- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: August 30, 2009
- Total Downloads: 2,222,522
- Downloads last week: 11,803
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1161 votes
See all user reviews -
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Watch the CNET video review of OpenOffice.org:
Publisher's description
From OpenOffice.org :OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. Localizations of OpenOffice.org are available in 27 languages, with more being constantly added by the community. OpenOffice.org runs on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), and Windows. Written in C++ and with documented APIs licensed under the LGPL and SISSL open-source protocols, OpenOffice.org allows any knowledgeable developer to benefit from the source.
What's new in this version:
Version 3.1.1 fixes Framework showstopper and includes some enhancements.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 1161 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 73 user reviewsSee all 73 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
"very good, like the database"
Pros: I am at home retired don't need microsoft, but need an office suite.
Cons: no problems yet.
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Version: OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
Pros: I can create and view documents without being extorted
Cons: hard to figure out how to use
Summary: Thank you!
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Version: OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
Pros: It does all I want
Cons: Don't have any
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Version: OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
Pros: PDF export
Classic styled menusCons: Hm -only thng I could find is that it doesn't support the IFRAME command in website making mode
Summary: Works great without hurting your bank account
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Version: OpenOffice.org 3.1.1
"Some work, some don't - terrible support"
Pros: Free, no other redeeming qualities.
Cons: Base did not work at all -- would not launch. Wrote issue ticket and was closed without resolution. The old ostrich in the sand scenario.
Summary: Pay the money and get something that works.
- See all 73 user reviews Write review
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