A new version of OpenOffice, the open source office application suite, has been released. This update appears to be largely comprised of bug fixes - check out the release notes for the full details. You can grab the new version for Linux and Windows right here from AusGamers Files.

Open Office (verion 2 beta) save my arse (and other guy's) the other day when this Word doc that he's been working on all morning (of course it's due that day) had corrupted and therefore cannot be open by MS Word. I tried using some freeware Word recovery app without much luck, they're basically give you the text where as this guy's writing a report with lots of graphs and tables in it.

Being a nice guy that I am, I didn't want to have to tell him that "doode, look like you'll have to start your work *AGAIN*" - I thought I might try OO beta 2 and see if it could open it. So I dowload it, installed it, and launch OO Write application. I try open the corrupted Word file, a few nervous moments later - lo an behold it opens just fine with correct format and all!!!. Needless to say I got a round of beer for that after work ;D - thanks OO

Other than that, I found that if you're doing very complicated stuff in Excel (like guys at my work do some crazy finacial modelling) OO just breaks. Not a fault on its own I'm sure but still 100% compat with MS office is probably a pipe dream.

However, having said that they've done an awesome job with each release, I can't wait until v2 comes off the beta.

my $0.02

thanks OO

haha
Seriously though, it has my backing. MS Office corrupted itself a while back and until now I haven't had the DVDs to back up and reinstall, so I loaded up OpenOffice as a substitute and it rocks. Not full compatibility with MS Office yet as Obec said, but it does almost everything you need and it's slightly cheaper too (free).

Since I'm pooor like Kenny, I cant afford MS Office. So I use Open Office, have been for quite some time. It is very good, and very cheep. In my books, that makes it a winner.


/end voice over

I swapped a 14" Plecostamus and 2x juvenile Red Devils (which were spawned in my tank) for my copy of Office XP

I paid $8 for the Pleco

Truth be told, if OO could just get it's Excel stuff working (only thing MS have ever done right) I'd be ECSTATech

I'm never ever using OpenOffice for any assignments or reports that require a specific font or margin, after losing marks on a report for apparently using the wrong font (despite OO telling me it's correct).

For personal documents, thumbs up!

after losing marks on a report for apparently using the wrong font

If the course that was for, wasn't a Graphic Art style course then that s*** is just plain wrong and the teacher/tutor needs a headbutt !

If the course that was for, wasn't a Graphic Art style course

http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~engg3800/Assessment/Written%20Reports/

That's just plain f***ed up. Everyone knows Arial gives you an extra page per 10 pages and looks sweeter too.

Neat hand written assignments are acceptable.

As if they'd have a go at you for wrong font if you're allowed to use your own f***ing font (handwriting). That lecturer needs a pole-in-ass removal operation pronto!