OpenOffice.org V3.0 Sets Download Record, 80% Windows 451
thefickler writes "The newest version of OpenOffice, version 3.0, has set a download record in its first week of availability. Most surprising is the fact that over 80% of downloads were from Windows users. As one commentator noted, when it comes to a choice between almost identical software (e.g. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice), price is the determining factor."
I haven't got it yet, not in repository yet. (Score:5, Interesting)
OpenOffice.org 3 sounds like it's going to be great. And I'll start using it as soon as it shows up in the Ubuntu repository and I get prompted to update. Until then, I guess I won't. I guess that a lot of other people are having similar thoughts. (Not to mention, consider the number of MS Windows users compared to all non-MS Windows users, of course the majority of downloads are going to be for MS Windows.)
As for price, price is not a factor in me not using MS Windows (I just don't like it compared to GNOME, etc.). However, given the choice between MS Office and OpenOffice.org, it is.
However, it isn't the only thing, I just prefer OOo. I've been using it for a good number of years (and the only thing that used to piss me off was not being able to word count selections, they fixed that), and I've gotten used to the little quirks.
It also does things simply better! Take creating a business card, MS Word doesn't even come with a template for that job! (Not that OOo makes it easy... Why no bottom and right margin setting?)
Almost identical? (Score:5, Interesting)
The functionality, features and ease of use of MSOffice (as compared to Open Office) still make it far superior.
Particularly, the new interface of MSOffice makes it much easier and intuitive to use (for most users) compared to any other office automation software.
OpenOffice.org vs Office 2007 (Score:4, Interesting)
I think a lot of people might be looking at OOo because it is the only still-supported Office workalike that works mostly like MSOffice 97/XP/2003. For those of us forced to use MSOffice 2007 it's a no-brainer. Plus OOo can be installed alongside MSOffice 2007 with no problems.
Re:"Almost Identical"? (Score:5, Interesting)
You have a point. I would conjecture that the dissimilarities of OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office 2007 are one of the driving factors in OpenOffice.org's adoption.
Re:Almost identical? (Score:4, Interesting)
Particularly, the new interface of MSOffice makes it much easier and intuitive to use (for most users) compared to any other office automation software.
If by "most users" you mean:
* People who have never used MSOffice sometime in the last 14 years.
* Excel power-users who have never used the chart wizard.
* Mac users who have never needed to interoperate with Windows MSOffice users who have VBA macros in their documents/spreadsheets.
* People who have never gotten used to applications that use menus to organize major features.
For everyone else, the new MSOffice is very intuitive.
Mac downloads already outnumber linux almost 3:2 (Score:3, Interesting)
That was quick (especially considering they only support intel based macs).
Maybe in the future OSS products looking for market share will support official native Mac versions sooner, instead of leaving us with either X11 interfaces or third party ports.
Re:Price a determinating factor? (Score:5, Interesting)
That's EXACTLY why I downloaded OOo 3, and use it at home. I was so pissed off that market dominance made me switch from WP to Word, and that the time I spent learning Word has been wasted, since MS changed almost everything around. My desktop at work still has an older version of Word, but my home machine, a company-supplied laptop, has 2007 installed.
I know I am preached to the converted, but that was the worst marketing decision they could possibly make, imho.
Re:"Almost Identical"? (Score:4, Interesting)
"You must be new here."
For the majority of users, OOo is roughly equivalent to Office. The only cases where I've run into trouble are with funky formatting and hardcore formulas/macros, which is pretty much power user territory. Most people either don't do complex operations, or do them by trial and error which works just as well under OOo as Office.
Also I suspect that most people still have/use the copy of Works/Office that came with their computer, which is probably also running Windows XP and is up to seven (7) years old. Their choice is: use the same old software, pay to upgrade (a much higher price than the OEM got it), or download free OOo. It might not be as good, but it's new and shiny and they didn't have to pay for it.
Obsessive compulsive upgrade disorder just bit MS in the arse.
Probably because of java (Score:3, Interesting)
When downloading or updating java from Sun the default is to also install OO. Highly annoying if you ask me.
and 80% of windows downloads... (Score:1, Interesting)
... have been from the stupid openoffice installer that sun piggybacks on java installations and updates.
