RE: Switching to Open Office

The problem I have with Linux on the desktop is more end user related
then anything else. I'm trying to start a business of my own. How many
of my clients will be able to view my Open Office documents with
formatting? None! Not a single one.

I could save them as a PDF but I've had problems with that as well. I
took an Open Office created PDF to Kinko's to have it printed. They
could read the file but for some reason they couldn't print it.

It's been my experience that most end users don't understand how
computers work or why they have to do things a certain way. All they
care about is that it works. Keep things simple and they are happy. Tell
them they have to do this that and the other to view a document that
they may not be able to change is more then most users can handle.

Open office also has problems opening documents created in Microsoft
Office.

For my business needs it's MS Office. Not because I want to but because
I have no choice.

-----Original Message-----
From: aklug-bounce@aklug.org [mailto:aklug-bounce@aklug.org] On Behalf
Of Barsalou
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 12:04 PM
To: aklug@aklug.org
Subject: Switching to Open Office

Damien,

I take some exception to your characterization of using MS Office
instead of Open Office. You imply that by using Open Office, it will be
impossible to share documents. That is just wrong headed.

Although I agree there are some disparities when sharing the two types
of documents, approximately 80% of documents can be shared without
change at all. Does it require some knowledge on the end users' part as
to what format to save it in? Yes. Does it require that folks are a
little flexible when sharing documents? Yes.

This does not make it impossible.

There have been many times in my career when Microsoft upgraded from one
version of the software to the next, and that there was always SOME
trouble in using the different versions. It is my opinion, that this is
no different.

It may be true that the Linux desktop isn't ready this month, but I
would definitely recommend Open Office to a new organization even if
they had Windows boxes. It is a great program and they have stepped up
to the plate with regard to macros and the like.

I'm not looking to get into a battle of what software is better....but I
think Open Office today is a very valid choice.

Mike

-- 
Barsalou <barjunk@attglobal.net>
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