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OpenOffice 2.2 Released
xsspd2004 wrote with a link to a Desktop Linux post about the newest version of OpenOffice.org. Bug fixes and the usual changes can be found in the project's release notes. The developers are using the turn of phrase 'a real alternative to Office 2007', hoping to win over some folks not too thrilled with the commercial software's new look. "Overall, version 2.2 should appear better to users thanks to its support for kerning, a technique that improves the appearance of text written in proportional fonts; kerning is now enabled by default. OpenOffice's PDF (Portable Document Format) export function has also been enhanced with the addition of the optional creation of bookmarks feature, and with support for user-definable export of form fields. A quick look at the release notes also reveals that many minor bugs have been repaired in this new version. Most of these appear to relate to the Calc spreadsheet and Base database programs."
All software requires a geek to install and support it. If a non-geek is attempting to install and support software they had better have a rigorous backup scheme and a recovery disk handy. Even then not all data is easy to backup and restore without restoring the problems they have caused over time.
This is one of Apple and Microsoft's worst crimes. They have spread the myth that laypeople can administer their own machines. Computers are extremely complex devices. Their complexity is probably as great as that of anything man has designed. Being able to click 'next' does not qualify you to install and maintain a piece of software. You need to understand how the operating system distribution and the hardware operates to be able to do this properly.
Most MCSEs fail to attain the appropriate level of understanding needed to properly install and support software. Forget home users. Both Microsoft software (and other easyware) and Open Source software require the same level of understanding and knowledge to properly install, configure, and maintain. Easyware just attempts to make the decisions for you and hide the complexity, Open source software typically reveals the complexity and in so doing the full potential of the application.
That said, Open Office is easier to operate than Microsoft Office. Either one is a slow bloated mess IMHO.
Just as human excretion isn't shit based: It just has shit sprinkled all around (like in the turds because they require shit I believe but it also contains many other things)
Excretion isn't what you'd call a pleasant experience have in your pants (some might blame the fact that it smells bad and is the roots of all sorts of infections).
Pagan? Geek? Check out #paganism on Freenode IRC
No, seriously. Bragging that you've implemented kerning in 2007 is... just plain pathetic. Makes you wonder what other basics of text rendering it doesn't support yet.