Hi again,
Cor Nouws wrote:
Hi all,
I'm interested in a *short* list with the main functional pro's
and con's of OOo compared to MsO.
[...]
Any help appreciated very much.
Thanks,
Cor
It's been a while agoo, but finaly I found some time to get the
information (started 17-1-05) together.
First of all, special thanks to Chad, Daniel, Jeff, Jonathon, Bruce,
Chuck, Mathias, Robin, Lars, Andrew, Nicolas, ... who contributed in
this thread (most of it, on-topic ;-)
Below my 'short' list. It is a positive, promotional text. However, it
should be reasonable and fair as well. Telling lies is not mý style.
May I ask for short comments if seriously needed?
Furthermore, any help with spelling/gramar is appreciated. My Dutch is
better. Maybe someone wants to have it as an ODT to review?
Once finished, I'll find some form to make it available to the project -
of course.
By the way: I've written a brochure (aprox. 2500 words) for management,
which writes more in detail about why OOo. That however completely in
Dutch, so I've to find myself someone to help with translation.
Thanks all,
Cor
Open Source
===========
The availability of the source code enables customization, ports to
different platforms, deeper integration options and localization for any
language.
Further more, there is no need for license-management, the program can
be put on any number of machines.
OASIS OpenDocument XML file format standard
============================================
Access and process your documents outside of OpenOffice.org, and avoid
proprietary file format lock-in.
ODF is a stable, future-proof document format. Because of their need for
such, Boeing contributed to the development of ODF.
ODF makes smaller documents, thus less heat in your data-center.
Multi-platform
==============
Users can have office productivity on their preferred platform(s), and
across heterogenous environments. It can be used along side of existing
software
Multi-lingual
=============
Create documents in your native language.
You may use more language-versions (over 80 available) of the suite. Of
course without extra costs.
Interoperability with other office suites
=========================================
Leverage your existing investment - read, write and edit documents from
other office suites, including Microsoft Office.
PDF Export
==========
One click PDF export enables convenient document-sharing outside the
enterprise. This PDF generation works for spreadsheets, presentations,
drawings, ánd text documents.
Drawings and Diagrams
=====================
Create organization charts, network diagrams and illustrations without
requiring additional software.
One program
===========
Superior integration of different elements (drawings, tables) in one
document.
Easier navigation between documents and easier task switching.
Familiar interface to any word processor user, so a short learning curve
for those coming from Ms Office
Easier interface
================
More direct interface, not a labyrinth of menu's and windows.
There is more context dependent Help available, as well as extended
Help-tips. The context-menu's are more complete. Tool bars are
context-sensitive.
The user has a similar way to do tasks in all modules.
Better word-processor
=====================
Documents in a stable environment with easier and better control over
the documents lay-out.
Features that work: styles, master documents and templates.
Graphics support is better and controllable
The proper tools to help with basic tasks. Such as the Stylist and the
Navigator. The latter helps to find all kind of content in documents,
copy, link etc. (The Navigator is also available in other OpenOffice.org
modules). Easier control over text-blocks.
Stable work with large documents as well. So you're much less likely to
lose a document. Writer can even be used to recover Microsoft Office
documents, that won't open in MsO any more.
Data-integration
================
It is very easy to use all kind of data-sources in the documents. Either
link to existing databases, CSV-files, or worksheets, or create new ones.
Safer
=====
Resistant to macro-based viruses.
Password-encryption that is not easy to crack.
Digital signatures in all modules.
No risk with meta-data in document headers.
Complete software
=================
Flash Export of presentations
Vector drawing application included
Included mathematical editor is better and easier to use.
Advanced/up-to-date technologies such as XForms and web services
architecture.
Lacking, or to take from elsewhere
==================================
Microsoft Office does include some functions that OpenOffice.org
doesn't. And a little less the other way round. In general one can say,
that where OpenOffice.org lacks some cosmetic features, it is better
suited for performing basic-tasks easy and reliable.
The presentation-module Impress, lacks some features that are present in
Powerpoint. Features that in rare occasions are needed. The same applies
for Calc: a very small part of Excel-users may have applications/sheets
that do not (easy) work in Calc. Therefore mixed environments do occur.
On the other hand: we see OpenOffice.org evolve continuesly.
For PIM (Outlook) and document management (DRM), other (open
source-software) solutions are available.
( NB - MsOffice is catching up :-)
Various features that are offered by OOo and not by MsO are included in
next version of MsO: PDF-export, Extended Help-tips, (smaller)
XML-documents )
--
Cor Nouws
www.nouenoff.nl - www.bsooo.nl - http://nl.openoffice.org
Open. For business.
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