If you're not familiar with OpenOffice, you'll consider the interface either functional and straightforward or old-fashioned and stodgy, depending on your aesthetic inclinations. Little in the overall interface or each individual application has changed. If you've already used OpenOffice 2.0, the beta of Version 3 will be very recognizable. Even as a 147.9MB download, though, it's still svelte compared to Microsoft Office. The download comes with six applications: the Writer word processor, Calc spreadsheet, Impress presentations program, Base database program, Math equation editor and Draw graphics program. These types of problems should come as no surprise the final version isn't due until September, and this is a very early beta. First, I had to create a document in another program and then open it in OpenOffice.

For example, I was unable to create a document and save it without crashing.

I tested the Windows version on a 1.83-GHz Core Duo PC with 1GB of memory and found it to be somewhat buggy. Keep in mind that OpenOffice 3.0 is in beta and should be used for evaluation purposes only. If you're not working in an enterprise that has standardized on Microsoft Office, you should think twice before paying full freight for Office, and give serious consideration to this free alternative when the final version is released.

This free, open-source software suite provides most of what anyone could want in an office suite, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, database, drawing tools and math equation editor.Īlthough it doesn't include all of the high-end features and the slick user interface of Microsoft Office 2007 (for the PC) and Microsoft Office 2008 (for the Mac), it will handle just about any job you need done. If you think that you always get what you pay for, the just-released beta of OpenOffice 3.0 should convince you otherwise.

Openoffice impress 3.0 download