I don't know about all of the "facts" of this article. I can't speak about Flash export, but I can tell you that you can export to PDF for free from Office with PDF 995.

http://www.pdf995.com/

Let's all be honest here, OpenOffice 1.1 bites. I've been using it for 1.5 years and it's still the same slow, illogical morass it's always been. I love that it's free, and I desperately want it to get better — if for no other reason to steal market share away from Microsloth — but a far more robust alternative right now is TextMaker (http://www.softmaker.de/tmw_en.htm) for both Windows and Linux. And if you really want high-end word processing with Open Standards support, just get WordPerfect 11 for $89.

OpenOffice is for people who really don't do word processing, but just tinker and futz around with their computer. They'd be better off using Notepad!

I've been using OO.o for about the same amount of time, and StarOffice before that. It's a little slow to load, but not that much slower than Microsoft Office 2000 on the same machine (It's a work machine, policy dictates that I have to have Microsoft Office installed but doesn't stop me from using an alternative product if I so wish). I use OO.o for pretty much all of my office productivity work: Wordprocessing; Spreadsheet; Presentations. It works for pretty much anything I try, including using Word and Excel templetes with no changes or problems, the only problem I can really remember having was a document a collegue had produced in word with embedded Visio diagrams and VBA macros.

I had a look at that 'TextMaker' product you mention. If all I did was wordprocessing then I might be interested but I need more than that, I need the spreadsheet and presentation capability. For that matter the export to PDF functionality comes in really handy a lot of the time.

WordPerfect is in the same situation (although at least there is a suite version of that around with the spreadsheet and presentation functionality). WordPerfect was the first wordprocesing package I used, I liked it a lot. I stopped using it when it basically dropped off the radar due to all the troubles it had being passed from one company to the next. I tried out the Linux version a few years but found it clunky and unfun to use so stuck with StarOffice.

OO.o does everything I need (spreadsheets, presentations and documents) so I'll stick with that. I think it's very unfair of you to say that OO.o users should stick to Notepad because they don't really do wordprocessing. I know that I and many others have produced a large number and wide range of documents in OO.o that go far above what you can produce in a text editing package like Notepad. It's not a typesetting package like LaTeX but it's certainly a good tool for producing documents and presentations as well as doing spreadsheet work.

Stephen

First of all, quit lying...you know you haven't been using open office for one and a half years or you wouldn't have this bias of an opinion. You would have witnessed Open Office becoming faster and better over the time you "claim" to have been using it. You just some little kid who thinks he knows about computers or you are someone who works on the team that develops that pile of junk called Text Maker. Hmm lets pay 50 bucks for a crap-ass software suite...I think not. Open Office is a great word processor...especially for the price. Sure it's no MS Office, but it does the job. It may not be insanely fast, but if the startup time on this irks you that much you really need to seek professional help. I hope you don't like things as fast with your girlfriend because she might leave ya for an Open Office user if your not careful. Excellence takes time and skill, not just money.

I'm fascinated -- how does one go about running software (OOo 1.1) for 1.5 years, when it was just released last week?

Personally I've been using StarOffice since Sun first released it as free (remembering Comdex 99 when Sun was giving out free Star Office CDs at the door *chuckle*) and then OpenOffice when Star Office quit being free, and for the price, this is unbeatable. You have an office suite that it totally free. Oh no, it might have a 5 second loadtime if that. I think I can live with that for free.

I always like to compare products of equivalent price, that way it would be more realistic.

No doubt, most people on this planet would think that MS product is better, but its so expensive, students can hardly afford it. In Asia, piracy level is quite high, therefore we see that most people use MS products. If govt. in every country were to take measures to stop piracy, I bet there would be a large number of users making a switch to O.O.

Well OpenOffice 1.1 is better than 1.0 in many ways. In my own business I've started bundling OpenOffice 1.1 with the computers I build (it's popular on Linux based computers too). In addition, I'm phasing out Microsoft Office as soon as I double check my databases that I converted into MySQL.

Sorry microsoft, but my preferebce really goes out to openoffice... it's no bloatware, easy to use, has many of the key-features of the regular Office and most of all; FREE !!
5/5

"Acknowledging this trend, Hiser took a directed blow at Redmond, saying, "look for tools that make it easier for users to switch AWAY from MS Office, because if 350 million (legacy MS Office users Windows 2000 and below) users don't do it on THIS upgrade they'll definitely pay up to get out in '05 & '06 when the trap is more apparent to them."

