoffice has more features and is a bit more ms office file compatible .... has the new sidebar of openoffice4 (acquired from IBM & as openoffice include it libreoffice automatically gets it too) instead of a height robbing ribbon interface - similar space at side in office starter is taken up by ads
  • neo_walesneo_wales Posts: 13,625
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    Ribbon would be an issue back the ye olde days of 14" monitors but not today with most people using a good size monitor.

    Ctrl F1 minimises it should you be on a something like a small screen laptop. I find ribbon very handy.

    http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/minimize-the-ribbon-HA010166329.aspx

    Are there still compatibility issues with the free office programmes and MS Office?
  • noise747noise747 Posts: 30,692
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    John259 wrote: »
    It's certainly a major dividing factor one way or the other.

    Another thing that MS forces onto people and again don't give people a choice.


    i am starting to hate MS again for some reason. I thought with windows 7 being as good as it was, they have listened to people, but it seems like they have not.

    I hope that Libre office don't go for this ribbon system.
  • whoever,heywhoever,hey Posts: 30,992
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    noise747 wrote: »
    Another thing that MS forces onto people and again don't give people a choice.

    Total crap. They aren't forcing you to buy it.:rolleyes:
  • NewWorldManNewWorldMan Posts: 4,890
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    John259 wrote: »
    It's certainly a major dividing factor one way or the other.

    Doesn't bother me anymore. Gotten used to it. A useful strategy is that when you find a button that you intend to use regularly add it to the Quick Access toolbar. Then hide the ribbon until you need it again.
  • neo_walesneo_wales Posts: 13,625
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    Doesn't bother me anymore. Gotten used to it. A useful strategy is that when you find a button that you intend to use regularly add it to the Quick Access toolbar. Then hide the ribbon until you need it again.

    I agree with you but it seems its too much like hard work for some :rolleyes:
  • alan1302alan1302 Posts: 6,336
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    !!11oneone wrote: »
    I can't tell if the OP is trolling or has short term memory loss?

    I'm not sure either!!
  • noise747noise747 Posts: 30,692
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    Total crap. They aren't forcing you to buy it.:rolleyes:

    No, but I got to use it.
  • neo_walesneo_wales Posts: 13,625
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    noise747 wrote: »
    No, but I got to use it.

    For how long? If your just knocking out a letter of complaint or something you'd be better off just using wordpad perhaps. The ribbon bar as said earlier is a very effective tool when your using the likes of Word for more serious work.
  • mred2000mred2000 Posts: 10,050
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    !!11oneone wrote: »
    I can't tell if the OP is trolling or has short term memory loss?

    You should check out some of their threads outside of this section. I don't think you're alone...
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