CNET Editors' review
A credible rival to MS Office, OpenOffice.org includes powerful applications for making text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, and databases, as well as HTML and XML documents. Not only does it let you edit basic documents, such as letters and faxes, it also handles equations and complex and multipart documents with bibliographies, reference tables, and indexes.
The interface is similar to that of MS Office, and even advanced Office users will find almost everything they're used to: templates, collaborative features (versions, recording changes), macros, and even a programming language. OOo, as it's known, lets you open and save documents in formats as diverse as MS Office formats, PDF, HTML, and XML. It can also import files from those formats, as well as WordPerfect and others. However, it normally saves files in the open-standard Oasis OpenDocument XML format, for maximum compatibility with other applications.
The latest versions of OpenOffice have seen a spurt of growth in the extensions available for the program. These include templates for professional writers, an export tool for bidirectional functionality with Google Docs, blog publishing, and others. Blog publishing assistance especially strikes us as a natural area for word processing to grow toward.
We were pleased to find that stability has improved too. No doubt about it, the multilingual and crossplatform OpenOffice.org is a compelling option for anyone in search of an alternative office suite.
Publisher's Description
From OpenOffice.org:
This office productivity suite for Mac OS X includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to that of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office.
What's new in this version: See http://development.openoffice.org/releases/3.4beta.html.
More Popular Office Suites downloads
- Microsoft Office 2011
4,821 downloads
- OpenOffice.org
3,202 downloads
- Microsoft Office 2008
1,434 downloads
- Apple iWork
615 downloads
- Microsoft Office 2004
373 downloads
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 150 votes
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Current version:
2.8 starsout of 22 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Does everything I need and then some."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
I am using Open Office instead of Microsoft Office. I was fed up with most bloated Microsoft products. Open Office seems to be more flexible and intuitive than MS Office. I am extremely pleased with this software. Great to be able to open and save documents in so many formats.
Cons
I liked the drag and drop option in MS Office for inserting pictures. Placing pictures in an OO app is more long winded. I've had trouble opening (particularly re-opening) some documents by clicking on the document icon. Opens fine from file/open but is slow or seems to get stuck if opened from the document icon.
Summary
Any "complaints" I have about Open Office are extremely minor and I've supplied them as feedback rather than negative criticism. Great software. Kudos to the software designers and everybody involved in the OO project!
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"OpenOffice.org 3.3.0 OOO3330m20 (Build:9567)"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
Operating Environment:
Generally works well for my uses. I use it on a MacPro3.1 + MAC OS X 10.6.8 with 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor with 8 GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM. Note: Currently on my computer. 3.4 GB Hard Disk is available for application's files.
High compatibility with file read into MS-Office Suite - content is not lost though formatting of text may not be equal. OpenOffice.org Office Suite is free to the end user and is a robust office suite. Is is available for download from trusted sites with versions to run on M-S OS, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix. operating systems. There is no lawful requirement to use only M-S Office!Cons
High compatibility with file read into MS-Office Suite - content is not lost though formatting of text may not be equal.
Persons of the mind set to use and support only proprietary software are the greatest reasons this office suite is not found in some Enterprise environments.Summary
To provide a factual objective rating a product I find it necessary to include the operating environment in which the product lives at the time of use. The software and computer may not be a good match. My Power Mac 17" laptop of 2002's hardware does not meet the needs of current versions of Safari or OpenOffice.org Suite. The problem is with the hardware and firmware not the current versions of the applications.
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"This is a *beta* version of the software, folks!"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
Free, full-featured office suite
Cons
This is a *BETA* version of the software. It may crash or act buggy, so don't use it for production work. You can download a *STABLE* version of the suite (currently version 3.3) if the risks associated with beta software are unacceptable for your intended usage of the program. You can get it at the open openoffice.org homepage if you can't find it here.
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"Complete GARBAGE"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
There's nothing good about this program.
Cons
I saved a manuscript in OpenOffice and sent it out to a major publisher (Tor.com). To my horror, I later discovered that the formatting was completely wrong. Double spaced lines had become single spaced, indents had disappeared. I'm thinking this must be my fault, so I fixed the formatting, double, triple and quadruple checked everything then saved the file and emailed it out again. When I opened a copy of the sent file, it was worse than before. This program is GARBAGE! I think I will go back to using ATLANTIS.
Summary
Totally worthless program
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"crashes all the time"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
simple, easy to use
Cons
crashes all the time even when your just looking at it... recovery is fairly fast and easy to do but not when your forced to do it every couple of minutes
Summary
lots of bugs... but once they are fixed it will be a great program
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"OK if all you need to do is type."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
The price is right. It is very versatile and supports a variety of formats.
Cons
You get what you pay for. That is the only reason why I gave it a two star rating. I would have given this a 0 star rating if I would have given any amount of money for this. It is extremely frustrating with all of its automatic formatting. It finally decided that what I wanted was bullets. I did one section and then the next section where I wanted bullets it did a different format of bullets. The automatic numbering is awkward too. I don't remember previous versions of Open Office to be this bad but this version does not compare to Microsoft Office, or even Microsoft Works for that matter. Also, in the spreadsheet I had typed two columns of stuff for something. I wanted to alphabetically sort by the first column, so I highlighted the two columns starting with the first one. It sorted by the second column. Why ?????? It doesn't make sense.
Summary
I think that this program is way too complex and has way too many bugs. If you are a novice user just needing to make a document for something, stick with Microsoft Works or whatever you have on your computer. This isn't worth downloading. If you need more complex documents and spreadsheets done, this will do the trick but you will pay the price out of pure frustration to use it.
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"Have tried loading on iMac now, 6 times. I failed."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
it is free and my brother says I should have it.
Cons
I can't install it.
Summary
Mac OS X 10.4.11, 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 w/768 MB DDR SDRAM.
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"Excellent can do everything that I need to do"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
All works well and compatible with Office Suite. So why pay?
Cons
Not a frequent user so cant list any.
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"Was disappointed with OpenOffice"
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
It is a great program to use, especially since it's a Free program.
Cons
It doesn't play well with the MAC. It crashed on me 3 times while I was typing a document, so I switched to a Presentation template and as I began typing it crashed again.
Summary
You get what you pay for.
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"Not good.."
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.4b
Pros
Works just like Microsoft office!
Cons
Has a virus.
Summary
They say macs can't get viruses, but this particular application has one I think. It kept coming up with a small window that said "Restore previous windows" and "Dont restore windows" and NO MATTER WHAT you clicked it wouldn't go away. And when you try to quit, it won't let you. You can't delete it cause it's "in use". And it won't even let you turn off/restart your computer! I had to do a manual shut down, then I deleted it as soon as I turned it back on without re-opening OpenOffice. I've tried re-installing it 3 more times, and it does the same thing.
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