OpenDocument is available now, as is free software such as OpenOffice.org that allows anyone to create OpenDocument files at no cost. OpenOffice may be free, b

OpenDocument is available now, as is free software such as OpenOffice.org that allows anyone to create OpenDocument files at no cost. OpenOffice may be free, but it certainly comes at a cost. For starters: the cost of learning a new UI. And the cost of dealing with compatibility issues while most other people are still using Office. For my own needs, OpenOffice is fine. But for those who write a lot more documents, and have more invested in Office, the time cost alone is likely to outweigh the price difference.