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OpenOffice Gets a Toe-Hold in The Netherlands

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the do-toe-holds-work-for-dike-leaks? dept.

ChristW writes "Several sources in The Netherlands report that the city of Groningen will invest 160.000 euros yearly to switch its 3650 computers to OpenOffice. They are saving 330.000 euros per year by making this switch. The other 170.000 euros will be saved up to use for new Microsoft Office licences if it becomes necessary to renew them. The city plans to renew software every 5 years, as opposed to Microsoft, who 'forces' an upgrade cycle of 3 years. Switching from Windows to Linux is not seen as an option at this point in time, so those licenses will be renewed."

2 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think I speak for every user on Slashdot when I state that I don't care how shitty OpenOffice.org is, as long as it's not made by Microsoft.

  2. Good converter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    OpenOffice can be used as a great converter.
    For instance, by creating the appropriate routines with your favorite 3G language, one can generate/manipulate existing OpenOffice documents (a set of XML files archived in common ZIP format) to generate reports. Then, using the UNO API, create a simple application that controls an OpenOffice process running in the background, feed it with the manipulated documents and tell it to save in the desired format (MS Word, MS Excel, PDF, depending on the type of report). Totally custom, a developer's dream.

    Sure, it still needs a bit of improvement. Namely concerning CPU and memory usage, but try to do the above using M$ Products...