Free Office & Other Software Article

AlanR

wolfman wrote:

.....
The ODF was only approved as an ISO format earlier this year, so the grounding is still very loose. Microsoft are just submitting there own XML equivalent format to be approved as an ISO standard. Don't know if it'll happen, but it's certainly a step in the right direction, given the current state of their .doc/.xls etc... formats.

That's the irony around "standards". If no one adopts them, are they really "standard".

In technology, ISO standards don't necessarily cut much ice. Remember X.400 mail, which lost out so comprehensively to the Internet standards?

That said, it would be a positive step if a consensus were to build up around the ODF/ISO formats. A widely-accepted, vendor-independent set of standards for office documents has been needed for a long time now; and although as wolfman says Microsoft are now trying to get their own XML format accepted instead, Microsoft's track record in relinquishing control and genuinely opening up any kind of format to other vendors isn't exactly encouraging.

Alan

ckerrd

Superfast_Gran wrote:

Does anyone know where to get free office software for Mac's? We have 4 with licence to use on only one and, as they're all wirelessly linked, if office isopen on one it won't allow it to be opened on any of the others - nlol!

Have you tried Neo office?


http://www.neooffice.org/

papacool

sra wrote:

You download OpenOffice for free here. There is no contract, activation, or registration necessary

Many scam sites try to make you purcahse Open Office at a price.
Well technically they're not scams because the whole idea of Open source software is that you can do what you want with it - including re-sell it.

Thanks, I went to the site, downloaded OO for mac. However, I now need this X11[?] I've been trying to get to grips with this download. Maybe I'm just dim or dumb.. perhaps both, but I can't get anywhere with it.
My new MacBook has the latest Intel processor.. I just find a binary code.
WHAT DO I DOOOOooo HHEEEeellppp... puleeaassee.

papacool

ckerrd wrote:

Have you tried Neo office?


http://www.neooffice.org/

Downloaded and works a treat... Thanks :T

currs

:money: You may be able to get a full copy of Microsoft Office for as little as £17 if you work for an organisation that has signed up to Microsoft’s Home Use Program. http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/home_use_rights.mspx

I know the NHS has signed up for this so any NHS employee can take advantage as long as their local part of the NHS has set the process up (it is tightly restricted to current employees only).

Mr_Skills

You may wish to include a list of free Mac software too. A few quick examples:

- NeoOffice (free equivalent of Microsoft Office, based on Open Office),
- Abiword (word processor, mentioned on main page but also for Mac)
- iPhoto (photo program, free with Macs)
- Garageband (music editing, free with Macs)
- iVideo (video editing, free with Macs)
- iDVD (DVD authoring, free with Macs)
- iWeb (website creation, free with Macs)
- PDF creation is built-in so no need for separate program
- Seashore (image manipulation, like GIMP)
- Cashbox (personal finance app)

There are thousands of others, of course. Go to MacUpdate to find tons more stuff.

Dennis99

Not seen TheOpenCD mentioned yet.

http://www.theopencd.org/

cotsvale

I would like to find some free OCR software - any ideas please.
thanks

Nosmig

GOOD Free software

OpenOffice (OOo) Although I haven't used it much, it's a great free programme - and I appreciate the efforts being made to challenge the stanglehold of MS over their Office product. If you buy a new PC with MS Office it's OK, but if you end up with an old version and want to upgrade it for occasional use, it's prohibitively expensive for MoneySavers!!

There's some recent news that OO have invited Dell to bundle their product instead of using MS!!!

PDF Reader. I recently discovered Foxit Reader - as alternative to Adobe Reader. The file is much smaller, it's a free download and it works a dream. As with others, (inc Adobe) the aim is to offer other products - but no compulsion.

The one great advantage over Adobe is that if you get an interactive PDF (ie one that you can complete as a form) the file can be saved and sent on as an e-mail attachment - something you can't do with free Adobe Reader.

Any MoneySaver with similar needs will find both programmes a boon.

Nosmig

Crabman

Note: efax now issue 0871 numbers for incoming faxes, charged at 10p per minute at all times.