download Open Office a few days ago, i have to say i'm very very impressed with the ease of use and the fact that it is FREE.
i only downloaded it as a got an XLS doc and Excel would not let me edit/copy/paste etc etc. so i got myself online to OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite
and downloaded the new 3.1 version.
it let me open my XLS doc and edit/copy/paste, it done everything Excel would not let me do.
in my opinion ALOT better than Microsoft Office 2007 and a hell of alot easier to use and (i know i've already said it but i'll say it again) IT'S FREE!!!!
Microsoft Office Standard is £349.99 when you buy the full version
Office 2007 Upgrade is £199.99
Open Office 3.1 is FREE!!

I'm an OpenOffice fan as well.
I still prefer to use MS Office 2003 day-to-day. But would take OpenOffice over MS Office 2007 anyday. I've never been able to adjust to 2007's Ribbon menu.

Originally Posted by ecion

I'm an OpenOffice fan as well.
I still prefer to use MS Office 2003 day-to-day. But would take OpenOffice over MS Office 2007 anyday. I've never been able to adjust to 2007's Ribbon menu.

the only thing i know how to use on office 2007 is Ctrl + P to print thank Bill Gates he didnt get rid of that!

i agree Ecion, Office 2003 is great for day to day use but i must say i am loving OpenOffice

Did I mention it's FREE!? lol

Originally Posted by ecion

I'm an OpenOffice fan as well.
I still prefer to use MS Office 2003 day-to-day. But would take OpenOffice over MS Office 2007 anyday. I've never been able to adjust to 2007's Ribbon menu.

Ribbon UI is the reason I have never installed it, well I did and then promptly uninstalled it. A lot of government bodies and large companies are switching to openoffice too becuae microsoft now uses rolling licences on volume licencing and switching will save them millions.

So they have a few more million to waste on other stuff.

Another good free GNU program is the GIMP, a really good free photoshop alternative.

i find PS very hard to use i might just try that GIMP

Got PS and tried GIMP. Quite like both, but I agree that GIMP because it's freeware, it's a great piece of kit. I like Open Office for the same reason.

For anyone wanting a free OS, Ubuntu could be worth a whirl as well. I didn't like it because of the imprecise window size adjust and way you had to open one of those command line interface things to install many things or "tweak" things. It was just too involved for me personally, though can see the appeal with it as there were some nice graphical touches.

Yeah, heard good things about Fedora in a few guises. I guess I'm just too much of an MS person. Used Windows 3.11 back when you loaded it up from DOS. Still remember a few bits of DOS prompts, but too much of an MS GUI user now to do that kind of thing. Funnily enough, my Dad who did nothing but work on MS machines and got me hooked on the whole PC use has now completely switched his allegiances to Apple. He barely touches anything with Windows on it unless it's for work purposes these days.

Originally Posted by scottie2065

i find PS very hard to use i might just try that GIMP

Wouldn;t be the first time eh Scottie!!!!! BOOM BOOM lol