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OpenOffice.org
Can anyone tell me please if word documents created in the OpenOffice.org word processor can be read by everyone? I have recently changed my computer after only three years with the previous one and I object to having to purchase Microsoft Office for about �150 every time I change computers. Surely Microsoft are being greedy and Microsoft Word should be either free by now or be available separately from Microsoft Office at a nominal price. I tried using Microsoft Works but no one can read the word documents. Any advice appreciated.
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Well Microsoft are a business, and they spend a lot of money creating their Ofice products, and then supporting them and providing fixes for them, so why should they give it away for free.
Do you go to work every day but tell your boss not to bother to pay you?
Microsoft have produced a version of Office 2007 called Home and Student edition that includes Word and can be bought for about �60 (it can also legally be put on 3 PCs).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Office-2007- Student-Licence/dp/B000HCZ8EO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT F8&s=software&qid=1234010275&sr=8-1
If you still have the old version of Microsoft Office you had on your old PC there is no reason why you cant install it on your new PC (assuming it is no longer running on your old PC).
Finally, if enough people installed and used OpenOffice then maybe IT would become the standard and the world could stop worrying about having to support Microsoft's standards.
Do you go to work every day but tell your boss not to bother to pay you?
Microsoft have produced a version of Office 2007 called Home and Student edition that includes Word and can be bought for about �60 (it can also legally be put on 3 PCs).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Office-2007- Student-Licence/dp/B000HCZ8EO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT F8&s=software&qid=1234010275&sr=8-1
If you still have the old version of Microsoft Office you had on your old PC there is no reason why you cant install it on your new PC (assuming it is no longer running on your old PC).
Finally, if enough people installed and used OpenOffice then maybe IT would become the standard and the world could stop worrying about having to support Microsoft's standards.
Good answer VHG but don't you think that Microsoft have made enough out of Word by now? After all it is pretty much a captive audience and they have been accused of restrictive practices in the past. MS Works word processor should at least be readable by those without it. As the World's richest man you would think Bill Gates could afford to unleash the shackles after more than ten years. I don't mean the whole of office, just Word.
>Good answer VHG but don't you think that Microsoft have >made enough out of Word by now?
They have, and I think generally Office is overpriced (particuarly for the small percentage of function most people use).
But they have cornered the market in the office suite arena, and because everyone has to have the "standard" they can "almost" charge what they like.
For Microsoft both Windows and Office have been their "cash cows" for years, and it is those two products that have made them rich.
As long as people are willing to carry on buying Microsoft Office you cannot blame them for keeping the cost high.
I would love to see another Office suite like OpenOffice grab a huge chunk on the market, then maybe Microsoft will have to look at their pricing strategy.
But until that happens they will continue to charge a premium price for Office.
more....
They have, and I think generally Office is overpriced (particuarly for the small percentage of function most people use).
But they have cornered the market in the office suite arena, and because everyone has to have the "standard" they can "almost" charge what they like.
For Microsoft both Windows and Office have been their "cash cows" for years, and it is those two products that have made them rich.
As long as people are willing to carry on buying Microsoft Office you cannot blame them for keeping the cost high.
I would love to see another Office suite like OpenOffice grab a huge chunk on the market, then maybe Microsoft will have to look at their pricing strategy.
But until that happens they will continue to charge a premium price for Office.
more....
continued......
btw I am no Microsoft lover, and in fact worked for IBM for 30 years, and we had a fair few run ins with Microsoft.
And yes, Microsoft have used some VERY dodgy practices in the past, like charging PC makers for EVERY PC they sold, even if it did not have Windows on it.
PC makers would be scared to upset Microsoft in case they stopped supplying them Windows completely.
It would be great if the Linux industry could get together and mount a serous challenge to Windows, but as long as the Linux market remains fragmented it will never happen.
btw I am no Microsoft lover, and in fact worked for IBM for 30 years, and we had a fair few run ins with Microsoft.
And yes, Microsoft have used some VERY dodgy practices in the past, like charging PC makers for EVERY PC they sold, even if it did not have Windows on it.
PC makers would be scared to upset Microsoft in case they stopped supplying them Windows completely.
