3 ms·

Libre office and google docs more than do it for everyone I know.

gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y ago
Unfortunately they don't (and probably can't) do it for everyone. What is needed is bug level compatibility with msoffice (including visual basic) and seemless interoperability (including add ons). Not only is this an insanely difficult target - it is also a moving and potentially hostile one to interoperate with. I've massive respect for the libreoffice developers but I don't envy them the task of msoffice interoperability.
- merb 9y ago
  Office 2003 and Office 2007 upwards don't have bug level compat. it's even worse if you used special things in your .doc files the chances are/were high to render them different between the older and the newer versions. basically nobody cared as soon as a lot of people moved to ooxml. Also Office 2003 and LibreOffice4/5 have way more in common than Office 2003 has with 2010/2013/2016.
  - gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y ago
    Bare in mind I've been often on the other side of this discussion.... None of this really matters - if you tell someone word ate a word document then they are sympathetic whereas if you tell them libreoffice ate a word document the reaction is much less favourable. I do not like this. My solution - I just refuse to use any office software.
    - merb 9y ago
      well just wanted to say that the conversion between ribbon caused a lot of people problems. especially the older personal really dislikes office 2007+ upwards. basically I barely use any office software and I'm on mac where Microsoft Office is basically bloat software. And for my needs, LibreOffice/The Mac stuff or just a text editor is most of the time's more than enough. Outlook is actually a pretty good product on Windows, however on Mac it is as good/bad as the built-in mail app. (actually it share's a lot with it, i.e. account's go over apple exchange integration and search uses spotlight and so on).
- fish_fan 9y ago
  That’s not “office” stuff, that’s “microsoft office” stuff. You should in fact use windows if you rely on microsoft tech like that. That said, a VM works wonders and people aren’t as confused by them as I would have expected!

Unfortunately they don't (and probably can't) do it for everyone. What is needed is bug level compatibility with msoffice (including visual basic) and seemless interoperability (including add ons). Not only is this an insanely difficult target - it is also a moving and potentially hostile one to interoperate with. I've massive respect for the libreoffice developers but I don't envy them the task of msoffice interoperability.

merb 9y ago
Office 2003 and Office 2007 upwards don't have bug level compat. it's even worse if you used special things in your .doc files the chances are/were high to render them different between the older and the newer versions. basically nobody cared as soon as a lot of people moved to ooxml. Also Office 2003 and LibreOffice4/5 have way more in common than Office 2003 has with 2010/2013/2016.
- gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y ago
  Bare in mind I've been often on the other side of this discussion.... None of this really matters - if you tell someone word ate a word document then they are sympathetic whereas if you tell them libreoffice ate a word document the reaction is much less favourable. I do not like this. My solution - I just refuse to use any office software.
  - merb 9y ago
    well just wanted to say that the conversion between ribbon caused a lot of people problems. especially the older personal really dislikes office 2007+ upwards. basically I barely use any office software and I'm on mac where Microsoft Office is basically bloat software. And for my needs, LibreOffice/The Mac stuff or just a text editor is most of the time's more than enough. Outlook is actually a pretty good product on Windows, however on Mac it is as good/bad as the built-in mail app. (actually it share's a lot with it, i.e. account's go over apple exchange integration and search uses spotlight and so on).
fish_fan 9y ago
That’s not “office” stuff, that’s “microsoft office” stuff. You should in fact use windows if you rely on microsoft tech like that. That said, a VM works wonders and people aren’t as confused by them as I would have expected!