Comments on: Can a free “office suite” really be useful in business? http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/ David A. West Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:23:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Mike Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:55:21 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-182 I have used Start Office in past but then left it because MSOFFICE was the next piece of application which was decided by our Company's I.T experts. Anyways, I got a copy of Openoffice with standard installation of UBUNTU. I'll say, I am more than happy to use it. I have used Start Office in past but then left it because MSOFFICE was the next piece of application which was decided by our Company’s I.T experts. Anyways, I got a copy of Openoffice with standard installation of UBUNTU. I’ll say, I am more than happy to use it.

]]> By: Peder http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Peder Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:41:57 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-156 ...and the only thing my Windows partition at home has been used for in the last 7-8 years is occationally running a synth editor that doesn't work in Wine, since it has no working USB support yet, and trying out some free VSTi plugins that Wine can't handle either. …and the only thing my Windows partition at home has been used for in the last 7-8 years is occationally running a synth editor that doesn’t work in Wine, since it has no working USB support yet, and trying out some free VSTi plugins that Wine can’t handle either.

]]> By: Peder http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Peder Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:32:10 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-155 As you acknowledged yourself, I find your "What Not to Expect" to be unnecessarily "over the top", borderlining bashing. But I guess you'll be pleased to know that the school I'm IT tech for have been running StarOffice more or less exclusively since 2003 (as a deal between Sun and the Swedish schools we got versions 6-8 for free) and now there are plans to try to migrate as many of the municipal workers as possible to OOo as well. And if you read my comments on Mr Crawfords site you can see that I really disagrees with most of his views. As you acknowledged yourself, I find your “What Not to Expect” to be unnecessarily “over the top”, borderlining bashing.

But I guess you’ll be pleased to know that the school I’m IT tech for have been running StarOffice more or less exclusively since 2003 (as a deal between Sun and the Swedish schools we got versions 6-8 for free) and now there are plans to try to migrate as many of the municipal workers as possible to OOo as well.
And if you read my comments on Mr Crawfords site you can see that I really disagrees with most of his views.

]]> By: David West http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-154 David West Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:40:03 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-154 Peder, I agree to a degree with your comments. OO is not for everyone. I don't believe that I made any negative comments about MS and certainly didn't bash anyone... the point is that there are choices in the world. I support your continued use of MS Office. Cheers. Peder, I agree to a degree with your comments. OO is not for everyone. I don’t believe that I made any negative comments about MS and certainly didn’t bash anyone… the point is that there are choices in the world. I support your continued use of MS Office. Cheers.

]]> By: Peder http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Peder Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:19:07 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-153 To be fair, you also shouldn't expect a business heavily invested in VBA macros to be able to switch without interference. Also some other business critical systems (sadly) might require Word/Excel. I think it's important not to sink to unnecessary MS bashing and instead just keep with the good facts about OOo and acknowledge the possible drawbacks. To be fair, you also shouldn’t expect a business heavily invested in VBA macros to be able to switch without interference. Also some other business critical systems (sadly) might require Word/Excel.

I think it’s important not to sink to unnecessary MS bashing and instead just keep with the good facts about OOo and acknowledge the possible drawbacks.

]]> By: Jacob http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Jacob Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:38:11 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-152 One important item is the availability on several platforms. A responsible ITperson or Business Executive having a say in ITsystem-upgrades or replacements should always make an effort to become platform-independent. Then the company can pick the solutions that serves them best in any area. If that means a server with Microsoft running or 5 MacBook Pros for those who needs/prefers that, its fine. The point is valid also in terms of hardware/pherperials. Even when operating in a 100% Microsoft environment, purchases should be made ensuring that different choices may come into play at a later stage. Personally I never purchase any hardware that is not compatible with at least Microsoft, Apple and Linux. (Oh yes - my laptop CAN be used with OSX 10.5.X). One important item is the availability on several platforms. A responsible ITperson or Business Executive having a say in ITsystem-upgrades or replacements should always make an effort to become platform-independent.

Then the company can pick the solutions that serves them best in any area. If that means a server with Microsoft running or 5 MacBook Pros for those who needs/prefers that, its fine.

The point is valid also in terms of hardware/pherperials. Even when operating in a 100% Microsoft environment, purchases should be made ensuring that different choices may come into play at a later stage.

Personally I never purchase any hardware that is not compatible with at least Microsoft, Apple and Linux. (Oh yes – my laptop CAN be used with OSX 10.5.X).

]]> By: Calgary Entrepreneurs - Networking Calgary Alberta Canada Linking Business Together http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Calgary Entrepreneurs - Networking Calgary Alberta Canada Linking Business Together Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:52:16 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-151 [...] Second, Web Marketing and Web Design Guru David West - http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%E2%80%9Coffice-suite%E2%80%9D-really-be-useful-in-b... [...] [...] Second, Web Marketing and Web Design Guru David West – http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%E2%80%9Coffice-suite%E2%80%9D-really-be-useful-in-b... [...]

]]> By: David West http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-150 David West Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:45:45 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-150 I couldn't agree with you more... as I sit here updating my blog on Ubuntu :-) I couldn’t agree with you more… as I sit here updating my blog on Ubuntu :-)

]]> By: Will http://www.davidawest.com/2009/03/15/can-a-free-%e2%80%9coffice-suite%e2%80%9d-really-be-useful-in-business/comment-page-1/#comment-149 Will Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:39:34 +0000 http://www.davidawest.com/?p=179#comment-149 If every time software didn't work properly we said it wasn't ready for business there would be no software in existence. If every time software didn’t work properly we said it wasn’t ready for business there would be no software in existence.

]]>