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From: Phil Stovell on 10 Jan 2010 15:09 On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:53:06 -0700, Snit wrote: > Phil Stovell stated in post > pan.2010.01.10.19.46.22.128728(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk on 1/10/10 12:46 PM: > > ... >>>>> Yes, the best way to work with MS Word files is to use MS Word. >>>>> Neither OpenOffice, Pages nor any other tool I know handles them >>>>> well. >>>> >>>> It's a totally closed environment then. Proprietary software saving >>>> data to an open standards file (ODF) in a proprietary format (DOCX) >>>> that even other Microsoft software can't read. >>> >>> Do not get me wrong - I wish the de facto standard was not the MS >>> Office format, but it is. >> >> So MS reckon they've locked-in another 10 million users into MSO over >> OO? >> >> But DOCX is a very new format, I'd bet most existing docs are in .DOC >> format, which OO and even other MS products can render properly. I've >> yet to be emailed a .DOCX file, .DOC files I get seem OK in OO. > > OpenOffice and Pages handle DOC better than they do DOCX, but they still > have lots of problems with it. And, unfortunately, OpenOffice is simply > not as capable nor easy to use program as is MS Office. Other than > dealing with more file formats, what intrinsic benefits does OpenOffice > Writer have over MS Office Word? It's free.
From: Hadron on 10 Jan 2010 15:12 Phil Stovell <phil(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk> writes: > On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:53:06 -0700, Snit wrote: > >> Phil Stovell stated in post >> pan.2010.01.10.19.46.22.128728(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk on 1/10/10 12:46 PM: >> >> ... >>>>>> Yes, the best way to work with MS Word files is to use MS Word. >>>>>> Neither OpenOffice, Pages nor any other tool I know handles them >>>>>> well. >>>>> >>>>> It's a totally closed environment then. Proprietary software saving >>>>> data to an open standards file (ODF) in a proprietary format (DOCX) >>>>> that even other Microsoft software can't read. >>>> >>>> Do not get me wrong - I wish the de facto standard was not the MS >>>> Office format, but it is. >>> >>> So MS reckon they've locked-in another 10 million users into MSO over >>> OO? >>> >>> But DOCX is a very new format, I'd bet most existing docs are in .DOC >>> format, which OO and even other MS products can render properly. I've >>> yet to be emailed a .DOCX file, .DOC files I get seem OK in OO. >> >> OpenOffice and Pages handle DOC better than they do DOCX, but they still >> have lots of problems with it. And, unfortunately, OpenOffice is simply >> not as capable nor easy to use program as is MS Office. Other than >> dealing with more file formats, what intrinsic benefits does OpenOffice >> Writer have over MS Office Word? > > It's free. But comes with many disadvantages. The price of an office license for the average employee is next to nothing compared to the cost of their wages and support infrastructure. If you do not need compatibility with MSO docs then OO is fine. If you do, then forget it.
