Microsoft Office

hokeypokey

Do you really need microsoft office to submit essays and papers for college. I'm probably going to buy a laptop, so do i need this aswell???

DublinWriter

Use Openoffice...it's free and compatible with MS Office.

Tefral

hokeypokey wrote: »

Do you really need microsoft office to submit essays and papers for college. I'm probably going to buy a laptop, so do i need this aswell???

Open Office could probably be used.

hokeypokey

thanks ill try that

Ficheall

LaTeX ftw - especially if you're doing maths or similar.

RolandIRL

+1 for OpenOffice. if you do feel better with Word though, it is installed in the computer suites.

brianthebard

I used OO for my MA dissertation so don't let anyone tell you there's a quality issue or it won't look the same or whatever. If you need to send anyone a file or want to be able to view it on any computer save as a .doc file.

TheCosmicFrog

I find OpenOffice a bit clunky and can give some seriously embarrassing formatting errors when opened in Microsoft Office.

I suggest using Google Docs - http://docs.google.com

It's lightweight (runs in your browser) and there's no chance of you ever losing your files halfway through a write-up since everything is synced to the cloud. After you're finished you can then click File > Download as... and choose "Word" to download a perfectly formatted .doc file.

brianthebard

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

I find OpenOffice a bit clunky and can give some seriously embarrassing formatting errors when opened in Microsoft Office.

But not if you save as a .doc file.

Fionn MacCool

I would definitely recommend Microsoft Word, it has some ace features such as clipart and WordArt which is always a great way of picking up extra marks (go for the curvy ones as lecturers seem to prefer them). There is also this awesome paper clip thing that gives you helpful information like how to save your file and how to print it, I doubt that Open Office thing has any of this otherwise it wudnt be free wud it?!?!! LOLz xx

mathepac

After Fionn McCool's worthy bid for the Microsft Salesperson of the week award, you might also try IBM's Lotus Symphony which is free to download and use, has loads of add-ons and plug-ins, is compatible with Micro$oft Word, supports ODF, has lots of that clip-art stuff, templates, etc and is available here - http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/products

I have no connection with IBM or its initiatives to distribute free applications based on OO other than as a happy user of them (on my Macs).

bangophinx

I recommend office: why?
Already installed on college computers
Most companies use it so it's worth being proficient at it for future jobs
Easier to use
Wider help resources If u get stuck
Colleges usually install it on laptops for free - ask comp services

Lockstep

You might even get Microsoft Office bundled with your laptop, if you buy one. It's a great piece of equipment but if you can't get it, get Open Office.

Open Office is a wonderful piece of equipment which contains free alternatives to all the Microsoft Office programs.
I used Open Office for my first two years in university, then when I saved up enough to get my own laptop, it came with MO.
There's extremely little difference between the two, so if you master one, you'll easily adapt to the other.

Both MO 2007 and OO have a default save format that is all weird (MO uses .docx whereas OO uses .odf) so eitherway, you should save all documents into the .doc format (probably the most widely used one)

It's really your call as both perform extremely well and work excellently.

Also Fionn MacCool; I want to punch my screen in at being reminded of the awful paperclip.

Ficheall

TheCosmicFrog

brianthebard wrote: »

But not if you save as a .doc file.

Not necessarily. It still made a balls of my CV when saved as a .doc and opened in Microsoft Office.

Fionn MacCool

kickoutthejams wrote: »

Also Fionn MacCool; I want to punch my screen in at being reminded of the awful paperclip.

I see you wish to punch your screen! Would you like help with that? Please select one of the following related queries:

• Screen adjustment
• Hole punching
• Rum punch recipe
• Screen printing
• How to use WordArt

brianthebard

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Not necessarily. It still made a balls of my CV when saved as a .doc and opened in Microsoft Office.

You're doing something else wrong so tbh because I've used it on several computers and emailed my work to my supervisor and others and there's no problem once its in .doc format.

