OpenOffice about to go out the OpenWindow

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I downloaded OpenOffice software in hopes of using a more up-to-date (so I was told) office software suite until I get MS Office 2008.

It worked the first few times I opened it. I did have to install X11 off my installation disc in order to run it.

Well, I opened it and it looks more like it belongs on Windows 95 rather than on ANYTHING in 2008.

Anyway, back to the problem. It now refuses to open. The triangle appears below the icon in the Dock, but it does nothing.

I certainly hope all open source "stuff" isn't this bad. :eek: Linux doesn't stand a chance in the OS world if it runs the way OpenOffice does. :|

I attached a screenshot of the window.

Picture 2.png
 
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Ugh! Looks like Clarisworks from back about 1994!

Personally use MS Office despite all that M$ hang ups we see in Mac chat forums. NeoOffice may be a little better.
 
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Agreed... you should try NeoOffice instead. It's OpenOffice ported to run natively in OS X using Java.
 

dtravis7


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A 3rd for NeoOffice. It's more OSX like and does not need X11 to run either. Not sure why OpenOffice is acting that way. I have not messed with in ages now.
 
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Thanks all!

Where can I acquire NeoOffice? OpenOffice looks like it was from the Neolithic times...

Edit: Nevermind, I found it!
 
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Nice, I haven't used NeoOffice in a little while...I always seemed to have one issue or another with it. I might just try it out again.

As for open office, I have been using that since it was StarOffice (I think Sun still offers StarOffice for a price). I looks fine and works great on my linux machines but your right, it looks out of place on a Mac...not..umm...bubbly enough. :)
 
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Give NeoOffice a try, like everyone says.
 
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Most X11 apps look similar, GIMP has the same 80's/Linux look to it. Another NeoOffice vote here.
 
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I have to ask .. what's wrong with iWork?
 
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I have to ask .. what's wrong with iWork?

Same question here - I just switched to Mac a few weeks ago and have been playing with Pages from iWork. It seems pretty nice and I was about to buy it. Granted, NeoOffice is free but at $79 iWork is still a bargain.
 
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iWork is expensive and my "trials" have ran out. I don't even know what Pages and Keynote are, but the "trial" of them is gone.

MS Office works fine for me, but it's starting to slow down a bit.

I also just like to try new things, given that they work. :)
 
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I have to ask .. what's wrong with iWork?

Personally I don't use Office apps enough to warrant buying it, as cheap as iWork is. I'll probably get it later as I do like Pages and Numbers.
 
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I have to ask .. what's wrong with iWork?

NeoOffice is better if you exchange files with complicated formatting with MS Office users and back. iWork is nice for creating your own files from scratch.
 
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I use the new Office apps, only Entourage for exchange email from work, and Word. Although, Word takes a long time to load, and the page layout features I never use. I really do like Pages, it is simple, loads quickly, and for me has all the features I need. I have not yet had a problem with using Pages and exporting as a .Doc format.
 
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I use the new Office apps, only Entourage for exchange email from work, and Word. Although, Word takes a long time to load, and the page layout features I never use. I really do like Pages, it is simple, loads quickly, and for me has all the features I need. I have not yet had a problem with using Pages and exporting as a .Doc format.

Try to do it with documents using mathematical formulas....
 
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NeoOffice does a nice job with the complicated formats from my MS Word-based office environment. I work in that natively via remote desktop connection but use NeoOffice to open files emailed to me when I'm too lazy to connect remotely and it works great. OpenOffice was subpar as indicated above. And did we mention it's FREE? :)

Cheers
 

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