Open Office has just announced availability of a Beta of version 3.0.

I wonder how many Mac or Windows PC users actually use any of the Open Office derivatives. I gave up on OO a couple of years ago. Too many bugs and incompatibilities. If you can afford a computer and the internet then you can probably afford some kind of ‘office’ suite, either Microsoft’s Office or iWork, or something, even on the PC side.

I’ve been an Office user, Mac and Windows, since their beginning but find I can get by just fine with iWork’s trio.

I agree about the early versions of OO, but this one I think may be the one.  It really has matured a lot.  This one even has the new 07 formats.  It seems to work great, and be compatible.  I haven’t really taxed it yet, but it hasn’t had any problems with the files I have tried so far, and it will run VBS macros...a real advantage to the new office 08.

BunsenHoneydew - 08 May 2008 02:26 PM

I agree about the early versions of OO, but this one I think may be the one.  It really has matured a lot.  This one even has the new 07 formats.  It seems to work great, and be compatible.  I haven’t really taxed it yet, but it hasn’t had any problems with the files I have tried so far, and it will run VBS macros...a real advantage to the new office 08.

When you say it will run VBS macros, is that the macro system that will NOT run in Microsoft Office for Mac 2008. For many businesses, that is a big deal. There may not be many Mac users with Office who need VBS capability, but those who do need it, need it bad.

The easy way around it is to buy Parallels or VMFusion and run Windows and Windows Office. That starts a bad trend.

Yes those are they.  VBS=Visual Basic Script.  I agree it starts a bad trend, and this is just one FREE option.  I am a big fan of not giving M$ my money if I can avoid it.  I am doing a pretty good job so far I think.