I'd also disagree with the person who said MO is easier to use, its really the same, personally I find the newest version of word a headwrecker, it depends on what you get used to and after a week anyone should be able to use either programme with ease. That brings me on to a second point which is you'll still be able to work with MO in the future if you need to but for now why would you fork out for an expensive programme when you can get an excellent alternative free?

NewApproach

mod snip. No illegal stuff.

Bogger77

If the OP is attending a recognized education institution, can't they get the student version pretty cheaply?

Rob!

For a start - just to clarify, MO is available to all students in all the comp suites on campus. Admittedly newer versions are rather tedious to get used to but MO is none the less very powerful software package. However - whoever stated its free to install on student laptops through college IT support is incorrect - but it is true that it may be purchased from providers such as "software4students" at a large discount.

More importantly though, MO also offers a free cloud service and ANYBODY, not just students - can access this service free of charge with a valid windows live a/c. +1 for google docs also though. Admittedly I'm rather split over my preference. (That said, my love of google usually prevails!) :rolleyes:

Although personally i've had no issues myself, i have heard many a horror story over OO compatibility issues - as to whether these issues we're human error or not is rather irrelevant - the process should be straightforward for the everyday pc user. However it is a good MO alternative in general, and if broadband access is an issue wherever you live then totally go for this.

But overall I'd have to say cloud computing ftw. It's free, safe and just as reliable.

xxGalwayGirlxx

You can get the whole mircorsoft package for cheap from here
http://www.software4students.ie/Microsoft_Office_2010_Professional_Plus-details.aspx?gclid=CKq53u_rqqQCFepc4wodKQl16Q

got it off them last year, got it in like two days.

If not willing to pay, Open Office would defineatly be my next choice.

TheCosmicFrog

I use Linux on my laptop, so it's really going to be a case of OpenOffice or Google Docs for me (or Microsoft's Docs.com as already mentioned). OpenOffice comes pre-installed with most popular Linux distributions, so it's going to be default for many anyway.

TheCosmicFrog

Interesting. OpenOffice.org is being renamed LibreOffice and is moving away from Oracle:
http://www.techspot.com/news/40438-openoffice-forks-away-from-oracle-now-called-libreoffice.html

Rob!

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Interesting. OpenOffice.org is being renamed LibreOffice and is moving away from Oracle:
http://www.techspot.com/news/40438-openoffice-forks-away-from-oracle-now-called-libreoffice.html

That was unexpected!? Not the most logical approach in my opinion. Break away by all means but dumping your brand name is like dumping all your credibility and starting from scratch. Pity really -the OpenOffice brand was just starting to get mainstream recognition too.

RolandIRL

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Interesting. OpenOffice.org is being renamed LibreOffice and is moving away from Oracle:
http://www.techspot.com/news/40438-openoffice-forks-away-from-oracle-now-called-libreoffice.html

heard about that on Cnet alright. was going to post earlier but didn't feel it was relevant. there's a bit more info on Cnet i think - Link

Rob! wrote: »

That was unexpected!? Not the most logical approach in my opinion. Break away by all means but dumping your brand name is like dumping all your credibility and starting from scratch. Pity really -the OpenOffice brand was just starting to get mainstream recognition too.

i think it will get more attention but the foundation needs to get the copyright brand if they want to stay as OpenOffice. it'll also mean that programmers will be able to get their hands on the source code, and modify and add more extensions/features. this is a good thing for the software.

brianthebard

Since the name change is only temporary it may have little or no effect, if Oracle decide quickly what to do with the name. If they drag it out it could be very damaging.

TheCosmicFrog

The issue is that Oracle don't care about Open Source software. They've proven this by:

• Killing OpenSolaris
• Suing Google for reverse-engineering what is supposed to be an Open Source programming language (Java)

The guys behind LibreOffice know that Oracle will kill OpenOffice.org eventually, since it makes them no money. Better to start packing some of your bags early than leave it until you're evicted.