Re: [Sheflug] OpenOffice 1.1

[James Wallbank <james [at] xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

Just to pitch in with a plug for OpenOffice 1.1. Here at RTI we've been
concerned to "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk" about open
source - so a couple of years ago we stopped using M$ Office for any of
our office tasks. (Okay, it was partly a long overdue policy decision,
and partly the fact that our only licenced Windows box exploded!)

In 2001 it was a real struggle, and using the necessary mixture of
KWord, Abiword and earlier Star- and Open- office variants. In all cases
we were carefully stepping around bugs, remembering not to use various
functions (the ones that locked up the GUI!) and switching from app to
app to get the job done. But now we're using OOo 1.1 it is absolutely no
handicap whatever. We've only identified a very few "power user"
features that aren't included (eg: pivot tables in OO Calc would be
nice) but frankly, we aren't power users! We just want to do our
letters, accounts, presentations and normal office-type activities...
just like 99% of other office software users.

Despite the pause during startup I'd venture to suggest that now Open
Office is a serious contender for all businesses that require office
software (can you think of any that don't?).

M$ will certainly step up the attack intensity now.

Best,

James
=====
-- 
James Wallbank
Redundant Technology Initiative
Access Space - 1 Sidney Street - Sheffield - S1 4RG - UK
T: +44 (0)114 2495522
F: +44 (0)114 2495533
W: http://lowtech.org
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