8 ms·

I downloaded the free version of Word from libreoffice.org and it's much harder to use than the paid CD-ROM from Best Buy, so I think that's only a nerfed trial

I downloaded the free version of Word from libreoffice.org and it's much harder to use than the paid CD-ROM from Best Buy, so I think that's only a nerfed trial of Word. Same with the Photoshop from gimp.org. The unpaid WinZip still works great though.

AnthonyMouse 6y ago
It's because they distribute the versions that work offline instead of uploading all your personal information to the vendors. The free software distributors are very privacy conscious.
- somehnguy 6y ago
  How does being offline have absolutely anything to do with their terrible UI?
  - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
    I know we're having a laugh directing the would-be pirates to where they can get "free software" from, but you already know the answer to your question, right? Online proprietary software sells you to advertisers for money, or locks you into an ecosystem so they can sell you to other third parties, and they use some of that money to fund development. With free software you either have to improve it yourself (the source code is on the internet) or give them money so they can hire someone to do it (they all have donation links). If you're dissatisfied with the user interface, have you tried doing the things that cause it to be improved?
    - XMPPwocky 6y ago
      If you're unhappy that people don't like free software, have you tried donating more money and contributing more to those projects so that they'll improve and people will like them more?
      - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
        Yes. The overall result was for the software to improve to such an extent that it now overwhelmingly dominates the markets for servers, embedded devices and utility programs (e.g. zip, encryption, file transfer) and is the basis for the most commonly used smartphone operating system and browser. It has also caused alternatives to Office and Photoshop, while not perfect, to exist. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.
    - somehnguy 6y ago
      Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online.
      - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
        > Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Only if by "nothing to do with" you ignore that it is the method by which development is funded. > Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online. At which time you had to pay a lot of money for it. If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction.
        somehnguy 6y ago
        Your entire premise is flawed imo. >If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction. You're just arguing to pay for software, but in a more roundabout way. And again, great looking software existed far before the popularity rise in always-online.
- ferzul 6y ago
  the why do i have to “download” my document in libreoffice if i want to keep it?
grawprog 6y ago
I dunno, I think they just took word 98 and changed the name, I mean it looks the same. It doesn't even have a ribbon. How am I supposed to find the icons I use to do things without it? There's some menus but they're full of text and kinda scary to be honest.
- phre4k 6y ago
  The tabbed ribbons are called Notebookbar in LibreOffice.
  - grawprog 6y ago
    Notebookbar?? Now that's a silly name isn't it? Not at all catchy like 'ribbon'. Ribbon just rolls off your tongue. Just how am I supposed to explain to grandma what a notebookbar is?? I mean just look at these instructions https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Using_the_notebook_bar/vi https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Using_the_notebook_bar/v... I can't make heads or tails of this...first I gotta switch layouts?? Then I gotta go to view and turn notebook bar mode on? Then i've gotta choose between tabbed, contextual groups or contextual single bar...nope no siree this is why piracy's just not for me. These knockoffs are always so complicated, why can't they be simple like the official certified word? And shiny and jazzy lookin'? I know ya get what ya pay for, but how hard would it be to slap some bezels and rounded edges on there? Maybe some 3d transitions?
    - rbrtl 6y ago
      Well it's open source, so if there are features you want you could contribute to the project. And being open source, the project won't have the same luxuries in terms of user-testing and iterative improvement of things as trivial as a 'shiny' UI. Again, if you have the time, you could help them out.
      - grawprog 6y ago
        Apparently my comments were just too believable....yes siree. Guess I shoulda known better.
aphroz 6y ago
I realized there were a free WinZip just after I bought my WinRar license
- cpach 6y ago
  Winrar’s UI is quite a bit better though, isn’t it?
manigandham 6y ago
Just use 7-zip instead: https://www.7-zip.org/ https://www.7-zip.org/ Free, open-source, and much faster.

AnthonyMouse 6y ago

It's because they distribute the versions that work offline instead of uploading all your personal information to the vendors. The free software distributors are very privacy conscious.

somehnguy 6y ago
How does being offline have absolutely anything to do with their terrible UI?
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago
  I know we're having a laugh directing the would-be pirates to where they can get "free software" from, but you already know the answer to your question, right? Online proprietary software sells you to advertisers for money, or locks you into an ecosystem so they can sell you to other third parties, and they use some of that money to fund development. With free software you either have to improve it yourself (the source code is on the internet) or give them money so they can hire someone to do it (they all have donation links). If you're dissatisfied with the user interface, have you tried doing the things that cause it to be improved?
  - XMPPwocky 6y ago
    If you're unhappy that people don't like free software, have you tried donating more money and contributing more to those projects so that they'll improve and people will like them more?
    - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
      Yes. The overall result was for the software to improve to such an extent that it now overwhelmingly dominates the markets for servers, embedded devices and utility programs (e.g. zip, encryption, file transfer) and is the basis for the most commonly used smartphone operating system and browser. It has also caused alternatives to Office and Photoshop, while not perfect, to exist. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.
  - somehnguy 6y ago
    Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online.
    - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
      > Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Only if by "nothing to do with" you ignore that it is the method by which development is funded. > Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online. At which time you had to pay a lot of money for it. If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction.
      - somehnguy 6y ago
        Your entire premise is flawed imo. >If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction. You're just arguing to pay for software, but in a more roundabout way. And again, great looking software existed far before the popularity rise in always-online.
ferzul 6y ago
the why do i have to “download” my document in libreoffice if i want to keep it?

grawprog 6y ago

I dunno, I think they just took word 98 and changed the name, I mean it looks the same. It doesn't even have a ribbon. How am I supposed to find the icons I use to do things without it? There's some menus but they're full of text and kinda scary to be honest.

phre4k 6y ago
The tabbed ribbons are called Notebookbar in LibreOffice.
- grawprog 6y ago
  Notebookbar?? Now that's a silly name isn't it? Not at all catchy like 'ribbon'. Ribbon just rolls off your tongue. Just how am I supposed to explain to grandma what a notebookbar is?? I mean just look at these instructions https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Using_the_notebook_bar/vi https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Using_the_notebook_bar/v... I can't make heads or tails of this...first I gotta switch layouts?? Then I gotta go to view and turn notebook bar mode on? Then i've gotta choose between tabbed, contextual groups or contextual single bar...nope no siree this is why piracy's just not for me. These knockoffs are always so complicated, why can't they be simple like the official certified word? And shiny and jazzy lookin'? I know ya get what ya pay for, but how hard would it be to slap some bezels and rounded edges on there? Maybe some 3d transitions?
  - rbrtl 6y ago
    Well it's open source, so if there are features you want you could contribute to the project. And being open source, the project won't have the same luxuries in terms of user-testing and iterative improvement of things as trivial as a 'shiny' UI. Again, if you have the time, you could help them out.
    - grawprog 6y ago
      Apparently my comments were just too believable....yes siree. Guess I shoulda known better.

aphroz 6y ago

I realized there were a free WinZip just after I bought my WinRar license

cpach 6y ago
Winrar’s UI is quite a bit better though, isn’t it?

manigandham 6y ago

Just use 7-zip instead: https://www.7-zip.org/ https://www.7-zip.org/ Free, open-source, and much faster.