What's So Great About OpenOffice?


It's Free

One of the best things about OpenOffice is that it doesn't cost anything. Most people think it does because they know that programs like Microsoft Office can be quite expensive. However, OpenOffice is a Web-based program that allows you to do all kinds of things, including calculations, spreadsheets, and the writing of documents — and it doesn't cost you anything at all. Created by Sun Microsystems, the OpenOffice Suite is becoming very popular because it eliminates the need for costly programs that have to be purchased, and it stops data from disappearing if your computer crashes, because your information is online.

Spreadsheets

With OpenOffice, you can make spreadsheets of all kinds and use them for many different applications. The option to do this without cost is remarkable when you compare it with what you would need to pay for some of the software applications that are purchased and downloaded to a computer. You can pull in data from other databases, and you can do all kinds of calculations with that information. In addition, the Calc spreadsheet program is easy to use. People who are used to other spreadsheet programs will find it easy to work, and people who are just learning to work a spreadsheet program will find that they can quite quickly figure out how to work with the program and what they need to do to get the results that they're looking for.

Writing

A lot of people love to write, and whether they're doing it for a living, for their current job, or just for fun, being able to do it without having to pay for fancy software or figure out how to work a complicated program is a big plus. With the writing program in the OpenOffice Suite, you can create letters and documents, check your spelling, have the computer automatically correct or point out potential problems for you, and work with different kinds of layouts. It does everything that you need it to do, and more, no matter what type of writing project you're trying to accomplish.

Drawing

You can draw with OpenOffice. Not that many people realize that this great feature is available, but it's there for the asking. With that in mind, you can certainly move toward creating your own logos, illustrations, and artistic creations, and you can do it all quickly, easily, and with tools that make sense. The drawing program is not at all confusing, so you can work with the tools provided and learn it very rapidly. That helps you get up to speed and right to work, instead of spending hours trying to struggle through confusing instructions.

Multimedia

If you're looking to use OpenOffice to create multimedia presentations, you're in luck. With the Impress feature, you can do just that — and you can do it without a lot of fuss and hassle. You can draw, make notes, create slides, and design an outline, among other things. You'll also be able to create both 2D and 3D clipart and use the drawing tools to create what you need and want. Effects and animation will help bring life to whatever you create using this feature.