BitTorrent? (Score:3, Interesting)
Apathy trumps price for most users (Score:5, Interesting)
when it comes to a choice between almost identical software (e.g. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice), price is the determining factor.
Actually, I'm currently doing my Master's thesis on this exact topic, namely the switching barriers between Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org. I'll post a summary of the full empirically assessed results to Slashdot when the study is complete. Currently, however, it looks like that Apathy is a much stronger factor than price. In fact, the author of the article hints at this:
In the past, it's always been included on my computers which is fine
Another important factor which I have hypothesized (and the literature suggests is accurate) trumps price is user inconvenience. Most users will pay to avoid hassle of any sorts. Further, most users will pay to avoid PERCEIVED inconvenience, even if, in reality, there would be no inconvenience. The FEAR of inconvenience is enough to make them continue to pay.
If you would like more details about my empirical research on this subject, feel free to contact me. A paper on the subject will be published by the Open Source Business Resource [www.osbr.ca] in the spring.
Did it beat Firefox? (Score:1, Interesting)
Insensitive clods (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Package Managers? (Score:5, Interesting)
(assuming os x makes up 0%, which is possible due to neo office)
Now that OpenOffice has native support for OS X, I switched from NeoOffice to OpenOffice 3. I don't see the need anymore for an extra layer above the original software, and releases which lag behind those of OpenOfiice. I suspect a lot of Mac users are doing the same.
Excel vs OO.o (Score:3, Interesting)
Exactly. I have used Word and Excel for ~15 years. I'm not what I'd consider a "power user," but I've grown comfortable with the UI and basic features over this time. Since approximately version 2.0 or 2.1, I haven't felt the need to use the real Word or Excel even once.
Just for comparisons sake, I am a heavy use of Excel (a "power user" if you will) and while I would switch to use OO.o in a heartbeat I simply cannot yet. Why? Two reasons fundamentally. The first is that Excel has a HUGE installed base in the finance world and that isn't going away any time soon. Want to work in finance? Better learn Excel - substitutes need not apply. I don't like it but that's the way it is. Excel is a de-facto monopoly in financial analytics. (disclosure: I'm a certified accountant as well as an engineer)
Second reason is that there are some things that Excel (as of OO.o 2.4) simply does better. (I'm just now checking out 3.0) Pivot tables, charting, and a lot of statistical tools have been better in Excel so far. I genuinely hope that changes. Excel has PLENTY of flaws but it's simply had more development time. Not to say you can't get excellent quality work done in OO.o but as someone who uses pretty much every feature Excel has I can say with authority Excel is the better tool overall - so far. If your needs are rather basic, OO.o is terrific but for many advanced users so far there simply hasn't been a choice.
Record Schmecord, it's just good stuff! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Package Managers? (Score:3, Interesting)
I replaced Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac with OpenOffice 3.0 for Mac.
Frees up a license for someone who would prefer Microsoft Office 2008 at work, and we buy one less copy overall. This may enable us to drop MS Office for Mac entirely, which would solve a lot of headaches.
Re:"Almost Identical"? (Score:3, Interesting)
You have a point. I would conjecture that the dissimilarities of OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office 2007 are one of the driving factors in OpenOffice.org's adoption.
Really? It seems pretty obvious to me that Sun tried hard to mimic almsot every aspect of MSO's UI and feature set for the simple reason that doing so is probably the only way you are going to ensure Joe Sixpack migrates.
Personally, I was hugely disappointed by OO the first time I used it. Not that it's bad as such, but that it fails to address so many things in MSO that have been crying out for improvement. Thanks to the flatulent Microsoft monopoly that means they don't give a cr*p about quality, MS Word, Excel and (OMFG) PowerPoint remain difficult to use and suffer from poor design almost 20 years after they were first produced.
What are things coming to if we have to beg? [blogspot.com] ("Are you really listening to your customers' cries for help?" Answer: "Why should we? We're making money in a monopoly! See ya!")
Very few, if any, of the very long-standing usability issues with MSO are addressed in OO. Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that none of the many principles of efficient word precessing laid down years ago by the likes of Jef Raskin or Don Norman look likely ever to see the light of day.
