CNET Editors' review
OpenOffice.org is a great piece of open-source software, but there's no denying it's more than a bit bulky and sluggish. There's no need to worry, though, since there's a fork of the source code called Go-OO that picks up most of OpenOffice's slack.
Go-OO sports an enhanced interface and is much easier to use, with larger icons and less clutter. It still sports drop-down menus for fast customization, but there's no doubt that Go-OO comes with a cleaner layout. It also comes with an importer to handle DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX formats, and natively supports SVG files. Graphics rendering is greatly improved, too, including VBA support, Mono integration, better display of Chinese characters, support for WordPerfect graphics, and EMF rendering.
OpenOffice must be uninstalled before Go-OO is loaded, but that's a minor annoyance. Whereas Flock, for example, is a Firefox fork geared for a particular kind of user, Go-OO should appeal to anybody who loves OpenOffice but is looking for something that's leaner--but hardly meaner.
Publisher's Description
From Go-OO.org:
Go-OO is an OpenOffice.org fork that features faster load and response times, and several features not included in the standard version of the program. Go-OO's user interface is more familiar, with lots of small pieces of polish. Go-OO has built in OpenXML import filters and it will import your Microsoft Works files. It has better Microsoft binary file support (with eg. fields support), and it will import WordPerfect graphics beautifully. If you are reliant on Excel VBA macros, then Go-OO offers the best macro fidelity too. If you expect your spreadsheets to calculate compatibly, or you get embedded Visio diagrams in your documents, you'll want Go-OO.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 37 votes
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Current version:
4.3 starsout of 18 votes
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My rating:
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"A great MS Office replacement"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
For the average user, even businesses and novelists, OpenOffice has plenty of power to do most anything you want to do as for as office programs go. The spreadsheet program is especially good. I use it for all kinds of things.
Cons
There may be some very few advanced things MS Office can do OpenOffice cannot, but for the average user it is wonderful. This new version is way faster, less bloated, and has a prettier user interface. The "ribbon" thing on MS Office is annoying.
Summary
It is FREE. It works much like MS Office. Try it and you will say "Goodbye" to Microsoft and their high fees.
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"Haven't used it for long yet, but clean & efficient."
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
Easy, trouble-free download & install -clean, uncluttered look, -intuitive gui.
Cons
none yet -everything I'd hoped for
Summary
so far, so good!!
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"Get it, use it"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
I like the programs and extensive features of this suite. Free of course! Useful, some more than others but all features appear to work.
Cons
I had the program crash a couple of times when I first installed it but it was able to recover the documents.
Summary
I like the programs and extensive features of this suite. Free of course! Useful, some more than others but all features appear to work.
The program has been crashing often and I cannot determine why. It may be some installation I did one too many times as I was installing the larger program version of same suite and used the uninstaller and then installed this lighter version, more than once with updates and all.
Updated on May 3, 2011 -
"Go-oo joins LibreOffice and will be DISCONTINUED !"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
Go-oo joins forces with LibreOffice.
If you like the work of the Go-OO team, download LibreOffice, also 100% free of charge, since they are now part of their development team.Cons
Discontinuation means no more updates.
Summary
Go-oo joins forces with LibreOffice:
Go-oo shares much of its goals and philosophy with The Document Foundation's LibreOffice project, we're therefore supporting LibreOffice since it's inception, and are in the process of merging most of our patches over, as well as migrating to Document Foundation infrastructure. Going forward, the Go-oo project will be discontinued in favor of LibreOffice.
LibreOffice is also open source software which means it is free of charge. -
"a real good program"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
it is free and almost like having microsft word programs
Cons
none that i can see
Summary
if you can not afford microsoft word program this is the one for you
it is a very good program helps with word
Updated on Mar 24, 2011 -
"Great Program!"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
This really speeds up OpenOffice!
Cons
None that I know of.
Summary
Download Go-OO and it automatically downloads OpenOffice first - which is very good in my opinion.
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"Did not install. Later software available."
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
Did not install
Cons
Did not install
Summary
Did not install.
Updated on Mar 6, 2011 -
"Faster and even more useful! Forget OO 3.3"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
Eats soo much less space and is so much faster.
Cons
Haven't found any yet!
Summary
Wish I could figure out how to make the MS Office Starter set quit being the default and make Go OO be the default. It's the BEST! I hate MS Office.
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"excellent free office software, easy interface"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
functional, easy to use
Cons
none that I've found
Summary
download it , use it
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"Go--OO is Go-OOD"
Version: Go-OO 3.2-13
Pros
Speeds up loading for Open Office.
Cons
Haven't found anything bad except the down load time.
Summary
Speeding the load of OO is a big help.
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