Free Office Software article discussion

oblivion62

A couple of random observations:

First, in the context of the last few messages in this thread, there's a linux distro called Puppy that I've successfully run on some very odd (and very old) hardware. By current standards, it's tiny, so it won't be the longest experiment to find out if it works or not.

A more general point -- more for anyone who's wondering if a thread about free office software was ever going to get back on topic -- there's a website:

Oh. I can't post the link.

Put the usual stuff around techsupportalert (three w's at the start, then a dot, and dot com at the end) and you'll find it.

They are probably the best site for finding free alternatives to expensive software, they're community-supported and funded so there's no advertising bombarding you, and there's a LOT of very helpful and very committed people hanging around the place.

Specifically on office software: while it's not free, there's an excellent office suite you can often find on special offer, particularly if you've ever bought software by Ashampoo. A German software house, Softmaker, make Softmaker Office which is file-compatible with everything important, and lots less complicated than Open/LibreOffice. Ashampoo Office is fundamentally the same product and often gets heavily discounted... I won't post links as they're both commercial outfits but they're well worth considering if you've tried the free stuff and found it didn't quite fit your needs or expectations.

...illegitimii non carborundum...

Technomancer

Personally I think they should re name Skype to !!!!!!. When I used to use it, between 2 users you had video, but when there are 3 users it's voice only, then I had calls dropping out so much it was frustrating.

You would be better off using Google Hangouts, it's free and you can have multiple users with video and the call quality is good.

chipeto

Hi, this is my first time here but I would like to suggest that you look at Free Studio from DVDVideoSoft. this is the main download that bundles all the other ones together into a very powerful audio studio, then there is a small registry cleaner from eusing.com (cant post links), this has a pop up when it starts for donations, you can just click on "Skip" and use it, believe it or not the first time I used this on my machine it cleaned 1473 items out of me registry, oh and it creates a restore point before it does anything, great program I run it once a month

[Deleted User]

I would recommend a free password vault, Acerose, very easy to use, can be downloaded onto a USB stick to hide in case main PC breaks down.

esuhl

I've just read the Free Office Software article at the link below, and it says that Thinkfree Online is "100% compatible with MS Office".

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-office-software#thinkfree

Is that really the case? I have complex VBA scripts spanning hundreds of pages when printed, as well as custom user-interface components. I can't quite believe that any MS Office alternative could possible be 100% compatible. Am I right?

fenlander_uk

The same article says that Libre Office includes six word-processor programs. Hardly an exhaustive review.

orrery

esuhl wrote: »

I've just read the Free Office Software article at the link below, and it says that Thinkfree Online is "100% compatible with MS Office"....Is that really the case? I have complex VBA scripts spanning hundreds of pages when printed, as well as custom user-interface components. I can't quite believe that any MS Office alternative could possible be 100% compatible. Am I right?

Of course. No two packages are completely compatible, and less so at the complex end. I use LibreOffice (ex OpenOffice) for some complex multi-window spreadsheets with charts in each and it works fine because I created them in LibreOffice. It would never have worked if I had tried to convert them from MS Office, nor if I tried to convert them back to MS Office because the transfer is the weakest point.
However - LibreOffice is a strong performer. In the last company I worked for it was common for clients to send us Excel spreadsheets that required graphics content from their own servers and that would crash MS Office, but LibreOffice converted them reliably. LibreOffice also has the advantage that new formats will automatically be supported, where MS Office users will have to buy the newer version.
The free software has the advantage that you can download it and try it to see how you get on, and that's what I'd suggest you do.

giraffe69

Technomancer wrote: »

Personally I think they should re name Skype to !!!!!!. When I used to use it, between 2 users you had video, but when there are 3 users it's voice only, then I had calls dropping out so much it was frustrating.

You would be better off using Google Hangouts, it's free and you can have multiple users with video and the call quality is good.

I find a Skype call involving 5 people runs fine with video. in the dim and distant past it didn't unless you paid. The problem wit something else is that you have to persuade everyone to use it, not easy. I also find that call don't drop except when calling overseas where there is a dodgy connection anyway.

Saeed

what are the system requirements for softmaker freeoffice for memory and diskspace. I can't seem to find any info.

EssexExile

giraffe69 wrote: »

I find a Skype call involving 5 people runs fine with video. in the dim and distant past it didn't unless you paid. The problem wit something else is that you have to persuade everyone to use it, not easy. I also find that call don't drop except when calling overseas where there is a dodgy connection anyway.

The post you're replying to was written in the dim & distant past! Well, nearly two years ago anyway.