Office & productivity software: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use?
- 10/3/07 4:58 PM
Office is standard by default
by javajoe - 10/4/07 7:54 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Unless you live in an isolated world compatibility and the ability to exchange files with other individuals inside and outside your company,family,school, or other organization is a day-to-day reality. Until alternatives become available that seamlessly address compatibility MS Office will remain the standard by default.
Regarding IBM and Lotus Symphony as an alternative, that just strikes me as trading in one monopoly-like solution for another. IBM does nothing without the ultimate intent of making money and gaining control of a market, that's why they are in business. Open Symphony will be nothing more than a gateway somehow leading back to additional investments in IBM. That's neither good or bad but something you have to consider.
Which word-processing software do you use
by Research87 - 10/4/07 7:54 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I gave up on MS a few years ago and now use WordPerfect X-3. It seems to convert all MS documents and also in reverse direction. WP, in my opinion, is the very best word processing program on the market. One of its best features is that one can see all of the hidden codes in a window making it so much easier to either delete a code or change a code. In addition, one can add as many different menu functions to the toolbar as one might want, making it so much faster to operate. I have typed a 900 page book into WP with their document/sub-document feature and am now working on two more books. Its a great program. On the negative side, it does take a little longer to learn to use it, but well worth the time and much faster afterwards.
I will never go back to MS Word.
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iWork!
by edgedesign - 10/4/07 7:55 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Obviously I'm in the minority here since most users are on Windows, but I must say that iWork (Mac only) blows away MS Office in regards to ease-of-use, quality and price. I've used Office for years - both Mac and PC versions - and Microsoft better hope Apple doesn't introduce it's suite for the PC... especially at only $79!
True, iWork does not have every feature that Office has, but most are features many users don't even bother with. Apple has simplified the office suite and made it much more user-friendly and elegant.
Pages = Word
Numbers = Excel
Keynote = Powerpoint
Pages is like having two apps in one - a word processor and a page layout app. Numbers gets away from the rigid grid and uses plain English for formulas. Keynote borders on a professional motion graphics package delivering professional presentations that crush Powerpoint. Each program can open files from their MS Office counterpart and each can export to Office. However, there are many features and plenty of iCandy that may get lost when prepping for MS Office readability. Not a problem if final delivery is print, PDF or a presentation via a Mac, Quicktime or other video format. Each app also comes with a library of professionally-designed templates and graphics.
Long time MS Office users will most likely be frustrated... similar to those moving from PC to Mac... since Apple organizes things differently and shortcuts are not the same. However, a user who can shed the Windows way of working and open their minds to something new will find the interface and functions more intuitive. They'll definitely deliver better looking content and should increase productivity as well.
Since iWork was introduced I only installed MS Office to open client-provided files. Now that iWork '08 comes with Numbers, I have deleted Office and open everything via iWork.
Quite happy with Office
by 2Cold Scorpio - 10/4/07 7:57 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've used Word since Office '97, and have always been happy with it (especially after Office XP). Granted Word '07 took some getting used to, but it was a refreshing change. I run '07 on my Vista partition, and Office '03 on my XP partition, and have no problems switching between the two. I do use some free software, but not when it comes to office apps or operating systems. I'd rather pay for something and *know* its going to do what I need it to do than lose countless hours relearning anotherp rogram because its free and might not do what I need. And I'll be waiting with excitement for Office 14 to hit in a couple of years. 
Abiword was my choice for a word proccessor.
by hippie.princess - 10/4/07 8:08 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have tried MSO and decided to go with Abiword as I can choose what portions of the complete program I want, or don't want, taking up space in my laptop's memory. There is an awful lot of Office or Word that I don't have any use for, but would have to PAY for, and I don't buy what I can't use
Abiword is easy to use. It produces the forms I need for my home use, like chore lists or grocery lists written for the way I shop my favorite stores, and doesn't try out thinking me all the time.
I don't need to match programs with other computers or systems, so I don't know if Abiword is compatible with MSO or not.
If I had to live with Microsoft Office ...
by brf50b - 10/4/07 8:15 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm retired - thankfully I don't need to use Microsoft Office anymore! At home, my wife and I use WordPerfect Office on her computer and I use OpenOffice on mine (Ubuntu Linux). Both are way more user friendly and OpenOffice opens a wider range of documents - including some Word documents Office 2007 won't open. While Microsoft Office has nice integration with Outlook, why would I care - I use Thunderbird.
I have used M$ Off for as long as I can remember using...
by freqdwnldr - 10/4/07 8:27 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have used M$ Off for as long as I can remember using computers. I've also used OpenOffice (albeit very briefly) and I find that I like MS Office more.
As for it being expensive, I'm going to make sure that I keep my copy for when I get a new computer.
Open Office user for 3 years
by Lizard381 - 10/4/07 8:50 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've been using Open Office for years because I find MS Office unreliable and prone to crashing, I refuse to pay for MS Office and I don't feel like looking for a cracked version. I also despise the equation editor. I actually mainly use latex, but if i need to do something in the office suite, i use open office. Yes, sometimes things done in MS Office don't display properly in Open Office - so then I use my crippled version of MS Office to look at them. But honestly, just because the majority of people are using MS Office means we all have to? That sounds like we're feeding into Microsoft dominating...but maybe that's just me...