Why use scare tactics to try and convince ppl to switch? If its good enough ppl will on their own with out such statements. Personally as I am against Java and never was happy that they tried to litigate for forced coverage and installation on MS os's instead of just putting out a better product ppl would WANT to download I wont even be trying this new version.

Like I said mainly wondering why they felt using some "Dire Future" story was nessisary.

How does java tie into this discussion?

I have to say that I think several of your comments are a bit off the mark.

First, using "scare tactics" is a hallmark of nearly every company. It's a cheap way to get others to feel like they really need your product. If you cannot generate a desire or urgency for why your product is needed, then it doesn't matter how technically or aesthetically superior it is, people won't flock to it. Superior products aren't don't guarantee success. Marketing does.

Second, what does Java have to do with all of this? If this is a vague reference to the fact that Java can be used with OOo, then it's not a very clear argument. When you install OOo, choose not to use Java. It's no big deal.

And it makes a huge difference when products are bundled with a system. Especially when you're talking about downloads in excess of about 10MB. When I used a dial-up connection, I had to really, really want something bad to download it if it was over 10MB.

Apparently then something has changed since the last time I installed this sw because the time I did it gave no option and did install java which I didnt want. Thats why I mentioned Java. If thats not the case now and its not REQUIRED to use it then cool. I still dont like it when companies do the Scare tactic crud,even tho as someone else put it EVERYONE does it. Just because they do it doesnt make it right hehe. Thats like trying to argue to a cop that he shouldnt give you a speeding ticket if caught because EVERYONE else drives thru the same area at 10 mph over the limit.

Anyway like I said if JAVA isnt manditory now then great but that didnt seem to be the case last time I installed this stuff and because of the previous experience I felt no urge to go thru it again.

Jeva is required, but not really nessesary (it uses it in addressbook or smth.) and there is an option where you just say that you do not have Java. That's all.

Required but not really nessisary? Sounds kinda manditory to me but at least for those that said where was my connection tween this app and Java you settled it for me thx.

According to their site, Java is listed as a requirement for "accessibility." I'm not entirely sure which features that refers to. I've installed it on Windows with Java and on Linux without Java. From all of the features that I personally use with OOo, I've never run into a problem not using Java. I do think the new XSLT filters might need Java, though.

If you have a JVM on the machine and select it during OO.o/StarOffice install then that will allow you to write macros/modules that run within OO.o/StarOffice in Java. If you don't want to do that then having Java or not isn't an issue.

Basically instead of being tied to just one macro programming language like you are with Microsoft Office (VBA) you have a choice of Starbase, Java and a number of others (from what I've heard OO.o has a published API that can be accessed from a variety of languages). You could probably even write some libraries to allow VBA to access OO.o/StarOffice if you so wished.

Stephen

Why would you rather use MS java then sun java, MS java is buggy, flawed and DEAD. Sure they may be releasing security updates to MS java but its a waste of time. Sun Java is under constant development and believe me I was not happy when they removed it from XP and I had to search out to find an MS java installer because SUN was slow and buggy at the time but I have seen Sun Java improve greatly over the past few months and i now use it instead of MS java.

Plus theres no point in having both installed when Sun's will work with IE and Firebird and other browsers. Firebird is the shiznit.

How on Earth did you even manage to tie your own shoes this morning? You seriously need medication. Specifically, where did I say anything about which version of Java I was using? I'll wait if you'd like to review your shortcoming for a moment....

I've always had Sun's Java installed on my Windows machine. I've used Blackdown, IBM, and Sun on Linux. Currently, Sun's is on my Linux machine.

I agree that some businesses use cheap marketing ploys and perhaps that may be more the rule than the exception but, nevertheless, I don't find the comments made by Hiser to be particularly offensive or unwarranted. In all honesty, I use many Microsoft products mainly because I am reimbursed since they are used for business purposes but, for my own personal use, I wouldn't pay a single red cent for anything Microsoft is putting out now. At home, I use Windows 2000 mostly and then I have my little pig boxes that run some varient of NIX on them. 8)

The point is: M$ continues to put out garbage just for the sake of releasing a product and making more money. People buy into it because they are used to their products and have become dependent. Like it or hate it, OpenOffice is great because it is one of the products that is taking away some of Microosoft's market. Competition drives businesses to put out a better product and, since Microsoft needs some quality control, competition here is REALLY good!

