Looking for an Alternative to Microsoft Office? You Should Be!

Now is the time to look at an alternative to Microsoft Office.

Are you locked into using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint? Are you spending extra because you need a database, and Access does not come with the basic Office package?

Well, the time has come to look at alternatives, or at least the one Iˇ¦ll discuss here in a few moments. Whether you are a writer on a tight budget, but need to send your submittals in Word format or an employee wanting to do work at home without either paying hundreds of dollars for Office or installing an illegal copy at home, there are inexpensive options.

(Just as an aside, do NOT ever install or use unlicensed software from Microsoft or anyone else. It is simply not worth the headaches, including huge fines and possible jail time. And if you take a copy home from the office, you may lose your job.)

How much would you pay for office productivity software with these features?

o runs on Windows (R), just like Microsoft Office

o all files can be saved in Microsoft Office formats

o a word processor

o a spreadsheet

o a presentation tool

o a database

o a drawing tool

o export to Acrobat PDF format (requires third-party add ins to do this in Microsoft Office)

o save in Flash format (.SWF) for use on the Web; this cannot be done at all in Microsoft Office

Are you interested yet? Want to know the price?

FREE.

For more information, visit the OpenOffice site: http://www.openoffice.org

How can this be? Well, there is a movement among programmers around the world referred to as ˇ§open source.ˇ¨ I wonˇ¦t bore you with great detail, but the idea is that programmers from all over will donate their time to working on a specific product (in this case, OpenOffice) and leaving it in the public domain. You may have heard of the Linux operating system; it is still the most famous open source collaboration.

Just as RedHat and SuSE, among others, take Linux and add tools to make it easier to use, Sun Microsystems has StarOffice available starting at $79.95. This includes limited technical support (OpenOffice does not have technical support.) This is still a bargain, and Sun sponsors OpenOffice. In case you are not familiar with Sun, they are a very solid Silicon Valley company, primarily known for their workstations and inventing the Java programming language.

Instead of upgrading to Office 2003, I recommend at least investigating the OpenOffice option. Whether a home user or a business with hundreds of copies of Office installed, it just makes sense.

After all, it is free!

About the author: Gregory S. Diehl has almost 35 years experience in applying technology to solve business problems and expand opportunities. He has worked as a systems analyst, programmer, technical writer, Web developer and numerous other roles. A Master CIW Designer, he is currently starting a Web design and development firm in Las Vegas.

http://www.gsdweb.net

http://www.lonewolfreviews.com

webmaster@gsdweb.net

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Interactive Mapping Brings Information to Life

What is Interactive Mapping?Interactive mapping is a visual display medium... Read More

Introducing GRML

Creating a new markup language.Introduction.General Reuse Markup Langauge, or GRML,... Read More

It?s Back!! WordPerfect?s Amazing Comeback

Have you noticed WordPerfect is gearing up for a comeback... Read More

Great Plains Dexterity Development: FAQ

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is Dexterity-written application and currently... Read More

Business Plan Software Review: Ultimate Business Planner?

One of the main reasons business owners and entrepreneurs use... Read More

What You Should Know About Installing Screensavers

Do you remember that frustrating feeling when you find an... Read More

Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is used to find, remove or fix files... Read More

Imagine if Everyone Working In Your Office Was In Synch?

Microsoft-Outlook is a pretty amazing program. So much more than... Read More

Microsoft RMS Customization ? PO Items Receiving in Great Plains

Microsoft Retail Management (RMS) and Microsoft Great Plains are retail... Read More

Basic Steps To Optimize Your Internet Security

After seeing many people complain about their weak Internet security... Read More

10 Things You Could be Using Photoshop For, But Probably Arent

Most people don't use Photoshop to its fullest capabilities. Here... Read More

Should I Use Windows Update?

Should one use Windows Update?This topic has good and valid... Read More

An Easy Way to Deal with Email Viruses and Worms

If you feel intimidated when someone tries to teach you... Read More

MultiNational Corporation ERP Implementation ? Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains

If you look back to the history, you will see... Read More

A Simple Guide To Wikis

A wiki is an editable text-based website. But you don't... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains eCommerce: overview for developer

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was designed back in the... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains PM: Payables Management

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Data Conversion ? Overview For Developer

Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular,... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains version 8.5: Upgrade, Customization, VBA, Crystal Reports - Highlights

Microsoft Great Plains is one of the Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More

Things You Can Do With Windows XP!

Did you ever give a thought to the number of... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: Offshore Customization & Development ? Overview for Consultant

When you visit department stores and see that majority of... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: carpet, textile, fabric, felt distributor ? implementation overview

In this small article we will show you the possible... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Integration Manager ? Advanced Techniques

Great Plains Integration Manager scripting and translation - overview for... Read More

Brief Notes About Mainframe Software Pricing

We don't think about mainframe software pricing anymore, we just... Read More

25 Things Mapping Software Can Do For You

1. With mapping software you can create a report that... Read More

Screenplay and Script Writing Software

When it comes to screenplay software each screenwriter needs to... Read More

Guide to Software Marketing

Intro This concise article will tell you in plain English... Read More

Google Brings the Earth to Your Desktop

Google Inc. has launched a new software package that allows... Read More

Fleet Maintenance Software Reviews

Innovative Maintenance Systems (IMS) is one company that offers solutions... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Multicurrency ? Overview For Implementation Consultant

When you first think about multicurrency ? you probably have... Read More

Windows x: Basic Windows ?Security? Issues

Language development computer: Computer-based method for aiding language development seems... Read More

Microsoft CRM USA Nationwide Remote Support

Remember old good days when your company probably had Great... Read More

The Software 2005 Conference - A Review

The Software 2005 conference is now a wrap. This conference,... Read More