[madmatt2006]

Hi Members

This is a great free program if you don't already know about it. OpenOffice is becoming more popular day by day here is a little info and a link to download it FREE!

OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.

Full program details and download here

[Uncle Fester]

madmatt2006, on 14 September 2009 - 11:58 PM, said:

Hi Members

This is a great free program if you don't already know about it. OpenOffice is becoming more popular day by day here is a little info and a link to download it FREE!

OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.

Full program details and download here

Busy promoting OOO myself, do you know about Software Freedom Day this weekend? -Click Here to find out more
Am trying to instigate an ECDL locally, as well as promoting it to small/start-up businesses and those on courses I am involved with, hope to start seeing results.

By the way, for those who don't know, OpenOffice 3 can even open MS Office 07 docs!
Good post, OOO needs it's profile raised

[madmatt2006]

No I didn't know about Software Freedom Day what a great idea! checking it out now

[new_guy]

In "save file as", I don't see the option to save as a microsoft 2007 document.

[noop]

new_guy, on 14 September 2009 - 09:03 PM, said:

In "save file as", I don't see the option to save as a microsoft 2007 document.

What version of Open Office are you using?

[new_guy]

I think it's 3.1.1

[noop]

new_guy, on 14 September 2009 - 09:26 PM, said:

I think it's 3.1.1

If I am correct, you are only able to open docx files, but not save them. I would save the file as .doc You can open this file with Microsoft Office Word 2007.

[new_guy]

Oh. I see.

[Uncle Fester]

Sorry, my fault, should have checked if it could save as well as open in that format. Hadn't checked that..

[noop]

Uncle Fester, on 15 September 2009 - 01:09 PM, said:

Sorry, my fault, should have checked if it could save as well as open in that format. Hadn't checked that..

Don't worry, you never said anything about saving the files; and still, open office is a great product/alternative to some of the major brand name programs.

[Pirate07]

I love openoffice.org. I actually prefer it over Micro$oft Office 2003, or 2007. You can read and open so many more different formats with OOO. Thats what makes it great. More businesses need to start using it, you can save thousands on licensing fees However Office 2010 (which is suppose of be release in June of 2010) is going to have free online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Onenote. So that is going to hurt openoffice and google docs

[Uncle Fester]

As I've mentioned before, spreading the word is part of my mission, as is delivering some recognised training in the subject. Both are matters I am quite deeply involved with, hopefully good things are around the corner.

I'd heard about Redmonds 'Cloud' office apps too and agree that they will take a bite of the apple, but I think mainly among the home/student market - who do not require the functionality of a full-fledged suite. Personally I don't like the whole idea of this, or google docs as I think of the security implications. Will big corporations (more importantly their IT admins) really give control (and trust) to someone else to store and process their (often sensitive) documents online. It may reduce TCO, allowing staff laptops and those working from home to have access to the software, but would you hand over what is essentially your whole business to someone elses control? Maybe it's me being paranoid (or should that read realist) but down this road disaster waits.

I actually run both 03 and OO, but am installing OO (and occassionally just Abiword) on all the PCs I donate out for a number of reasons, not least being cost. I even scrounge around the recycling centre (well I know a man who does for me as well) for XP licenses on old PCs to reduce costs further. One upshot is that OO is getting seen by a wider base - the kids and grandkids of my clients are exposed to a product that probably quite a few don't even realise is not 2003!

Let's hope the word spreads far and wide.

By the way I must admit my standard file format (for saving) is still .doc - although I hate to admit it is still the most platform accesible for me, as some times I use 07 too, and at least I can open them with anything!

[Pirate07]

Know you are not being paranoid about the online docs. I feel the same way that you do, I don't really like the concept. Why someone would use those over OpenOffice, is beyond me.

[Uncle Fester]

Glad to hear that I'm not alone.

'Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you'

[madmatt2006]

I'm I.T manager it's my full time job I can tell you 100% now way I'd be doing it. You would have to be friken crazy to let some one else manage important company data. Just imagine it got hacked and some one stole all your data and held it for ransom

[Uncle Fester]

Exactly. Whoever came up with that bright idea needs their head tested. And that goes double for whoever takes them up on it!

I'm in training for my MCSE (then upgrading) and have quite a few meetings with various bureaucrats through my charity work, when you talk to them, they're always mentioning the Cloud and online apps/storage. Sometimes I want to scream, just have to talk to their IT dept to find like-minded souls; they feel they're not being listened to.
In an ideal world, this would be a great idea but people are people, hardware breaks and how do you work in blackspots? These very same bureaucrats will be the first people to moan when it all goes wrong.

I play my own game here too, briefing my co-ordinators on open source and various other projects, and deliberately screwing with their mind over this. They're always asking about it, but 'security' and 'ID theft' are great buzz words. Bit like training a parrot, wind them up and let them go. Just have to show them how easy to break a password, crack emails or another such secure system; amazing how attitudes can change.

I know that's cynical, but the only way to fight these bigwigs who cannot see the big picture. For crying out loud, I don't even like relying on one office suite!

'In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'

[madmatt2006]

This comment will fix your friends mentioning the Cloud and online apps/storage

It would be a safe bet to say that it will get hacked and there will be hackers that will want to to do it just to make a point, with that in mind would you store your data or do any online word processing ect there?

You would have to be crazy to say YES to that one.

I could also bet that someone inside the company has full access to your data to how do you know you can trust them or even tell if the are looking at your data is could be stolen and sold.

[madmatt2006]

some news relating to this topic