Microsoft Office Alternatives - Comments Page 1

You didn't mention the Corel Office Suite, which contains WordPerfect, a program that has been around as long as MS Word but which is vastly superior (easier to use, more intuitive, less problems). The Corel suite is also much less expensive that MS Office.

I have been using WordPerfect since it had white letters on a blue screen.
It has two advantages IMHO:
1) Your can display the formatting codes and tweak them without a bunch of menus.
2) It has a slick envelope creator that not only puts your return address in the proper place but also adds the zip code bar code below the recipients address. It has a print envelope button that works well.

I also use LibreOffice and Google Docs, but for sending letters on paper, nothing beats WordPerfect.

Bought a new laptop and did not want to spend more money to buy MS office (again!). Tried Open office. Haven't looked back. Does everything i need + more. I have absolutely no more need for MS office.

Libre Office came with the latest upgrade of Ubuntu and seems to work as well as Open Office, with which I had no complaints.

Hello Everyone!

I tried Softmaker in the distant past but I found their software made my computer a little Buggy for some reason - - so I removed the program from my computer.

I use MS Office 97, for Word and Excel only, and am used to the way it is set up and had no plans to change it, yet a Secunia scan shows it to be at the end of its life (no surprise there) but also that using it could be a security risk by "letting someone in" to my system. I use MSE and several free anti spyware and anti virus apps which are updated manually at every boot up, and scans performed weekly. Bob, what is your opinion on my use of Office 97?

I still use WordPerfect. Every once in a while, reveal codes are really, really useful. And I like the way WP does what I tell it to do, not what it thinks I should do.

This is a very informative article. I used OpenOffice.org and was satisfied with it. However, when I was attending graduate school online, I had to go out and buy Microsoft Office software in order to submit my assignments to my instructor.

When I tried to explain to my instructor what OpenOffice.org was about, I was informed that the school's policy was that every student had to use only Microsoft Office products.

Most businesses only use the most popular software, which is Microsoft Office. I wish more businesses knew about the alternatives to Microsoft Office products.

I tried open office and it can be painfully slow.
I switched to Softmaker office a few years ago, which zips right along. The 2008 version is also free...http://www.softmakeroffice.com/

I managed to snag a fully operational (legal) copy of Softmaker Office 2010 through one of the "free software of the day" sites, and I liked it so much, that I have since paid for the updates and upgrades that eventually came out.
I have used the Softmaker on Windows XP and Linux Ubuntu, and found it fairly smooth and compatible with most Microsoft generated files. One format that is sometimes problematic is Powerpoint presentations - not all of the effects or formatting carried smoothly between MS Powerpoint and the equivalent Softmaker editor.

I have also used Open Office and Libre Office since they are the default office suite in the Ubuntu platform, and I must say that Open Office seems much less flexible and compatible than the Libre Office. I also found that it took me a good bit longer to find certain functions and features in Open Office and Libre Office, than in Softmaker office, which seems to be more intuitive and friendly in its design.

No doubt Microsoft Office is the leader in the Office Suites segment. But for me, it's been also the gate for myriads of malware attacks. This feature costed me enough money in the past to make me opt for its alternatives. Now I use Libreoffice even on Windows powered computers with MS Office already installed.
A powerful feature for me is the capability of generating pdf files with no hassle and no third party software addition. Libreoffice lacks the ribbon style menu? So what? I'm still able to produce high quality documents.
Abiword offers nice ways for word processing. Gnumeric is better as a spreadsheet application than Libreoffice Calc, handling also MS Excel documents, but unfortunately is not a cross-platform application, as far as I know.
My conclusion is that having alternatives is always the best, even if cost is a negligible factor.

The one part of Microsoft Office for which no good alternative exists is the Access database. If it weren't for Access, I would gladly abandon M$ for an open-source alternative.

The OpenOffice and LibreOffice word processors and spreadsheets are more than "good enough"; most people will be perfectly happy with them.

I just installed the Kingsoft Office. It looked pretty good, but when I tried to uninstall that failed. I just emailed them about it.

I would like to try linux. I don't know much about computers and don't really enjoy trying to figure things out. Is there a linux program that is easy enough for a tech illiterate to use without too much frustration? Where can I get help on it when I get stuck?

(I love your columns.)

How could you leave out WordPerfect.?????

We mossbacks continue to use it happily!!!

Which of these programs can open a MS Home Publisher document?

This is a great article that really covers all the possible alternatives to Microsoft Office, not just the free ones. I downloaded Libre Office and ended up uninstalling it. I've heard especially good things about Kingsoft. I don't mind paying for a good alternative that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

The free version of Kingsoft can only read .DOCX files but if you edit and then save you have to save it as a plain .DOC file. It's an excellent product.

Nice review of some office suites.
Here are a few more to consider: Free only:
For users of XP there is eg.
SoftMaker Office 2008
http://www.softmakeroffice.com/
The Fifth Element from SSuiteSoft.com
http://ssuite5element.webs.com/thefifthelement.htm
Before the above are dismissed as irrelevant, remember that XP still holds at least a 40% market share on a global basis ,which is far more than Apple and Linux combined.

Others to consider:
From the same company SSuiteSoft.com there are suites that are compatible with Win7 as well.
http://www.ssuitesoft.com/ssuiteofficepremiumhd.htm
Or check out all their software:
http://www.ssuitesoft.com/software.htm

Another one is OxygenOffice Professional
http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/ooop/wiki

Combined with the ones in the article, it makes for an interesting collection to choose from.

I have mainly used microsoft office at home, and for some reason one of the copies of office didn't take at work. I scoured the web for free alternatives to use, so I have tried Open Office (hate the interface and some of the columns turned out funky when converted by it. The same rang true with softmaker office and star office. I eventually found Kingsoft Office, and have to say I'm Impressed. The conversion from Microsoft to Kingsoft Office is pretty smooth. The office manager at the time was able to use the Spreadsheet prgram as well. I still go back to office, but for a free alternative I would recommend it as well. Haven't tried Libre Office,Abiword is like a part of Open Office.
Jarte is great if you want to quickly type something up with no columns needed.