Free word,exel programs?

[Hogwildz]

Looking for a free office program that has something similar to word, excel etc. If it was transferable or usable from this program to Microsoft word etc, that would be perfect.

Any suggestions. Hopefully something without a lot of bloatware attached?

 

[fossil]

I've heard good things about Apache Open Office, but I've never used it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice

 

[Pallet Pete]

I've heard good things about Apache Open Office, but I've never used it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice

Open Office lost the major support from the open community when oracle bought them. Google & Novell among other big companies support it Libre Office http://www.libreoffice.org

Pete

 

[webbie]

I really wonder why anyone uses anything other than google docs (drive) any longer .......free, word compatible, etc.

Of course, people think you have to be hooked up to the net to do so......but this may not be the truth any longer! I know that in chrome on googles $249 laptops, it works fine offline. Of course, if 90% of your work typing is done off-line (no wireless, etc.), then this is not a good solution....
http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1628467

Speaking of cheap solutions, I fiddled with one of those chrome laptops. For 250, this probably does 90% plus of what most folks do with their "extra" laptops.

 

[Pallet Pete]

I really wonder why anyone uses anything other than google docs (drive) any longer .......free, word compatible, etc.

Of course, people think you have to be hooked up to the net to do so......but this may not be the truth any longer! I know that in chrome on googles $249 laptops, it works fine offline. Of course, if 90% of your work typing is done off-line (no wireless, etc.), then this is not a good solution....
http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1628467

Speaking of cheap solutions, I fiddled with one of those chrome laptops. For 250, this probably does 90% plus of what most folks do with their "extra" laptops.

I use google docs heavily for work but I still prefer having Office on my computer as it really does run better and I dont need to worry about google going down at inconvienent times which has happened a few times to me.

Pete

 

[webbie]

I just tried the goog docs offline - works like a charm!

You have to set it up based on their instructions. What happens then is that it sets up a folder on your computer and syncs all your docs there when you are online.

Then, I turned my wireless connection OFF, did what the instructions say (went to drive.google.com) and up came the docs! I then edited and wrote and it auto-saved, etc. offline. It then syncs it back up with the cloud when you reconnect.....

Here are the screen shots. As you see, the wireless (little windshied wiper thingy) in the upper right is OFF. Yet it works just like when online....

I have spent my last dime on WP programs. Depending on the offline typing one needs to do, even the free stuff that comes with mac and windows (textedit) does the job....textedit is RTF, which can be imported into word or anything else.....

It all depends on the exact needs of the user. Hog, I assume you are typing up insurance reports - just for fun, you should give that goog docs a try. I will give exact instructions if you need.

Free is good. Never having to upgrade is good.

Oh, goog docs will also allow you to create emails and stuff when you are offline and then it will send and sync them all the next time you connect.

Speaking of offline, I just typed this whole message offline...hope it works!

 

[Hogwildz]

Actually, I have office ultimate 2007.
The lil woman was using the free test drive of office that came with her computer, and the time trial ended.
She needs a word program for doing resumes, letters etc.
I sent her the link for Libre Office.
Being we are on satellite internet, I am trying to cut back on any online usage as we can. But if she runs into issues with Libre, I will have her try google docs.
Thanks

 

[BrotherBart]

I have been using Open Office for years. Works for me and I was all MS Office before that.

 

[BrotherBart]

Open Office lost the major support from the open community when oracle bought them.

Yeah but I get updates to it from Oracle frequently.

 

[Pallet Pete]

That's because Oracle was a free provider then they bought open office with the intent to sell it like ms office. The public wanted non of that so it remained free by that time libre office already branched and took most of the backers with it. edit ) Oracle gave it to Apache after they could not sell it but it still does not have as much support. Not saying its bad we used it for a long time just be aware they lost a lot of funding and support.
Pete

 

[webbie]

Oh, damn, yes - that space-based internet can be problematic........

 

[Dix]

Hogs I have Open office, and it did a slam bang job on my resume (thanks, BB !!).

Any thing that I sent out opened in Micro Soft, easy peasy.

 

[begreen]

I have been using Open Office for years. Works for me and I was all MS Office before that.

Yep. I put Open Office on my friend's and my kid's computers. It's fully featured and works great. Just be sure to save docs in Word format and not the native format.

 

[nate379]

I got Office 2010 for 10$ through work. Know anyone in the .mil?

 

[Jack Straw]

On a similar subject, what would be good for the IPad ?

 

[webbie]

On a similar subject, what would be good for the IPad ?

Iwork for ipad is $10.

You can also use the chrome and goog docs thingy or one of a number of note-taking and writing apps...cheap or free. It depends on exactly what you are working on.

(broken link removed to http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/09/writing-apps-ipad/)

Of course, a bluetooth keyboard is a must if you are going to do a lot of writing on a pad.

