OpenOffice.org
OpenTech Ministries Software: OpenOffice.org
- Overview: From OpenOffice.org: "OpenOffice.org 2 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose." One-click pdf creation is a plus!
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Function: Replaces costly Office Suites with modern programs and non-restrictive licensing.
- Proprietary Examples: Microsoft Office. Lotus SmartSuite. StarOffice. Most people are familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite (and maybe its cost, which is several hundred dollars… even with a non-profit discount).
- Priority: 5/5 – People have every reason to use it!
- ImpacT Overview: Millions of dollars are lost because non-profits and churches simply do not know about this fantastic product! Imagine what that money could be use for if we all used OpenOffice (not to mention that we would all be truly compatible with everyone, everywhere).
- Current ImpacT: Our biggest obstacle is lack of knowledge and education on the benefits OpenOffice provides. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is compatibility. Ever try opening a MS Office document across different versions? Not pretty. With OpenOffice, everyone can install and identical, recent version, and enjoy true compatibility. If you are sending outside of your organization, use the "one-click" pdf creation button for best results (or simply "save as" a Microsoft Document). If it is within your organization, just install a new copy of OpenOffice on whatever machine you want to. You have no limits.
- Future ImpacT: OpenTech Ministries is putting together an ImpacT flyer that explains the advantages of OpenOffice.org and will help spread the word. We will also be sending out free copies on CD to anyone who requests it.
- Numerical ImpacT: Stop and consider the amount of money churches, church associations and seminaries spend on software licensing fees that could be freed up for more meaningful Kingdom work. A small church with only two computers typically spends more than $1,000 over the course of five years on basic office productivity and desktop publishing applications (MS Office & Publisher). Multiply that with only 1000 churches, and we’re talking over a million dollars lost in five years.
- More Info & Links: Direct from OpenOffice.org:
The OpenOffice.org website lists several great case studies of non-profits and businesses who have made the switch to OpenOffice.org and its sister suite, StarOffice (StarOffice is a repackaged version of OpenOffice that is supported by Sun Microsystems).
You can Download OOo to run on Windows, Linux, or Mac, or you can run a portable version directly from a thumbdrive on Windows (you don’t even have to install it!). Available at PortableApps.com.
You may be interested in knowing that OpenOffice.org is available in over 65 supported languages with more being constantly added by the community. It runs stably and natively on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), Windows, Mac OS X (X11), and numerous other platforms.
Compatible with other major office suites, OpenOffice.org is free to download, use, and distribute.
Download it now, and get:
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Writer – a word processor you can use for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book. |
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Calc – a powerful spreadsheet with all the tools you need to calculate, analyse, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics. |
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Impress – the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations. |
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Draw – lets you produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations. |
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Base – lets you manipulate databases seamlessly. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, all from within OpenOffice.org |
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Math – lets you create mathematical equations with a graphic user interface or by directly typing your formulas into the equation editor. |
Why OpenOffice.org?
OpenOffice.org is synonymous with quality
- the roots of OpenOffice.org go back twenty years, creating a mature and powerful product
- hundreds of thousands of users participated in the beta testing of version 2
- independent reviewers around the world have recommended the product
- with a fully open development process, OpenOffice.org has nothing to hide – the product stands or falls on its reputation
OpenOffice.org is easy to use
- the software looks and feels familiar and is instantly usable by anyone who has used a competitive product
- it’s easy to change to OpenOffice.org – the software reads all major competitors’ files
- few language barriers – if it’s not yet available in your language, the chances are it will be soon
- OpenOffice.org is supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, only too happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike
OpenOffice.org is free software
- you may download OpenOffice.org completely free of any licence fees
- install it on as many PCs as you like
- use it for any purpose – private, educational, government and public administration, commercial…
- pass on copies free of charge to family, friends, students, employees, etc.
OpenOffice.org is standards compliant – certified by OSI as open-standard compliant,and the first software package in the world to use OASIS OpenDocument Format (ISO 26300) as its native file format.