Expert: Arthur Naman - 4/20/2007

Question
I have been looking for Microsoft office pro for windows on ebay.  The software cost well over $100.00 for the old version 7 or office pro 95 on ebay.  I notice that  Open Office pro for windows 2007 sells for only about $7.00.  They say it is totally compatable with Microsoft Pro.  What is your opinion on this Open Office softwere?  Is it just as good as Microsoft?  Is there problems with it?
Ron Swaim

Answer
I've been using Open Office (OO) for the past 2+ years. I see no reason to purchase MS Office. OO works quite well for me. Open office is open source software. Check out www.openoffice.org; OO is *free* - there is no charge for downloading, installing and using the software.

You mentioned "open office pro" -- I am not sure what that is. I am discussing Open Office, the open source office software/

There are limitations, some of which I am aware of. If you need to trade files with other people running MS Office, especially those running macros or other Office programming, like VB, then you might have problems. Trading Word files with Writer and Excel files with Calc likely will work with few problems. Trading presentation files may be more challenging. Also, I have not attempted, nor read anything about. trading files between Access and Base, the database software in Open Office.

If you are writing a book -- meaning setting up chapters, an index, table of contents, etc. then perhaps MS Office might be better.

For the normal things that need to be done by an individual or small office, Open Office should work with no problems.