Open Office Is Looking Better All The Time

Despite many power users simply preferring to spend more to gain the extra features of MS Office, I have been using Open Office for years. Outside of the database app not really being something that I found all that helpful, the three main applications ranging from Write to Impress have never let me down. And while I am first to admit that Open Office might not be very attractive, it is getting better.

And I am also happy to report that finally, Mac users will be able to use Open Office proper, vs relying on the sluggish NeoOffice, which remains on my wife’s Mac to this day.

Even considering the obvious advances presented by this latest release, there is still a case for MS Office within select situations where the added functionality needed is not yet provided by Open Office. So while I have yet to ever come across a feature that would have me fumbling for an alternative myself, I am sure there are still valid instances out there.

One thing that never swayed me however was appearance. If the application looked like Office ‘97, I could honestly care less so long as it did what I needed it to do. As for the latest release of MS Office, I would find myself more inclined to use an older release as I find the new UI to be cumbersome and just not something I personally find appealing. Ribbon or not, I am just better matched with the alternative providing with with all the functionality I need. Your mileage may vary.