posted
I don't have MS word, but remember hearing talk around here of a similar program that is free. I've got to get some work done on my abstract, and would prefer not to have to walk to the library. Any advice?
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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As much as I hate to support Microsoft, I have to say that Open Office classifies as a passable alternative, not a decent one to Word.
Posts: 1327 | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Paul Goldner: Open office.
Agreed. While Open Office isn't really a good replacement for office as a whole (especially their powerpoint alternative), the Open Office writer is good enough to serve as a replacement.
Posts: 2437 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Google Documents is okay (limited, but functional), but if you later want to paste it into Word, there are formatting issues.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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There was a thread not too long ago that I mentioned star office, open office, and lotus symphony. Star office and lotus symphony are offshoots from open office, also star office is included with the google pack. Open office is the most popular, so I'd try that first.
I currently use microsoft office '03, but if I got a new computer (at least a windows xp anyway) I'd go with open office. Not only because of the price of microsoft office '07, but because I hate the .docx format garbage as well.
Posts: 2489 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I like Open Office so far. It seems to be what I want/need and it doesn't cost anything. The sad thing is that I just submitted my abstract without the edit I needed to do, and then had to shamefacedly send it again. Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Open office kicks the crap out of microsoft word, and is WAY more stable. And its free. And documents take up about 1/10 the space of document files.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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Google docs aren't available when Google is having technical issues. I've used them a few times, but prefer to use Open Office when I'm creating documents I know I will be accessing at home. Open Office has done everything I've needed it to do.
On the other hand, I can open a Word document attachment and edit it in Google docs. My sister sent me a couple she wanted printed out and I can't put open office on my computer at work. The IT guy would let me, but the PCs in the newsroom were purchased because of fear of the millenium bug, so they are all 7+ years old. So, Google Docs are good in that situation.
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Open office kicks the crap out of microsoft word, and is WAY more stable.
Neither part of this is true in my experience. Word has been totally stable for me since at least the 2000 release. Word has been faster on each machine I've tried both on.
Many of the features I need daily are better in Word - Outlining at the top of the list.
Still, I suspect that for most people's word processing needs, the features where Word is better are not that important to the day-to-day experience.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Phanto, I think you're a college student so you probably can get a free download of office from your university, or buy one for around $20 in the bookstore.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Only faculty can get the Word for free, but, oddly enough, I could get the whole Adobe CS2 suite for free for on campus use which seems like more of a luxury. And I need to keep costs down; if I can avoid spending that $20, the better.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Open Office Writer is a good choice. I've been using it for quite a while and don't have much bad to say about it, except that it seems to crash my computer if I leave it open when I put my computer to sleep.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Open Office Writer. If you don't want to spend the money on Microsoft Office, just go for Open Office's Writer.
You can save the documents as .doc and use them on Microsoft Word on other computers. It's pretty handy, and completely free.
Also, it has the traditional MS Word interface--unlike what I've seen with MS Word 2007... That jumbled mess should just be avoided.
Posts: 292 | Registered: Jun 2006
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Google Docs is nice, and I do use their spreadsheet software fairly often. But it tends to be slow, which can be annoying.
I ditto OpenOffice. If you're using a Mac, use NeoOffice instead, which runs much better on Macs than OpenOffice does.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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I agree that the new MS word format is just *weird*. What usability studies led to it I must wonder.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Some colleges and universities have a deal with MS where students can gain access to a copy for just the costs of making the copy + administering the program (typically $20 for a copy, or somesuch).
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Mine now has it, last year they didn't. IU has (or at least last i heard) it so you can buy a copy for the $20 ish figure, or you could get a free download, with no cds or help.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Back when I was in school, you could get cheap "student" versions, which were full featured versions but which were fixed(?) so that you couldn't upgrade to a newer version later.
Is that still the case?
Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
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They still have student versions, but while they're cheaper, I wouldn't call them cheap, for most students.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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