It would be great if the Linux industry could get together and mount a serous challenge to Windows, but as long as the Linux market remains fragmented it will never happen.
to actually answer your question, you can either, as Ethel said, select the .doc (MS office) format in the save box each time you save, or go to the preferences for OO and set the default save format to be the MS office format.
in Open office click tools - options and then click the little plus next to load and save and select general under that and you will see the option to set "always save as" select a MS office format there and everything you save will be compatible with MS word
in Open office click tools - options and then click the little plus next to load and save and select general under that and you will see the option to set "always save as" select a MS office format there and everything you save will be compatible with MS word
I love the logic .... it's been around for a while .... so it should be free? .... can I ask how old you are?
the most obvious tactic when you change computers simply uninstall office or word from the old machine ... and reinstall it on your new machine .... or is that too hard
am I missing something?
also - of course works documents can be opened by others ... and the converter is supplied with all versions of office - just some people don't install it
the most obvious tactic when you change computers simply uninstall office or word from the old machine ... and reinstall it on your new machine .... or is that too hard
am I missing something?
also - of course works documents can be opened by others ... and the converter is supplied with all versions of office - just some people don't install it
I'm 71 AC. and will probably have to give in and do as VHG suggests and purchase the Home and Student version. I don't actually have OpenOffice, I was asking so that I could decide if it would solve the problem. However on reflection, I don't need to send that many word documents as attachments so for the present I will cut and paste the text in to the body of an email. I know you can always find a way to open such attachments but most recipients can't be bothered. With regard to my old computer, a friend has it with all the relevant installation disks to try to find out why it keeps crashing. Thanks to all who answered, I will take on board the suggestions for future reference. Sorry if I wasted anyone's time.
OpenOffice is totally free to download and is easy to set up to save in the .doc format as already described, so don't be put off, Dudley, and don't get spending money you don't need to.
For documents I need to share I use google docs, like this.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddd6pv79_82crdzt mcv
For documents I need to share I use google docs, like this.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddd6pv79_82crdzt mcv
Just to say Dudley, I see where you are coming from, and the point you made about having to buy it with each computer change is so true. That said, maybe you DON'T have to, but it is not made easy - if at all - to prove you are an existing user.
My old PC crashed last year, so I lost word etc, and I am not going to pay again. I have opted for open office.
My old PC crashed last year, so I lost word etc, and I am not going to pay again. I have opted for open office.
Microsoft Office is available in several different packages. You can buy the full version which is not linked to a particular computer. This can be installed on your new computer every time you upgrade in perpetuity. This suits people who upgrade their hardware frequently.
I think the Home and Student version is quite good value. It can be installed on three computrers. So if you only have a single computer it will get you through two subsequent upgrades after the first install. I bought Office 2007 Professional to get Access database on my home computer.
You can also get the Basic version which provides Word and Excel.
Office is being continually developed and supported by Microsoft. It is not some old out of date program that would justify being given away.
Most users would be fine using Wordpad that comes with Windows and have no need for the advanced features in Word. It is quite a good basic word processor.
As for others reading your documents you shouldn't be sending Word documents unless they have to work on them. Any finished document should be converted to pfd format. This is accepted as a standard publishing format online because it is so prevalent. Everyone has a pdf reader.
Download Cute pdf. It is a small download, free and easy to install. It works like a printer. To use it simply choose Cute PDF Writer as the printer and it promps for the output file name. Then eveyone can read your documents.
I think the Home and Student version is quite good value. It can be installed on three computrers. So if you only have a single computer it will get you through two subsequent upgrades after the first install. I bought Office 2007 Professional to get Access database on my home computer.
You can also get the Basic version which provides Word and Excel.
Office is being continually developed and supported by Microsoft. It is not some old out of date program that would justify being given away.
Most users would be fine using Wordpad that comes with Windows and have no need for the advanced features in Word. It is quite a good basic word processor.
As for others reading your documents you shouldn't be sending Word documents unless they have to work on them. Any finished document should be converted to pfd format. This is accepted as a standard publishing format online because it is so prevalent. Everyone has a pdf reader.
Download Cute pdf. It is a small download, free and easy to install. It works like a printer. To use it simply choose Cute PDF Writer as the printer and it promps for the output file name. Then eveyone can read your documents.
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