On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:42:05 -0700 (PDT) J C Jackson <[email protected]> dijo:
>Let me start by saying, I am very disappointed in this program suite. >OpenOffice came with my computer when I bought it from a refurb store. >I have tried several times to update OO, since last year! Today when I >took a chance to try it again, it downloaded the file just for it to >give me some .msi error and roll back I guess to the previous version. >Now I am jumping through hoops just to get support with you all. I >looked on Oracle no straight forward answer, (I do not know how I got >their by the way, I did not even know OpenOffice was under Oracle)Then >when I finally was able to get to the OpenOffice website, that for >some reason would never load. I try to register cannot get in or I >have a username and password but it takes me to another site and >knocks me out. > >I do not have time for this, can you just send me a CD? Janeen, There are a lot of things that you are unaware of, so let me start with a bit of background. OpenOffice was started 10-15 years or so ago by a German company. They didn't get very far with it, and after a couple years they sold it to Sun Microsystems. Sun makes heavy duty computers and operating systems for large corporations, and Sun thought it would be cool to offer an office suite with their software packages. But in order to get more development going with OpenOffice Sun made the code "free open source software." It is critical that you understand what that means. It means that Sun owned the code, but anyone was free to contribute to it, modify it, or do anything they wanted to with it. Since those early days thousands of developers worldwide have contributed to OpenOffice, all without pay. The software remains free. But in the world of FOSS (free open source software) everyone is expected to do something to help the cause. In my case I answer questions on a mailing list. But you are not required to contribute, it's just nice if you can. At the risk of sounding like a communist, it's "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need." OpenOffice was recently forked into LibreOffice, although OpenOffice remains a viable alternative. In the FOSS world sometimes a group of developers in a project decide they don't like the direction the project is going, so they split off and create a new variation on the software. In the case of LibreOffice, there were lots of issues, but the chief issue was discontent with Sun Microsystems. And, of all things, in the middle of the split Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in another one of those Wall Street mergers designed to make money for stockbrokers and attorneys. OpenOffice / LibreOffice will remain FOSS, but how the whole scenario will play out is up in the air. At the moment it doesn't matter much which one you use because so far there is practically no difference between them. Either can open the other's files and everything is completely compatible. Now, the upshot of all this is that you have posted a request to a public mailing list that someone send you a CD. Unfortunately, this list is made up of people like me who volunteer their time. There is no company behind this list. There are no company employees who will see your e-mail and immediately send you a CD. (Besides, you didn't say where to send it.) I also volunteer to help people with the Linux operating system. From past experience, I think you would be far better served if you can find someone local who uses OpenOffice and can come to your place to get it installed and working for you. If you lived in my city I would be happy to meet with you to get it installed and running on your computer. But trying to help you by sending e-mails back and forth is going to be frustrating. I'm still game to try, if that is the only option, but try to see if you can find some local people who know about OpenOffice. I hope that helps. :) -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] For additional commands send email to [email protected] with Subject: help
