Libre

Since I have to work with others who use MS exclusively, I need the one with the highest degree of compatibility - which is LibreOffice hands down.

FMPOV, both LO and AOO are usable. Both are resources-hungry, LO is very resources-hungry. Writer probably works better in LO, Impress definitely works better in AOO. LO is better in converting MS Office formats.
But I am mainly still using their common ancestor, old but still unbeated (except Impress) OpenOffice 2.4. And when I am forced to do something that is beyond the scope of OO 2.4 (like converting some really new MS format files or creating some well-crafted presentation), I usually run Softmaker FreeOffice. Well, it is not OSS but it is free and the developer is trustworthy (see history of Softmaker Office).
P.S. Of course, for working with just plain text, GNU Emacs beats all

I was interested to read the response from malekmustaq because I thought you could only run one or the other on the same computer. With this is mind, I am trying to remove Libre Office from my laptop running Linux Mint, so I can install Open Office. As I use OO on my Windows desktop, I wanted OO to be on both. However, it is beyond my limited ability to do this and any advice would be good.

An explanation of how to remove LO and what to do after downloading OO from SourceForge (which is not explained to the uninitiated and always assumes far more knowledge than is to hand) in words of one syllable, would be greatly appreciated.

regards

A Novice

I'd have to ask why you want to run software that's outdated, missing security patches, missing functionality in OO over LO.

I think my last reply to this thread was in July of 2014, but 5 years later, I am still using Apache OpenOffice (AOO). It works for me, I see no advantage to the ms strategy of rearranging the GUI every so often and yet no new significant features. As every day goes by, I increase my investment in AOO (e.g., macros, customized templates, use of functions, etc.). I use Writer, Calc and Formula for both home and work and have so from many years.

All said and done, I use it, I like it, it works well for me.

A few year ago I had problems with my PC and I had to wipe the drive. When I tried to reinstall MS Office from the original disc, it wouldn't work so I opted to dump MS office and install an alternative. I had heard of AOO, so I opted for that. Whether or not that was a good decision seems to be a matter of opinion but as I have converted everything on my PC to AOO - documents, spreadsheets, presentations, logically I want everything to run the same way on my laptops. I certainly have had no problems with AOO over the years but I am no expert regarding what goes on under the bonnet - I am but a simple end user - so if there are problems with the software, I am not aware of them.

So - back to my original problem. Even if it is anathema to speak of it, I am committed to AOO and I want to install it on two laptops running Linux Mint, but I am having problems both downloading AOO and installing it. Despite my having done so a while back, I seem to be stuck this time.

regards

A Novice

SOLVED

I have trawled You Tube and found a solution thank you.

Might I just take a moment to mention that often when people visit forums such as this, it is because they want help to find a solution to a problem. In the past I have encountered what comes across as smugness from people who know more than I do, and that is not what I relish experiencing. For example, last time I mentioned in a thread that I had found a solution on You Tube, the response from one correspondent suggested in almost as many words, that I was stupid and foolhardy to believe anything on You Tube. Well I did, and it worked. In this thread, I feel I have been mocked simply because I picked Open Office over an alternative. I just made a choice but I didn't come here to have someone's opinion about my choice pushed down my throat. Neither do I particularly want to know what a great choice I made, picking AOO. I just want friendly, helpful advice and a tacit acknowledgement that I obviously know far less than the people I am reaching out to....... otherwise, I wouldn't be reaching out.

A Novice

The problem with asking for help in "I'd like to install this piece of software that is 90% the same as another piece of software EXCEPT it doesn't get security updates" is that there's not many people doing that, because people LIKE software that gets security updates (generally speaking). Intentionally installing software that doesn't get software updates for most of us would go 180* from what we want, so noone can offer "simple advice" because noone else wants to do that.

1 members found this post helpful.

When I built my last* Windows box many years ago, my copy of MS Office 2000 wouldn't install (but MS Office 97 would - go figure... ). So I installed OO and have been using it for years. When I finally ditched Win7 recently, I installed LO with my Bodhi installation. So far, so good.


(* "Last" like "no more". Not "last" like "most recent". )

I use quite a mixture throughout my Puppy 'kennels'; LibreOffice in most, one install of OpenOffice, a common install of SoftMaker 'FreeOffice' shared between multiple Pups from a remote data partition.....even a few copies of M$ Word, installed as a standalone WP from the Office 2000 suite, running under WINE (by the simple expedient of unchecking everything else from the Office2000 installer.)

I can't say as I have a specific loyalty to any of them. They all work, and all do what I want when I use 'em......


Mike.