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With regard to this topic, I believe the question should be:
Can you afford the downtime of using openoffice?
Feature wise, I believe it is as good as MS office. The issue that is holding back most smaller companies when taking up open source software is if they can afford the downtime?
My downtime here refers to time taken for training, learning the software, converting from .doc to opensource extension, compatibility with clients and partners system when exchanging files. Unless the company is an IT savvy company run by technically inclined people, the time spend on training staff to get use to OpenOffice is going to be quite some while. And more often than not, new staff coming in will be trained. In short, downtime are time spend getting the software to do the work for you.
Some might argue that the products are similar and compatible. There is bound to be minor interface and functionality differences. If a technical analysis is taken to compare the features and performance, I do believe OpenOffice will come out top. Maybe not on a Windows machine cos openoffice is not optimised for windows.
If the analysis is taken from a operation and cost point of view, smaller companies will find it unattractive unless backed by strong IT support. Bigger MNC and Gov may find it attractive from cost point of view and it can afford to implement it. But then, when it comes to big accounts like this, Microsoft can easily bend its back to lower its offer just to ensure that openoffice cannot gain a foothold with a major implementation.
I personally do not use openoffice. Tried staroffice before and was happy with the product when I was still in college. Now as a business, I cannot afford to use openoffice due to the potential time spend learning the product and possible incompatibility with clients and associates system when we exchange documents. One of the major motivation for me is that the office XP I got is still running fine.
Last but not least, typical user do not use more that 20% of the feature scope. (the 80% 20% rule). So even if the features is so powerful, most paperwork do not need such features.
I used OpenOffice for a period, but ultimately changed back out of convenience. However, if I didn't have Office available to me, I probably wouldn't have had a problem using OpenOffice forever.
Quote:
One of the major motivation for me is that the office XP I got is still running fine.
I think this is a very important point, and I believe could provide the exact opening that OpenOffice needs. If Microsoft keeps pushing the envelope with Office (e.g. to implement all of the advanced features in 2k3 and the next Office release you need to make changes on the server side as well as the desktop), they're going to drive away customers who are looking for a simple, cost-effective solution.
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:55 am Post subject: Latest Blog Post : Blog and earn!
open ofiice is good and esp when hating MS is the fashion. _________________ http://www.idealwebtools.com/blog/orkut-banned-india/ - Orkut getting a ban in India, why? Is it fair? Politicians not liking it as some voices are raised against.
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:21 am Post subject: Did You try OO 2.0? Latest Blog Post : http://acorus.hedir.com
Quote:
My downtime here refers to time taken for training, learning the software, converting from .doc to opensource extension, compatibility with clients and partners system when exchanging files. Unless the company is an IT savvy company run by technically inclined people, the time spend on training staff to get use to OpenOffice is going to be quite some while.
I went to local public school and asked about the way they teach this IT stuff. I talked to the teacher and it was like talking with the alien. He seemed to not understand me. Of course he did not install OO on any machine. Of course there were only MS OSes. That is the problem! For our own money we educate our children to be helpless or very expensive in contemporary world. _________________ Feel invited to my blog http://www.acorus.hedir.com/
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject: thanks francesco Latest Blog Post : http://acorus.hedir.com
But it is tragic. I tried in many schools. And always was the same. Even in my work, I'm the only one to use Linux Debian. Even thou most people around me are programmers. With not so big need for W. Why? _________________ Feel invited to my blog http://www.acorus.hedir.com/
Is the same thing for free or open source Antivirus...also for Firefox I think.
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