NewsFactor: The OpenOffice Experiment
Oct 29, 2002, 20:30 (27 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Lisa Gill)
"OpenOffice 1.0, a freeware application released two years ago
as an alternative to Microsoft Office, sounds like a software dream
on the surface. It offers free office productivity tools that can
operate on a multitude of platforms, compatibility with a range of
file formats, and the ability to alter the program as developers
worldwide--or on-site--release new code. No license hassles, no
forced upgrades.
"In sharp contrast, Microsoft's new licensing structure has won
it few fans. Although the August deadline has passed for companies
to sign up with the licensing program--which basically leases
software to companies for a monthly fee and promises ongoing
security updates and upgrades--the desire for alternatives
persists, according to analysts.
"Although OpenOffice's appeal may grow as Microsoft's licensing
rules change and its customers threaten to abandon ship, the
transition remains costly and time-consuming..."
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