OpenOffice.org vs Google Docs

Michael Lankton | Jun 29, 2009 | Comments


Microsoft Office has ruled the world of computer productivity since the Windows 9x era. Really, how many of you are still using Corel or Lotus? I thought so.

While non-Windows hardware represents a very small slice of the pie, it’s still a factor because in a perfect world we would all be using the same apps for productivity regardless of platform, and standards would be usable across platforms.

Office does have a Mac port, and while it’s incomplete (no Access), it does allow users to have the exact same environment on Windows and OS X, with documents that work on both systems.

What about the rest of the world? While you can run Windows and Office in a virtual machine, until fairly recently this wasn’t such a good option because our hardware wasn’t up to the task of running emulated hardware with near native speed. On top of that, now you need A) a Windows DVD, B) an Office DVD and C) virtual machine software to run them. Not the most seemless solution for enterprise or Joe User.

I played with StarOffice a long time ago, and didn’t spend too much time with it due to it’s immature state. I revisited early this spring when I tried OpenOffice.org, and found that it’s feature set had come along swimmingly, and I switched from MS Office to OpenOffice.org. I like that OpenOffice.org does a decent job with MS Office documents. I like that it runs on many platforms, so that whether I’m on the Mac, using Windows, or running the unix flavor of the month, I have the exact same work environment. Besides lacking ports to Amiga OS 4 and MorphOS, OpenOffice.org pretty much covers all the hardware bases.

With MS Office, you’re looking at approximately $300 for the full version, and I don’t know what licenses cost businesses. That, or you’re stealing to use it.

OpenOffice.org is free. Free as in free. You’re not paying a dime, or breaking any laws to use it.

I have been so impressed with OpenOffice.org that I have said something I wouldn’t have thought five years ago: I believe that OpenOffice will eventually replace MS Office as the productivity suite standard, and that’s a Good Thing.

The alternative is Google docs. Think Office minus Access, except as a web app. Google docs is in its infancy, but I can see it progressing to the point that it’s as full featured as you’d need it to be. I have never been a believer that online apps would replace compiled apps, and that eventually we’d all be using dumb terminals at home. However, I can see the benefit of Google docs. No matter what piece of hardware you are on, with a compatible web browser you have the same productivity environment.

My personal feeling is that people like a sense of tangibility that web apps don’t provide, and I think that OpenOffice would become people’s preference over Google docs.

What do you think?


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About the Author: Have you been a bass player in a hardcore punk band? Built stroker Harleys? Have you been in a fight this month? Written an article about SEO that somehow managed to turn into a social commentary editorial?Mike has.Since 2007 Mike has been sharing his unique worldview with Connected Internet readers. Stop back to see what Mike is thinking about next week.

  • I have just gotten into using OpenOffice and was amazed at how versatile it was, I can't believe that something so user friendly is available for free on the web. I also agree that in the changing world, the memory on laptops will decrease and we will access much more of our software via the Internet, like this.
  • I still prefer google docs
  • Lame Name for a User
    I like Google docs but, the other day, I was busy typing up ideas for web applications... and I am in that industry so they are viable... and I thought, 'hang on, if anyone has the technology to _find_ and steal these ideas, it's Google'.

    Then I returned to OpenOffice.org and kept typing.

    The privacy agreement for Google Docs doesn't say 'we will not read or use your content' it says something more akin to 'we will analyse your content to our own ends but we won't sell it to 3rd parties'. Now, I like to believe that Google are fundamentally the good guys - why would they need to cheat when they are so successful? But if I were to use web applications, I'd need to pay for them. That way I can have a guarantee that my stuff is PRIVATE.

    OpenOffice.org Rocks!
    Lame.
  • You may try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download that will meet all your demands. Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, so it makes the software very small and efficient.

    You can try these links:

    http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
    or
    http://ssuite5element.webs.com/thefifthelement.htm
  • The point is not to be tied to one platform. SSuite is Windows.
  • Simon West
    I followed a very similar route to the author, being a big MS Office user for many years but falling out with them as upgrades cost more and more. For me, having access to my documents *anywhere* is proving to be a big plus for Google Docs, although I would like not to give them so much control over my life (they already own my search and email)

    I use OO.o most of the time, but the pull of *anywhere* access is strong. For a while I dallied with a PortableApps version of OO.o, but this stopped when I lost two USB sticks and had two more die on me - luckily with no real loss of data.

    What I would really like is to have OO.o on my pc, editing local content which is seamlessly backed up to the cloud, and to have a Google Docs type of method to get at those docs and edit them securely from any browser, with no-one able to look at them without my say-so. Too much to ask?
  • Neill Harris
    I agree that I need 'anywhere access' a la Google Docs, which I find very easy to use and find info from my docs, but I need a much more 'functional editor'. So, if Google Docs was integrated with OpenOffice or the other way round, it would be an unbeatable combination!

    What is keeping them apart? Vested interests?
  • There's an ooo2gd plugin for OpenOffice which provides basic integration between Google Docs and OpenOffice at http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/proje... .

    It's a bit flaky though, and just lets you download a document, work on it, and re-upload. No checkout or file locking so it'd not be good for a Docs repository with multiple users.

    OpenOffice with Google Docs integration would be a true Office killer...
  • Great article, apart from spelling and grammar.

    The only problem with google docs is that you have to trust Mr Google with your secrets. Maybe you don't have any - fine, but if you do it's back to good ol' openoffice.org.
    Why anyone would want to pay for an office suite on every platform, I cannot imagine, and anyway, I actually prefer openoffice.org; it's more intuitive to use, always getting updates, never crashes, ...
  • In the world of how well they all work, I do believe Microsoft Office /still/ beats Open Office.
    And no, I don't say that to start an argument for all of you supposed "computer experts" who are about to disagree with me on the basis that I'm just full of ****.
    Working in Information Technology, most of the people I work with use Microsoft Office, and a few of them have tried out Open Office, and just found it all too difficult and advanced.
    That is still Open Office's weakness.

    Google Docs, however, I find very impressive.
    Though it is missing many features we find in MS Office, such as a good alternative to Access for example, it is incredibly easy to use and ridiculously convenient.

    Disagree with me, if you want, but you have to admit: Open Office is still too complicated for the average Joe. (Me, personally, I have seen OpenOffice crash more than MS Office… but that’s just me.)

    Also, OpenOffice does not support synchronizing contacts, tasks, calendar, notes, and email with your phone. From the looks of it, this won’t happen in a long time. I do not consider OpenOffice a “full” office suite because it does not include any of the features I just listed. I hear they are working on it, though… who knows *Scary 1940’s Sci-Fi Music*


    Nevertheless, disagree with me if it truly pleases you and you must go to that level.
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