I admit it, I use Windows based operating systems. I have even owned Microsoft stock. However, that doesn’t mean I liked Microsoft. In fact, I just recently divested myself of Microsoft stock. Even before that, I stopped using Word and PowerPoint and instead used the free software provided by OpenOffice. If you don’t have it, go get it here. I just finished writing two 3′x5′ posters and a oral presentation for a conference I will attend as well as a proposal presentation to a customer all in OpenOffice. I write all of my quotes and all of my papers in OpenOffice. I really like the export as pdf feature for sending these documents off. OpenOffice was easy to use and had all the functionality that I needed. Although some of the functionality required trial and error to get to work as the help menu is not perfect. My only issue with OpenOffice is their spreadsheet software. While it almost has all of the functionality of Excel, it still lacks certain layout features that I like to use. I know that means that I am still using Excel, but hopefully not for too much longer.
