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OpenOffice 3 beta: More compatibility, new features
Sun Microsystems has released the first beta for OpenOffice.org 3 for Windows and Mac. The new version of OpenOffice, which is a popular open-source competitor to Microsoft Office, looks to offer users improvements on every component from interface to features to behavior.
OpenOffice.org 3 Start Center
(Credit: CNET Networks)OpenOffice now natively supports OS X, so Mac users won't have to install the X11 module before running the suite. Full Vista support is also included in the beta, and didn't cause any problems during light testing. Notably, OpenOffice 3 includes filters for the new Microsoft Office document formats such as DOCX and XLSX as well as continuing support for standard Microsoft formats. Support for Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows and Office 2008 for Mac has been lacking until now.
The user interface doesn't look to have undergone many changes, besides getting a slightly snazzier gradated background and slightly larger icons. However, the new features more than make up for this. Enhancements include support for OpenDocument Format 1.2, a Solver feature, spreadsheet sharing to facilitate collaboration, improved PDF creation and importation, and improvements to the Notes feature in Writer.
The new Start Center should appeal to users who like having a landing page or only want to have one link on their desktop. It opens up a window that highlights all of the OpenOffice tools with big icons. Another of the more exciting OpenOffice extensions also being released is a Wiki Publisher tool that should make uploading wiki information from the program to a MediaWiki server a snap.
In-depth details of the changes planned for OpenOffice 3 can be found at the OpenOffice.org feature list and release notes.
Seth peers into the deep, dark corners of software so that you don't have to. He has yet to suffer a single nightmare about OS/2. You can follow him on Twitter. 
I hate to tell the OpenOffice devs, but these ?new fresh-looking icons? passed the point of being either new or fresh looking around 2001. I know I?m a Mac guy and probably vain about my user interface, but seriously? these icons are unattractive at the small size, and downright hideous at the large size. Tango icons look much better, and Tango is nothing to write home about. Thing is, if it weren?t for those icons you wouldn?t even be able to tell the difference between 2.x and 3.x.
There seem to have been very few, if any, usability improvements. Apple is doing innovative stuff with iWork Pages, IBM is doing some innovative stuff, and Microsoft is... trying. I understand OpenOffice.org?s philosophy is ?looks like Word ?97?, but can?t they find a better key selling point than ?you should use our product because we don?t evolve from a familiar, crufty old interface.?
I?m a strong supporter of open standards, OASIS OpenDocument in particular. I whole heartedly believe that OOXML is wrong to be a standard because of the lack of attention to technical flaws, complexity, and less-than-a-single-vendor implementation (not to mention how the whole standardization process went down). But, given the ISO?s approval of OOXML and the fact that this new OpenOffice.org represents the ?best of? breed in ODF suites, I?m afraid that we?d all better start learning to speak Chinese? that is? recognizing OOXML. Actually, I guess everyone else already has.
I was unable to properly render/edit an admitadly long and complex DOCX file.
But it's free. If that's important then that's important...
alsalim
All bias aside, would you rather enjoy an easy-to-use, smaller in size, loaded with features that are easy to access (and in some aspects MORE than its competition), and above all FREE office suite? Or would you rather go out and spend $299+ dollars on one of the many version of the Microsoft Office suite that takes a whopping 1+ gigabytes of space for an install, uses 'Fisher Price Graphics' intended to make it 'look' easier to use when in fact the interface is MORE difficult for the average computer user.
Remember, just because it is 'pretty' doesn't mean it is better. Yes OpenOffice has a very simplified look - for a reason! Easy to use, small install footprint, fast, free, open-source, and no strings attached to boot!
Lastly, OpenOffice 3 is in BETA, which means it is still in testing phases and not fully completed - they are still working on functionality and interface - so there are going to be some bugs. You cannot judge the software fairly based on a 'first-look' and a 'beta' version.
I switched to MS Office 2007 to finish the job, did not trust open office to continue anything important. With MS Office 2007, despite not wanting to buy microsoft office, I could not be happier. Its great software, unbelievable amount of upgrades and improvements. It leaves open office so far in the dust it is not even a fair discusion to compare office 2007 with open office.
I say get the MS Office 2007.
I have been using Open office for a long time and not once did I have a data loss problem, I have a few friends using it with no problems either, you just do not use beta products with important data that you have no backup for, that is downright stupid, please pass this on to the "experienced IT folks and programmers" you mentioned, seems in your bid to bash an excellent product and spread FUD you have made an ass of yourself, your account sounds quite odd to me Please go somewhere else with your lies.
If you prefer the fancy features of Microsoft Office then that is fine but you must bear in mind that not all users care about that unless it is critical to something they are doing, Open Office is an excellent replacement for Microsoft office on many occasions and its openness, freeness and cross platform nature add to its appeal, it is not just free it is excellent software, give a less moronic reason to switch please!!
- by maheshmani May 14, 2008 3:59 PM PDT
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