[SC.LUG] Linux MS Office look-alikes in practice.

[Tom Mitchell]

Roger,
I have got MSoffice and excel to work under wine in PClInuxos and under 
crossover office in Xandros. Both are good distros to look at. Xandros is 
probably the most like windows in looks and operation. Crossover costs money 
though, wine doesnt!! Crossover is included in the more expensive version of 
Xandros.
Both are easy to setup. In my opinion easier than Suse.
Openoffice is a good suite to use for most things. Abiword is good too.
It is certainly worth a go for charities to save money.
Openoffice sometimes does funny things with electronic word docs along the 
lines you talk about. My kids found it difficult to fill in some document 
forms produced by their school.  The docs could only be filled in by using 
MSword. Apart from that instance I use open office without a problem.
You may find some resistance to changing what people are familiar with, 
especially if my kids are anything to go by.  A trial may be best on a 
couple of machines to show how good the system is and explore what may be 
problematic.

regards
Tom


>From: Roger Gibson <rcgibson at talktalk.net>
>Reply-To: rcgibson at iee.org
>To: chester at mailman.lug.org.uk,  sc at mailman.lug.org.uk
>Subject: [SC.LUG] Linux MS Office look-alikes in practice.
>Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:30:01 +0100
>
>Hi All,  does anyone have any user experience of Linux MS office 
>look-alikes like SUSE Enterprise Desktop 10.
>
>I am involved with a small chairty in Chester, and I have been asked to 
>help with rationalising their ad-hoc IT stuff.  There are about 6 PCs of 
>various vintages, which could ideally be networked, including internet 
>access and printer(s).  All the users are familiar only with MS Word and 
>Excel, some with MS Publisher.  A lot of stuff to and from grant aiding 
>bodies uses Word and Excel, with on-line forms to download, fill in, and 
>email back.
>
>There could be significant savings if the whole lot were Linux based, both 
>savings in licence costs, and getting the best use out of hand me down PCs. 
>  However the users are not IT buffs, many struggle with Word etc as it is, 
>and there are part-time helpers who use computers at home and are only 
>happy with what looks familiar.
>
>I'm afraid this is not a preaching opportunity.  It would only work if, in 
>12 month's time I could ask, 'Did you know this was not MS Office?', and 
>they reply 'No'.  A great shame, but ...
>
>I just wondered if a Linux look-alike of MS Office would be a step too far 
>for this application.
>
>Any experiences out there would be most welcome.
>
>Many thanks - Roger Gibson.
>
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