well i wouldn't call my contribution wealthy but if helped in anyway you're welcome :D

Thank you all for wealth of information!

If you just need basic documents (word processing and simple spreadsheets) who look any further than Google Docs? Use it under Chrome and it's a fairly slick and easy system with some nice benefits.

I use Open Office at home and Office2003 at work. The from end of Open Office is a bit clunky after using Microsoft Office, but the main software works well and, provided you save docs in the right format' document portabaility isn't a problem.

I tried Openoffice once -- never again.

Not through any fault of the Open office team but simply it was noticably different from the packages that I use reguarly at work and me being the lazy so and so that I am prefer familiarity even i'm not using 90% of the available functions. (especially so I got a copy of the latest software for nothing through work)

I started using GoogleChrome last night and i'm pretty impressed as has been said before much faster than IE and slightly (but noticably) quicker than firefox. All i need now is the ad and script blocking functionality firefox has and i'll be one happy surfer.

Huckster,

I took advice before I switched to Google Chrome. I am now also using Google Wave - by invitation only. The future may not belong to Microsoft after all!

My understanding is this; my friend who is a software developer, used to use OpenOffice (because it's free), and he told me that as a Linux user it made sense. However he has reverted to Office2007 simply because of ease of use, and it is able to deal with up to date formats.

I use Office2007 for the word processor. I have to say I preferred the word version in Office2003, but Word2003 can't open Word2007 documents. Word2003 was also, for me, more intuitive. Word2007 is just too bloated for my letters.

I have just changed over to Windows7, having struggled with Vista for long enough. Vastly superior OS in my opinion.

Access

For most people a basic word processing and spreadsheet program is all they need.

I have the full MS office 2003 edition which I got through work under a special licence deal for about £20. I think I only use about 1% of the functions that are available. I only use Word to write letters and Excel for simple spreadsheets.

Most home user who buy expensive office programs do not really need them. The software you get packaged with your PC/Laptop or that is often available free with computer mags is adequate for most people.

In regard to your previous post, I am trying Google Chrome. Very fast, looks very clear on screen but a bit quirky in use. It is miles better than IE in terms of speed, slightly quicker than Firefox but not convinced yet, still slightly prefer Firefox.

Huckster

It's the way my mind works or doesn't but reading through the Superantispyware post this, for me, hoary old chestnut sprang to mind. Here's the link for anyone interested but not too familiar with OpenOffice.

http://www.openoffice.org/

I used it once as a substitute for Microsoft Office and didn't find it much good at all. That was about a maximum of three years ago.

Any thoughts on it now? Thanks.