- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: December 12, 2006
- Total Downloads: 1,769,760
- Downloads last week: 13,741
- See full specifications
A newer version of OpenOffice.org is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1152 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
An increasingly 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 complex and multipart documents with bibliographies, reference tables, and indexes.
The interface is similar to that of MS Office users, 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. OpenOffice.org lets you open and save documents in formats as diverse as MS Office, PDF, HTML, and XML. However, it normally saves files in the open-standard Oasis OpenDocument XML format, for maximum compatibility with other applications. We were pleased to find that stability has improved too. No doubt about it, OpenOffice.org is a compelling option for anyone in search of an alternative office suite.
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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.
Among other new features, bugfixes, and improvements, version 2.1 adds multiple monitor support for Impress, improved Calc HTML export, and enhanced access support for Base.
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User reviews of OpenOffice.org 2.1
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 1152 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 29 user reviewsSee all 29 user reviews
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31 out of 35 people found this review helpful
Version: OpenOffice.org 2.1
"Open Source, OpenDocument, and Free"
Pros: At my workplace I use MS Office 2003. At home, though, I switched to OpenOffice almost two years ago, and prefer it to its MS counterpart.
OpenOffice lets me save files in OpenDocument and PDF, and I can open, edit, and share files with MS Office users too. I've shared PowerPoint files, fairly complex Excel spreadsheets, legal documents, and even a book manuscript in Word format with change-tracking, and haven't had any problems.
I use word processing the most, and I've come to prefer Writer to MS Word in some ways (and I always liked Word). There are advantages to the way it handles styles, templates, and sections that make assembling long multipart documents easier.
My PC isn't the latest or greatest, but OOo runs fast on it, and has been stable and crash-free.
I used MS Office for a long time, but now when anyone asks, I recommend they try OpenOffice first.
Cons: None, if you're an intermediate or advanced user. PC novices will find the learning curve a little steeper than MS Office.
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10 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Version: OpenOffice.org 2.1
"Excellent alternative to MS Office at an unbeatable price."
Pros: First and foremost, it is free. You get much of the features in Office that you'd care about for general use, but instead of paying an arm and a leg, you pay zilch, nada, 0.00 in any currency. It supports the OpenDocument formats, can edit and create Office documents and can export documents to PDF, a handy feature that Office does not have or requires you to find a plugin. It's interface is easy enough to get around if you've had prior experience with Office, and may be a better alternative to Office 2007's new UI for users who are used to Office's current UI. It is also cross platform, not locked to a particular OS like Microsoft's products.
Cons: It may lack features that Office has, but for general use it has all the facilities you'll need and I've yet to encounter any serious shortcomings. The interface might not be as pretty as Office. The major con is that it is slower than Office to open and load files, but a few extra seconds isn't exactly critical, considering it's pros.
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15 out of 20 people found this review helpful
Version: OpenOffice.org 2.1
"Best Free Office Suite Available"
Pros: Its Free, its compatibility its great, has a lot to offer and who knows what holds in the future. A Perfect 100%.
Cons: None that I have seen. Except that you have to change the format in wich it saves documents, just in case you are dealing with someone who Do their work most of the time at the office or college where they have MS Office.
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Version: OpenOffice.org 2.1
"It's FREE and looks like Office 97/2000"
Pros: Well I can't honestly just give this application suite 5 out of 5 stars yet because I've just switched from Office 2000. I need more time to examine the program and what features it has to offer. But so far, from what I've experienced, it installed without a hitch, (Windows XP Professional x64-bit Edition (SP1)) it looks very easy to use and is extremely customizable!
OpenOffice is my new home office suite for XP64.
It's free and OpenSource.
what more could you want in a free product?
Cons: I'm fed up with Microsoft Office 2000 Premium as an application suite. The software has security vulnerabilities that are unacceptable even when fully patched. The incompatibilities of using Office 2000 on XP64 are just staggering and unbelievable. Trying to update to Office 2000 SP3 on XP64 causes nothing but error pop-ups. I'm not purchasing new Office software just so it can run on XP64.
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16 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Version: OpenOffice.org 2.1
"Think Firefox for Office Docs"
Pros: Free, open source, multiple document formats available for saving, free PDF maker built in, and can read MS docs.
Cons: Possible minor document format changes when saving between open office format and windows format.
- See all 29 user reviews Write review
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