 

[Jack Straw]

Iwork for ipad is $10.

You can also use the chrome and goog docs thingy or one of a number of note-taking and writing apps...cheap or free. It depends on exactly what you are working on.

(broken link removed to http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/09/writing-apps-ipad/)

Of course, a bluetooth keyboard is a must if you are going to do a lot of writing on a pad.

Thank You!

 

[velvetfoot]

It's not just satellite. Our currently unlimited cell modem service is acting up and we might be switching to another service with a 5 or 6 gig limit. This is for 1Mbps. Sad, especially when I see the speeds others have, but that's the way it is for us.

We use OpenOffice, works fine (I still don't like the new look MS Office), but we don't do too much of that stuff.

 

[raybonz]

Looking for a free office program that has something similar to word, excel etc. If it was transferable or usable from this program to Microsoft word etc, that would be perfect.

Any suggestions. Hopefully something without a lot of bloatware attached?

I have used Ashampoo Office and found it to be decent, small and light on resources. I get MS Office for peanuts thru the HUP program from work so I don't use Ashampoo office now..

http://www.neowin.net/news/download-ashampoo-office-with-free-license-key

Ray

 

[Hogwildz]

I got Office 2010 for 10$ through work. Know anyone in the .mil?

Nada, how bout x military?

 

[nate379]

That is pretty quick. I have the cheapest plan which is 768k for $55 a month.

It's not just satellite. Our currently unlimited cell modem service is acting up and we might be switching to another service with a 5 or 6 gig limit. This is for 1Mbps. Sad, especially when I see the speeds others have, but that's the way it is for us.

 

[velvetfoot]

We were at a friend's house for New Year. Over his WiFi the phone did 16.6 mbps! I feel like a second class citizen, for sure.

 

[StihlHead]

Speaking of cheap solutions, I fiddled with one of those chrome laptops. For 250, this probably does 90% plus of what most folks do with their "extra" laptops.

For only $270 (8% more $$$), you can get an 'extra' Toshiba laptop at bestbuy with windows 8 (cannot say I recommend Win8 OS tho).

...and no, I do not work for BB or Toshiba, but I once worked on a Toshiba processor when I was at Sun Microsystems (now Oracle), and I ate at Google whenever I could (had many friends working there).

 

[webbie]

For only $270 (8% more $$$), you can get an 'extra' Toshiba laptop at bestbuy with windows 8 (cannot say I recommend Win8 OS tho).
...and no, I do not work for BB or Toshiba, but I once worked on a Toshiba processor when I was at Sun Microsystems (now Oracle), and I ate at Google whenever I could (had many friends working there).

I hear ya, but what is the ongoing cost of support, programs, etc.....that's the key, I think. If they have to deal with spam, viruses, bugs, gigantic upgrades, purchased programs, etc. the costs of ownership add up (along with the frustrations)

And what does it weigh? Big diff between less than 3 lbs and 5+ pounds......

The complexity of any full OS is for those who need them. As we have seen with the phones and tablets, 90% plus of the population has declared they don't need them. The laptops and desktops are the next and final frontier, IMHO. I doubt apple is selling many Mac Pro's these days. I have my 5 year old model (8 cpu's) and can't imagine why I would need faster. In fact, if and when it breaks down I'll prob replace it with a fast mac mini.

I remember back in 1996 when Sun was pushing for the first network computers - they were what the new Chrome stuff is today, but of course not as a fast and wireless was not as popular. It took 15+ years more, but I think we are about there! Now people just have to understand their needs a bit better.

Only a few short years ago, the world was pooh-poohing android. Look how that is turning out!

 

[raybonz]

I hear ya, but what is the ongoing cost of support, programs, etc.....that's the key, I think. If they have to deal with spam, viruses, bugs, gigantic upgrades, purchased programs, etc. the costs of ownership add up (along with the frustrations)

And what does it weigh? Big diff between less than 3 lbs and 5+ pounds......

The complexity of any full OS is for those who need them. As we have seen with the phones and tablets, 90% plus of the population has declared they don't need them. The laptops and desktops are the next and final frontier, IMHO. I doubt apple is selling many Mac Pro's these days. I have my 5 year old model (8 cpu's) and can't imagine why I would need faster. In fact, if and when it breaks down I'll prob replace it with a fast mac mini.

I remember back in 1996 when Sun was pushing for the first network computers - they were what the new Chrome stuff is today, but of course not as a fast and wireless was not as popular. It took 15+ years more, but I think we are about there! Now people just have to understand their needs a bit better.

Only a few short years ago, the world was pooh-poohing android. Look how that is turning out!

The biggest driver for fast computers is scientists, engineers, gamers, 3D modeling and machine PC's need lots of computing power too. For this reason PC's will still be needed but they will be more of a specialty item. Tablet's and Cell Phones are the present and future of general computing IMHO.

Ray