Does anyone use OpenOffice?

[SethStarkaddersMum]

Is it any good? I only want to do basic word processing type stuff but I'm so used to using Microsoft Word.

yes I do (have to admit DH set my laptop up, so can't help re the how to)

I was used to using Word, but open office is similar, and easy to use. I only do fairly basic wordprocessing, but it meets my needs.

thanks Panda.
I'm guessing it will be easy enough to download.
Good to know you feel it meets your needs.

It is good. I use the "Word" and "XL" equivalents, and in fact have found loads of good features. For example, you can .pdf Word documents, which looks very professional.

You will have to remember to save docs as .doc not as open office document (.odp, I think).

You can get a viewer for the newer MS Office files, but can't change their spreadsheets and docs, so your colleagues/whoever, will have to change the file extension from .docx and .xlsx to .doc and .xl

Hope this is a good start. You could try installing it and working on it a bit before committing, because, as I mentioned, you can save things in MS formats.

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the Open Office developers, just tried the trial MS Office which came with my Vista computer... and bloody hated it!

I did until I was able to get MS Office. I like it actually, and its compatible with MS documents, easy to use, the commands are pretty much the same. Go for it

Thanks, this is all very helpful.
I'm getting a new laptop and wasn't sure whether I needed to buy MS Office for it as well. Will be good if I can save the £100.

I haven't used microsoft office in years - I've probably been using openoffice since about 2002. It was a bit flaky to start with but these days pretty much everyone will be able to do what they need with it - even working with microsoft documents.

I changed over from Word a couple of months ago and I love it, so much better. I have it on a Macbook and find it far more stable and have fewer issues than with Word.

it's very easy to download - it was on my laptop when I got it, but recently had to reinstall as my friend gave me a new hard drive and windows 7

anyway I like it, there's really not much difference. the only issue is saving the documents, you can save them as .odp (or whatever) if you're only using them on your PC but as I had to use/print them at the library I had to save them as .doc when I put them on the flashdrive.

when I get a new PC in a few years I will make sure it has MSOffice already on it but I'm in no hurry.

Fab!
Amazing that something free can be so good

Definately download OO.

You can always buy MS Office at a later date and install it mannually if you hate it. But you won't. And if you don't hate it you have saved yourself a lot of money.

Like others, I have used it, though not on a very regular basis. Worth downloading for any machine you buy, while it is still available.

Pretty sure that there was a hint that as a cost-cutting measure Oracle (which took over Sun Microsystems) may put it on the back burner as far as new releases are concerned as a cost-cutting measure.

Definitely go for Open Office!