So while using MSO is a teeth-grinding, desk pounding slog though bone-headed "features", I would say that OO is a huge, but perhaps necessary, disappointment.
PS: Coincidentally, my father was wondering why spell check wasn't working in Word today. Every time he tried it, he got a message saying "Cannot find blahblahspell24.dll and somethingdict55.dll." After several hours of fumbling, he found out that this meant MSO didn't have its spelling and grammar tools installed (he was trying to save space when installing). Now, in a application over 20 years old, it takes a special kind of arrogance to let an error condition like that stand without having it say "Please install the spelling and grammar tools."
Re:"Almost Identical"? (Score:5, Interesting)
.
MS Office 2007 has been doing quite well in the real world:
The Microsoft business division, which includes the Office suite of software, grew 20% to $4.95 billion. Microsoft's Profit Rises, But Outlook Is Damped [wsj.com] [October 24]
20% growth in one quarter. If the tech sector as a whole is in the ICU with double pneumonia, Microsoft has a case of the sniffles.
Microsoft Office 2007/8 holds 4 of top 25 slots in software sales at Amazon.com.
In the retail market, Microsoft Office is bigger than games.
It is bigger than anything.
"Here's the really interesting statistic," said Chris Swenson, NPD's director of Software Industry Analysis. "Over two-thirds of the dollar volume growth in the U.S. retail PC software market in 2007 can be attributed to Microsoft Office. The ratio of Office dollar growth to total PC software growth is 67 percent." The Year of Office 2007 [microsoft-watch.com]
The geek tends to quote the max price for the retail box that he can find - and it can be useful to insert a correction.
Office Home & Student is about $100 at Amazon.com, with a three seat license.
The price of four ink jet cartridges - and if you can't afford the consumables, you can't afford the office suite, at any price.
The direct sale academic price for Office Ultimate is $60. The Ultimate Steal [microsoft.com] If your employer has a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft, Office for home use is the price of the media plus S&H. Home Use Program [microsoft.com]
Re:Almost identical? Not quite. (Score:2, Interesting)
Then hopefully he leaves he phone number after his name... So that you can call him at yell at him about vendor lockin, undefined specs, freedom and how incompetent you'd look if you used Word!
Once he hangup, you can go hungry to bed :) But at the very least you can sleep well, knowing that you stood up for what's right and did not accept an oppressing monopoly.
Then next morning you can start rewriting your CV in LaTeX, print it out on real physical paper an actually get a job...
Re:Excel vs OO.o (Score:3, Interesting)
And why would the financial world trust Excel at anything statistical?
One would use a real stat suite, lest you implement the formulas (or MS) wrong.
There was recently an article stating that Excel stat isnt very accurate. It was rounding errors 10^-2 or -3, which could easily compound if used excessively.
Re:From the article (Score:2, Interesting)
Agree. I use OOo all the time at home, but before that, I used Wordpad or Kwrite. These days, I'm seriously considering switching to Google Docs anyhow, as I'm usually on the road.
Re:Price a determinating factor? (Score:3, Interesting)
Time spent learning should be minimal if you already know how a word processor works
No it's not true. The AC has it wrong. MS Word has developed tools that are much more sophisticated than OO.
I regularly use drawing tools, call outs, line and text boxes, Word Art etc in documentation and it is so much easier to do in MS 2003 than OO (I haven't tried OO3 yet).
That takes skill and training to use effectively and at speed. Even though OO2x has similar tools, it is just different enough in its ability and finesse to be unusable.
I had to use MS2007 to do a particularly difficult and complicated graphic, and even though the ribbon menu was absolutely horrible to use, all the tools of the previous version(s) were there and in some instances, much improved.
For straight WP I love OO2x and I'm very eager to get OO3, but so far there is always a place for MS Office.
I really want OO3+ to have the functionality of MS Word so I can finally get rid of it for my uses and give the license away to some deserving group or individual.
Re:Almost identical? Not quite. (Score:1, Interesting)
True. These problems are very sneaky. For a decade I have experienced them with DOC -> RTF, Word Mac -> WinWord, and finally OpenOffice ODT to WinWord.
