LibreOffice vs OpenOffice

When it comes to finding office programs, it's all about finding something that truly works, and what would be even better is something free.  Microsoft Office is pretty expensive to buy from $99.99 to $399.99, but if one is willing to take the dive then good for them :).  For those who want something free and can work just as well, they can use LibreOffice and OpenOffice.  Both are open source office programs that offer the same programs like Microsoft Office.

As far as I know, OpenOffice has been discontinued whereas LibreOffice is reigning as the top program to use now.  OpenOffice has faced problems with changing different handlers whereas the former OpenOffice project members created LibreOffice as a trustworthy program that was kept updated.

I had a hard time trying to compare the two because they were practically the same to me within it's appearance, its menus, its interface, etc.  Anyway, here you noticed the interface of both as you begin to pick which program to use:

OpenOffice automatically has the sidebar opened which seems convenient and can be tucked away easily. OpenOffice opened a lot faster than LibreOffice by five seconds on my computer.

 Here is LibreOffice using the document program. They both look similiar besides not having a sidebar.

I have done a lot of PowerPoint presentations in the past, so I was curious about their templates.  It seems OpenOffice offers a lot more and better looking ones than LibreOffice.  Below there are two pictures, there was no templates listed in LibreOffice.  LibreOffice only had a few PowerPoint presentation templates.  I kept clicking around and it didn't load any compared to OpenOffice unless it's a glitch. Good thing though they both have websites to download templates for each program.

 Overall, I like both programs, but I seem more accustomed to OpenOffice.  I feel more comfortable with the interface of it even if it may be alike with LibreOffice.  Just seems more welcoming for me and it loaded faster as well on my computer.


Edit 10/9/13: I used both programs the other day to print of questions for a test, it ran off the page, and it had missing questions at the end of each page.  It doesn't limit the text running over the margins automatically...urgh!

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Google Docs vs Microsoft Office Web App

There is competition out there who offers more when it comes to things such as using web based apps with the cloud.  I went through two different services Google Docs vs Microsoft Office Web App.  I found the two to be similar a bit when it comes to typing out a regular document with its basic features.  Google Docs saves on Google Drive while Microsoft Office Web app saves documents on the SkyDrive. Microsoft Office Web App makes it easier to type out a document in different formats like you would on the desktop program (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneNote), but don’t expect the full features it would have where your money eventually goes into by buying the program.  Nice features it has is it automatically saves whatever you type on the cloud or you can edit/save within your desktop Office app.  I notice the only thing that Microsoft has over Google Docs is a variety and better looking templates used for such as PowerPoint.  

I feel that Google Docs is more creative in this comparison because it has the collaborative editing live than Microsoft Office Web App when shared with a group of people.  Google Docs works just the same automatically saving it on Google Drive.  Microsoft is a pain trying to edit a document with another user.  As seen below in the picture comparing two users collaborating:

Google Docs provides drawing as well along with collaborative editing, but Microsoft doesn’t.

If you’re used to using Microsoft Office, then your best bet is to use the web based app they provide because people are not familiar with Google Docs.  The interface is not so much welcoming as Microsoft’s web apps, but it still works well. More than likely, I would use Microsoft’s web app for typing up papers for school if I don’t have the full desktop program just because it’s so familiar to me where I have used it growing up.  As for working with a group of people on a project or drawing, Google Docs is the way to go.

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