OpenOffice.org 2.0 Released by Sun Microsystems
OpenOffice.org, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office which is gathering steam after Sun Microsystem’s announcement of a Google partnership and multiple governments swapping Windows licensing fees for the free OpenOffice.org, has just released its OpenOffice.org 2.0. Personally, I’ve used OpenOffice.org on my personal PC for over 3 years now and have had little problems with the interface or Office compatibility when trading files back and forth while working as a contractor. One of the only problems I faced with OpenOffice was its spreadsheet colors were a bit different than Microsoft Excel, but such small quirks were addressed in the new 2.0 spreadsheet interface.
From OpenOffice and Sun “OpenOffice.org 2.0 is the productivity suite that individuals, governments, and corporations around the world have been expecting for the last two years. Easy to use and fluidly interoperable with every major office suite, OpenOffice.org 2.0 realises the potential of open source. Besides a powerful new database module and advanced XML capabilities, OpenOffice.org natively supports the internationally standardised OpenDocument format, which several countries, as well as the U.S. state of Massachusetts, have established as the default for office documents.”
OpenOffice.org 2.0 is available in 36 languages, and runs with ease on the Windows, GNU/Linux, Sun Solaris, and Mac OS X (X11) platforms. In addition to the OpenDocument format, the redesigned user interface and a new database module, OpenOffice.org 2.0 also adds improved PDF support, an enhanced spreadsheet module, desktop integration and several other XML oriented features. OpenOffice.org’s usability is quite a ‘switching point” (not selling point) but one of the more obvious reasons for choosing OpenOffice.org instead of Microsoft Windows is the ability to save revenue by using a free service, and redistribute that revenue back into a small or large business, organization, or government office.
“OpenOffice.org is on a path toward being the most popular office suite the world has ever seen; providing users with safety, choice, and an opportunity to participate in one of the broadest community efforts the Internet has ever seen. As a member of that community, I’d like to offer my heartiest congratulations.” – Jonathan Schwartz – President and CEO of Sun Microsystems.
It will be interesting to see what kind of Google distribution channels are used for the marketing of OpenOffice.org 2.0.