It is not that the programs make "buggy translations", but that they're designed in thousands of different ways without access to one anothers' source. A font you have in Linux could be missing from the Windows PC, or my fancy right-tabs and justified text never translates correctly... what seems to fit in exactly one page in one app takes up an extra third in another...
That is why in customizing my resume for nearly every new job lead, I never guessed that on the day of the interview as a contractor, 4 people would where the bulletpoints became squares, the indents shoved long lines into badly formatted next lines, and I had exceeded the standard single-page format. I had felt safe in testing the translated Open Office .DOC file on a mac with an old version of Word. Nobody mentioned the issue to me, not even the company that secured the interview for me with them. I was shocked when I glanced at what they were looking at, and thought it had been badly copy-and-pasted off some e-mail. In today's digital world, everyone normally DELETES stuff that looks wrong. Word makes it hard to edit this kind of problems, so even if my contact had tried to fix the problems, it would have taken him about 10 minutes, which headhunters aren't willing to spend in menial tasks. Normally someone just asks that you resend, but stuff like this could go under the radar until the worst possible time. I was damn lucky.
Re:This is the record? WOW (Score:3, Interesting)
No. Most Windows machines are bundled with MS Works. It's basically 'free' in Dell systems for example. But I won't be surprised if OO3 will be included in the future as nothing opens Works files without a plug-in.
Re:Package Managers? (Score:2, Interesting)
In fact, one of the great things about 'community' is that its not just gimmick.
Depending on your propensity for tinfoil headwear, I would be happy to mail you a copy.
Re:Apathy trumps price for most users (Score:3, Interesting)
It's one part of the degree program, yes.
And if you're suggesting it's easy, bear in mind my current draft is pushing 150 pages. This is a properly controlled empirical study, vetted by the university's ethics committee. There's nothing pedestrian about it.
If you're curious, you can read more about the program at the program's webpage [carleton.ca].
Re:Almost identical? (Score:4, Interesting)
What "functionality and features" are you referring to that MS Office has and OO doesn't? The majority of users just want to write a letter, pretty it up a bit, and send it off. Or make a spreadsheet, add some columns, multiply some others, and be done with it. OO handles all of this and anything else Joe User would ever want to do, as far as I can tell. If you've got counterexamples let's hear 'em, but my guess is you're going to have to dig pretty deep for some obscure stuff that hardly anyone ever needs or wants.
And, as mentioned above, "ease of use" is pretty subjective. I find Office 2007 to be a horrendous UI disaster, and have heard others voice the same opinion. Other people like it fine, or -- as is usually the case -- just don't care one way or the other.
As far as users are concerned it IS almost identical software -- it lets them make spreadhseets, type up reports, and make their stupid presentations no one will remember after the meeting is over. 99% of the rest of the "features" are just bloat added in, occasionally used by a few people from time to time, and ignored by everyone else. And odds are OO does most of those "features" just fine.
Re:Apathy trumps price for most users (Score:3, Interesting)
This sounds very interesting. One empirical study showing data and conclusions is worth millions of fanatical rants on Slashdot (or in company meetings). I think we in IT feel there are some odd reasons why users won't change, but can't articulate them or say how important they are.
The other post about MS Office being a standard part of the budget is a very interesting thought - obvious now I see it written down, but I didn't think of it before.
Re:Excel vs OO.o (Score:3, Interesting)
And why would the financial world trust Excel at anything statistical?
One would use a real stat suite, lest you implement the formulas (or MS) wrong.
There was recently an article stating that Excel stat isnt very accurate. It was rounding errors 10^-2 or -3, which could easily compound if used excessively.
They shouldn't, and IME if you speak to any experienced accountant who fully understands the limitations of the tools they're working with, they won't.
However, there are plenty of business people who don't fully understand the limitations of the tools they're working with. They just see Excel (and, for that matter, Access) as a quick, easy way to solve a relatively straightforward problem without having to go through all the hassle of finding an appropriate specialist tool and going through the necessary hoops to get up and running with it.
Fast-forward two or three years and this Excel spreadsheet is basically doing the numbers for an entire department, it's become absurdly complicated and nobody really understands it. Articles like this one [theregister.co.uk] from The Register prove that pretty neatly.