On Wed, 2010-05-12 at 22:00 +0200, Gianvittorio wrote: > For users who don’t need Office, it’s a rare occasion that > Google Docs doesn’t suffice.
I use Google's spreadsheet a lot but the WP hardly at all. I'm just as likely to put work in a Drupal page. If it needs printing I use OOo writer. If I need to open .docs sent to me I use OOo Writer. Powerpoint attachments? Impress. > And yet for those who need Office, > it’s rare that they’re happy with OpenOffice. Except if you run Linux and aren't wanting to pay for cross over office or something. I'm not a very heavy user of OOo - I am currently editing a 120 page manual in Writer though and I'm happy enough with that. > Where does that > leave OO.org? Our district is fairly rural and there are still > plenty of homes with only dial-up or without Internet access > entirely. For these families, OpenOffice is a great choice since > they rarely have access to academic pricing on Office and can’t get > online to access Apps. As reasonable access to the Internet becomes > ubiquitous, though, Google Docs or Office Web Apps (even via > Facebook) will meet the majority of student and teacher productivity > needs. > > Am I wrong? Am I so dazzled by the pretty lights in Office that > I’ve lost sight of the value of OpenOffice? Probably. Since 100 million downloads have occurred its unlikely that you are universally reflecting what many people think - at least enough to keep OOo going for a while. In the longer term probably the web as the platform is right but Google's WP and presentation software have some way to go. The spreadsheet I think is by far the best of those apps. > I don’t think I am. > The majority of the time, the students and staff I support tend to > make use of Google Docs. Same for me. On my Linux machines, it’s > rare that I’ll fire up OpenOffice, despite it being a solid choice > for desktop productivity. That’s what the Internet is for, right? It's what the internet will do more and more so OOo needs a stratey to get there or eventually it will become irrelevant but not for a few years yet. > Because in addition to Google Apps, there is Zoho and Office Web > Apps, all of which work quite well. > > I just don’t see much of a place in mainstream education for > OpenOffice anymore. Pre-loaded on laptops and netbooks in developing > countries where Internet access is unreliable or non-existent? You > bet. But why use OpenOffice when most of your users can work quite > well with Apps and licensing costs for Office are low for the small > number of users who need a full-blown desktop suite? One reason is because MS Office doesn't run on Linux. Another is because what is a small license fee in the West is a years earnings in some places in Africa. -- Ian Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications A new approach to assessment for learning www.theINGOTs.org - 01827 305940 You have received this email from the following company: The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and Wales. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