OOo is far from fully-functional but it's definitely unparalleled in it's price range and at least they are thinking of innovating, not just doing minor changes and passing them on as milestone offerings (at a high premium, mind you) like M$ does. The coming Office suite promises a more flexible word processor and OneNote does actually look a bit interesting but, if you look at Office's native support for exports and converstions, you can clearly see their desire to remain somewhat stringent and propietary, thus further applying strong-arm tactics, keeping their customers in a choke-hold, so to speak.

OpenOffice gives people a flexible, extensible product that can support their current production environment, whether they're using it for very basic functions or advanced functions. The XML framework and multi-language support may *SEEM* like a nice toy to most people but it's not just there for geek bragging rights; it helps you tailor the product to what you need it to do.

Again, everyone will disagree on which office suite is better but, let's face it, Microsoft doesn't really care much about customer needs so these competing products are what we need to ensure that those price tags don't keep on getting fatter (a'la Macromedia and Adobe products). The only threat I see in this "dire future" is that Microsoft is known to buy out the papa-and-mama shops and, eventually, OOo will have to become profitable, and understandably so.. I just hope the developers of OpenOffice don't sell out cause, really, Microsoft can't compete; they just steal/buy the best ideas out there.. Which explains why LongHorn seems to be a huge Mac OS X rip... And I don't like that cartoonland BS... but that's just me! =oP

Long story short: macadamia white chocolate chunk cookies RAWK! =o]

That comment was intended for BratBoy, I must have mistakenly clicked reply on the wrong post. Anyhow since you chose to be insulting I will retort. You obviously could have realized that comment was not intended for you and I am guessing you just decided to be a smartass. I managed to put my shoes on just fine this morning, all before walking over cretins such as yourself.

Take two of these and call me when you step out of your holographic shell. Bill Braskey is not to be undermined. Bill Braskey needs no medication. Bill Braskey is a higher power. Venturing forth into the dark abyss of dedication makes for enlightening experiences among-st brethren and kin-folk. I have witnessed the trees weeping, I will never hear there cries again. ReKoNiZe

Firstly, totally agree aboput the cookies.

On the subject of Microsoft 'buying up' OpenOffice.org to quash it, well, couldn't really happen. As OpenOffice.org is open source there is no company for them to buy. The nearest they could do is use the core product as part of their own offering (although they'd have to release the code for any changes they made) and charge for additional functionality, much like Sun have done with StarOffice (although, as I underatand it from talking with people at Sun, Sun owned the code and donated it to the open source community).

Stephen

How can a person 'obviously realize' that a response made to their comments wasn't intended for them, despite the fact that it was directly posted below theirs and involved the same topic? So are we all supposed to just make a guess whose comments you're actually responding to as you randomly click on reply links? Neat! I like games!

You know I think the best part about this is that 6 minutes later, your panties were still in a wad and you had to come back for more. "Oh yeah?! Oh yeah?! Well...well...you're stupid!"

Mere technicality there, Stephen, though I fully understand and agree with what you are saying. My key point is that Microsoft hardly ever innovates, they simply "burrow" things that are obviously better than what they offer. It as happened time and again... I understand how the open license works but, even so, I'm sure they'd find some sort of loophole; where there's a law, there's an exploit and M$ always seems to find them, unfortunately. 8)

In any case, it is probably very unlikely though very much possible for M$ to pull off yet another power play of the sorts.. Whatever the case may be, the are in dire need of some new business strategy cause, once people are too frustrated to be even complacent, they will find alternatives, legal or not, and it will cost the corporate giant big bucks; then again, it's all a drop in the bucket for companies like them. [o=

> Firebird is the shiznit.

Yes... minus the word "the", and also without the letters Z, N, and I.

I'd say you are still confused then. Nowhere in any of bratboy's posts under this article did he ever say that he uses MS java instead of Sun java.....just that he didn't agree with Sun trying to force MS to ship Sun java with MS operating systems.