OpenOffice.org 2.0 Released!

[Scarecrow Man]

The new version of the OpenOffice productivity suite is now officially released. The open-source suite now sports a more professional looking user interface and a brand new database module. It also features the ace-in-the-hole - the Open Document file format based on the open-standard OASIS format for office applications.

OpenOffice 2.0 now features a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet (Calc), a drawing package (Draw), presentation graphics (Impress) and the new database module (Base) as well as Math and Gallery.

Where OpenOffice.org hopes to score with version 2.0 is that it is the first open-source office suite to offer full support for the OpenDocument format. Open Document is an XML file format specification for the full range of office productivity applications including text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents. Already many government and public organisations are looking at OpenDocument compatibility as a way of adding competition to the Microsoft hegemony.

http://www.openoffice.org/index.html

New features can be found here

[benb]

Looking good, but now I feel sad that I put portable OpenOffice 1.1.4 on my USB drive less than a week ago.

[-pops-]

I've been playing with OpenOffice for a long time and O/O 2.0 RC for some weeks now and I'm very impressed.

It's similar to, but distinctly different from, MS Office but if you can use the latter program, you can use OpenOffice.

Give it a try, folks. I'm sure you'll like it but, for the price, you won't lose much if you don't (in case you don't know, it's FREE)

[andsome]

Looks good I agree, but MS Office 2000 which I already have installed does all that I want it to. I use Outlook as an address book, Word, Power Point, and Publisher. I never need the other bits and pieces, though I have them installed in case I receive something in their format. I don't think I will be cluttering my computer at this stage. It is always there for possible future use.