From: Snit on 10 Jan 2010 15:17 Phil Stovell stated in post pan.2010.01.10.20.09.15.296287(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk on 1/10/10 1:09 PM: > On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:53:06 -0700, Snit wrote: > >> Phil Stovell stated in post >> pan.2010.01.10.19.46.22.128728(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk on 1/10/10 12:46 PM: >> >> ... >>>>>> Yes, the best way to work with MS Word files is to use MS Word. >>>>>> Neither OpenOffice, Pages nor any other tool I know handles them >>>>>> well. >>>>> >>>>> It's a totally closed environment then. Proprietary software saving >>>>> data to an open standards file (ODF) in a proprietary format (DOCX) >>>>> that even other Microsoft software can't read. >>>> >>>> Do not get me wrong - I wish the de facto standard was not the MS >>>> Office format, but it is. >>> >>> So MS reckon they've locked-in another 10 million users into MSO over >>> OO? >>> >>> But DOCX is a very new format, I'd bet most existing docs are in .DOC >>> format, which OO and even other MS products can render properly. I've >>> yet to be emailed a .DOCX file, .DOC files I get seem OK in OO. >> >> OpenOffice and Pages handle DOC better than they do DOCX, but they still >> have lots of problems with it. And, unfortunately, OpenOffice is simply >> not as capable nor easy to use program as is MS Office. Other than >> dealing with more file formats, what intrinsic benefits does OpenOffice >> Writer have over MS Office Word? > > It's free. Yes. But that is not intrinsic. Still, it is a benefit, and at times *big* benefit. Even not being on the same level as MS Office, OpenOffice is an excellent suite... and for people to be able to use it for free is just great. I have clients who use it based on my suggestion and it serves them well. Many use it with the intention of getting MS Office as they can - most do, but some decide to keep it... or have a mixed environment (say two computer labs, one with OpenOffice). -- [INSERT .SIG HERE]
From: High Plains Thumper on 10 Jan 2010 15:20 Phil Stovell wrote: > Snit wrote: > >> OpenOffice and Pages handle DOC better than they do DOCX, but they >> still have lots of problems with it. And, unfortunately, >> OpenOffice is simply not as capable nor easy to use program as is >> MS Office. Other than dealing with more file formats, what >> intrinsic benefits does OpenOffice Writer have over MS Office >> Word? > > It's free. You mean to tell me that Snit is still on his high horse claiming all sorts of unsubstantiated problems with OpenOffice? (Or using examples tampered with from his website, because that is the only place he can alter formats and call them original? I have taken complex spreadsheets and documents created in the office, my own and others created in Office 2003, and they open up without problems. I have even opened docx files (not often but there are a few who use Office 2007), and still no problems. Once in a while there are minor format problems in docx, but those are easily overcome. If the document is finished, there is no reason to send it as doc or docx. PDF is a much better format for the transmittal of documents, basically keeps the original appearance but is universally accepted. One is better off installing the OpenOffice software and using it. Then they can form their own opinions, instead of relying on the opinions of others. -- HPT
From: Phil Stovell on 10 Jan 2010 15:25
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:12:37 +0100, Hadron wrote: > Phil Stovell <phil(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk> writes: > >> On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:53:06 -0700, Snit wrote: >> >>> Phil Stovell stated in post >>> pan.2010.01.10.19.46.22.128728(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk on 1/10/10 12:46 >>> PM: >>> >>> ... >>>>>>> Yes, the best way to work with MS Word files is to use MS Word. >>>>>>> Neither OpenOffice, Pages nor any other tool I know handles them >>>>>>> well. >>>>>> >>>>>> It's a totally closed environment then. Proprietary software saving >>>>>> data to an open standards file (ODF) in a proprietary format (DOCX) >>>>>> that even other Microsoft software can't read. >>>>> >>>>> Do not get me wrong - I wish the de facto standard was not the MS >>>>> Office format, but it is. >>>> >>>> So MS reckon they've locked-in another 10 million users into MSO over >>>> OO? >>>> >>>> But DOCX is a very new format, I'd bet most existing docs are in .DOC >>>> format, which OO and even other MS products can render properly. I've >>>> yet to be emailed a .DOCX file, .DOC files I get seem OK in OO. >>> >>> OpenOffice and Pages handle DOC better than they do DOCX, but they >>> still have lots of problems with it. And, unfortunately, OpenOffice >>> is simply not as capable nor easy to use program as is MS Office. >>> Other than dealing with more file formats, what intrinsic benefits >>> does OpenOffice Writer have over MS Office Word? >> >> It's free. > > But comes with many disadvantages. The price of an office license for > the average employee is next to nothing compared to the cost of their > wages and support infrastructure. Yeah yeah, Mr Gates. I want to open a new workplace with 4 staff, each with 1 PC+XP. How much would 4 licenses cost me and what advantage would that give my to my new office, when I can download, install and be up and running with OO in less time than putting the MSO CD into the drive? It still leaves me with a last resort of relying on your once-excellent software again, Mr Gates. > If you do not need compatibility with MSO docs then OO is fine. > > If you do, then forget it. Why should a home user install MSO, even at £40? |