Works for WIndows 3.11
by Vince53 - 10/4/07 8:50 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My first computer (Intel 486 chip, 4 megabytes of RAM) included a CD with Microsoft Works for Windows 3.11.
Over 14 years later, I still use it. I have uninstalled Office from several computers because it took up too much space and was harder to use. This same CD has taken me through WIndows 3.11; 95; 98; 98SE; ME; and XP without ever fouling up my computer.
It has served on a 486; Pentiums 1,2,3,and 4; and even on a Celeron chip (bad mistake) without a problem.
Google Docs beats all
by Troy_tuq - 10/4/07 9:03 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Other than a few quarks, Google Docs is the best word processing program for me. As a student, accessing my notes and projects from any computer with internet is a dream come true. It's also easy to send and share documents, and the collaborative mode is perfect when working on a group project.
In the way of making it work as a more professional office package, like Microsoft, it has a little ways to go. Formatting can be a little rough sometimes. The spell checker is also annoying with Firefox, as Firefox tries to edit the document, but Google Docs won't let it. I like the ability to simply right click on miss-spelled words versus clicking spell check at the bottom of the page.
Some other great things about Google Docs is the ability to make a PDF or really any file format you could need. Unlike Microsoft with a bunch of formats no one uses, Google Docs is truly compatible.
I still use Microsoft Word, but I use Google Docs over fifty perfect of the time now. Plus it's free! What student could pass that up?
Microsoft Word
by Mexrick - 10/4/07 9:03 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I recently upgraded to Office 2007 even though I've heard horror stories from my brother-and others. I've been using Office sine the late '70's and am completely satisfied. I used to use WordPerfect! Remember that disaster? Would I use another product- especially the freeware- no. I like the way Office products work together. That is something individual freeware products can't do. I do not find that 2007 is difficult to learn or use. Yes, I've had to use the help section to locate certain features but, once I find them, they are intuitive. I'm sticking with Office 2007.
integration is problem
by dartmar - 10/4/07 9:14 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I currently use Office XP (2002) I work with people who use 2000,97,works etc. While I know how to convert to different formats those people do not, and I am not going to keep track of what program all of the different people I work with are using. I need something compatable with all of these older programs.
Most importantly what I don't see in the free programs (which I would be more than happy to use), it the database integration. I use an Access data base and the mail merge features of Word to create most of my documents. Mostly they are templates that recieve information from a one record in the database. No other program I have seen yet is able to do this as flawlessly. Works never actually merged the documents and it was work each time just to have one document merged with one record in the database.
It is different but BETTER
by dre.caruana - 10/4/07 9:28 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I agree that it is different and perhaps a little frustrating in the beginning, but once you get used to it, it's damn more comfortable. The thing which shows you the changes without actually changing I found better than great and many other features were the same. Once you have got a decent pc, not one which works on coal, and once you've taken your time with it, you'll find that it is more sophisticated, looks better and is easier to use, and best of all it really saves you time. I have saved perhaps hours on assignments, because for example I can change the formats much easier etc.
I use Office 2007 Pro
by welovejehovah - 10/4/07 9:45 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use Office 2007 Pro. It took some getting used to after the 2003 version but now I really like it a lot. I've heard others swear by Open Office and I took a look. Change is hard. Everyone uses Word. It's hard to try something else when this is what I know and trust. The way I see it is yes, it's a monopoly. But I LIKE it. It's also like when it comes time to vote for President. There are the two biggies. Then there's the little guys. You may really want one of them but you figure you can't vote for them and split the vote. You're hands are vied so-to-speak.
Word 2007 versus earlier versions
by jdwhite5 - 10/4/07 9:55 AM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I prefer Word 2000 and installed it on my new Compaq laptop with Vista HOME PREMIUM. On my Windows 2000 computer, I still have Word 2003. It was a pain to install (idiotic Drawing Canvas for inserted graphics needs to be undone and I am still trying to remove the wacky Clipboard icon that hides some of the text), but overall it is OK--as good as 2000 but no better. Word 2007 penalizes experienced Word users who must do a time-consuming treasure hunt to find standard features. My real complaint is that it is NOT truly compatible with files created with earlier versions of Word! OpenOffice 2.3 works extremely well and much faster than earlier OO versions. Best of all, it d-o-e-s open earlier Word files correctly and saves changes and exports them as .doc and PDF files--no expensive Adobe Acrobat needed. Formatting a page in OO is intuitively and logically found under "format" instead of "File > Page Setup" in Word. More and more I use OO on this Linux machine, the new Vista machine, the laptops, and the old Windows 2000 machine. Consistency across platforms is a welcome feature. I don't have a Mac but do recall that its Word version takes a bit of adjustment for Windows people. I plan to make more use of WordPerfect X3 (on the Vista computer) and none at all of Word 2007. I recently gave up on making a simple note card print as I wanted in Publisher 2007, but copied the text to the clipboard, pasted it into OO 2.3 (formatted for a note card page), and printed it immediately as desired. After giving Office 2007 a reasonable trial, I can only think of the amazing blunder when Coca Cola brought out New Coke--which nearly sank the company before they scrapped it and went back to the "Classic" formula. I am considering buying one of those $30 aftermarket programs to replace the 2007 Office ribbon with standard menus. Or maybe not...
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