RE: Switching to Open Office

On Mon, 2004-04-26 at 15:23, Damien Hull wrote:
> 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.

I create all my reports for Precision Air Balance with oowriter. I
publish to PDF & email them to my clients. They typically have to print
6-10 copies for OEM manuals and have never had an issue with PDF's
oowriter creates.

>
> 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.

I have never experienced a problem opening .doc or .xls files with OO. I
don't receive many and they are simple doc's. You can save a oowriter
file as a .doc file so folks can open them with Word.

>
> 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

-- 
Greg Madden
Precision Air Balance, Inc.
Phone: 907-276-0461
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