Hi Ash,
that is a REALLY good question.
To understand the answer however - you need to do quite a bit of
reading. OpenOffice.org is something called "Open Source" Software (OSS,
or FOSS or FLOSS).
OOo is not unique. There are literally hundreds of thousands of Open
Source software applications available - some brilliant, some good and
some not so good.
I would suggest that you start on the Wikipedia and read what it says
about Open Source.
OSS is now a MAJOR phenomenon in the IT world and large corporations,
public bodies and SMEs across the world are using it. Not just because
it is free either. It is frequently of better quality, and more secure
that proprietary alternatives.
Heard of Linux? It's a "free" operating system foundation that gets
packaged by various organisations into a complete solution: Look at
Ubuntu, RedHat, Novell and many others... You can now buy Dell and
Lenovo computers with pre-installed free operating systems.
Most of the core of the Internet is built on and runs Open Source software.
OOo is not unique in being Open Source.
Companies such as IBM, Novell, SUN Microsystems and many others now have
Open Source as a core part of their business strategy. Other very
successful businesses do nothing but Open Source...
Apologies for the plug but I run a small consulting and training comapny
in the UK specialising in promoting Open Source to small-medium
businesses. We have some FAQs and statistical reports and news items etc
that may help to "open" your eyes. It's called the Open Learning Centre.
http://www.theopenlearningcentre.com (and everything about that web site
is Open Source, the system it runs on, the applications used to create
all of the content.)
Hope This Helps.
--
The way out is open!
http://www.theopenlearningcentre.com
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