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OpenOffice.org V3.0 Sets Download Record, 80% Windows

Posted by timothy on from the constant-companion dept.

thefickler writes "The newest version of OpenOffice, version 3.0, has set a download record in its first week of availability. Most surprising is the fact that over 80% of downloads were from Windows users. As one commentator noted, when it comes to a choice between almost identical software (e.g. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice), price is the determining factor."

15 of 451 comments (clear)

  1. I haven't got it yet, not in repository yet. by apathy+maybe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    OpenOffice.org 3 sounds like it's going to be great. And I'll start using it as soon as it shows up in the Ubuntu repository and I get prompted to update. Until then, I guess I won't. I guess that a lot of other people are having similar thoughts. (Not to mention, consider the number of MS Windows users compared to all non-MS Windows users, of course the majority of downloads are going to be for MS Windows.)

    As for price, price is not a factor in me not using MS Windows (I just don't like it compared to GNOME, etc.). However, given the choice between MS Office and OpenOffice.org, it is.

    However, it isn't the only thing, I just prefer OOo. I've been using it for a good number of years (and the only thing that used to piss me off was not being able to word count selections, they fixed that), and I've gotten used to the little quirks.

    It also does things simply better! Take creating a business card, MS Word doesn't even come with a template for that job! (Not that OOo makes it easy... Why no bottom and right margin setting?)

    --
    I wank in the shower.
  2. Almost identical? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been scorched before on slashdot for praising MSOffice, but again I beg to disagree that this is a "choice between almost identical software".
    The functionality, features and ease of use of MSOffice (as compared to Open Office) still make it far superior.
    Particularly, the new interface of MSOffice makes it much easier and intuitive to use (for most users) compared to any other office automation software.

    1. Re:Almost identical? by ciggieposeur · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Particularly, the new interface of MSOffice makes it much easier and intuitive to use (for most users) compared to any other office automation software.

      If by "most users" you mean:

      * People who have never used MSOffice sometime in the last 14 years.
      * Excel power-users who have never used the chart wizard.
      * Mac users who have never needed to interoperate with Windows MSOffice users who have VBA macros in their documents/spreadsheets.
      * People who have never gotten used to applications that use menus to organize major features.

      For everyone else, the new MSOffice is very intuitive.

    2. Re:Almost identical? by rantingkitten · · Score: 3, Interesting

      All I ever heard from Windows users, particularly at work, is how they couldn't figure out how to do anything through the "ribbon" or whatever they're calling it these days. Even though OO's menu isn't exactly like Office's, the fact that it has a menu makes it more attractive to people, I think; since every other application they've used in the past ten years has a menu, they know they can find what they're looking for there. The "ribbon" confounds even a veteran like me, though I admit I've only used it a handful of times because I use OO exclusively on all my machines.

      What "functionality and features" are you referring to that MS Office has and OO doesn't? The majority of users just want to write a letter, pretty it up a bit, and send it off. Or make a spreadsheet, add some columns, multiply some others, and be done with it. OO handles all of this and anything else Joe User would ever want to do, as far as I can tell. If you've got counterexamples let's hear 'em, but my guess is you're going to have to dig pretty deep for some obscure stuff that hardly anyone ever needs or wants.

      And, as mentioned above, "ease of use" is pretty subjective. I find Office 2007 to be a horrendous UI disaster, and have heard others voice the same opinion. Other people like it fine, or -- as is usually the case -- just don't care one way or the other.

      As far as users are concerned it IS almost identical software -- it lets them make spreadhseets, type up reports, and make their stupid presentations no one will remember after the meeting is over. 99% of the rest of the "features" are just bloat added in, occasionally used by a few people from time to time, and ignored by everyone else. And odds are OO does most of those "features" just fine.

      --
      mirrorshades radio -- darkwave, industrial, futurepop, ebm.
  3. OpenOffice.org vs Office 2007 by ciggieposeur · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think a lot of people might be looking at OOo because it is the only still-supported Office workalike that works mostly like MSOffice 97/XP/2003. For those of us forced to use MSOffice 2007 it's a no-brainer. Plus OOo can be installed alongside MSOffice 2007 with no problems.

  4. Re:"Almost Identical"? by CSMatt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You have a point. I would conjecture that the dissimilarities of OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office 2007 are one of the driving factors in OpenOffice.org's adoption.

  5. Re:Price a determinating factor? by Potor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That's EXACTLY why I downloaded OOo 3, and use it at home. I was so pissed off that market dominance made me switch from WP to Word, and that the time I spent learning Word has been wasted, since MS changed almost everything around. My desktop at work still has an older version of Word, but my home machine, a company-supplied laptop, has 2007 installed.

    I know I am preached to the converted, but that was the worst marketing decision they could possibly make, imho.

  6. Re:"Almost Identical"? by slittle · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Or did I just get trolled by the summary?

    "You must be new here."

    For the majority of users, OOo is roughly equivalent to Office. The only cases where I've run into trouble are with funky formatting and hardcore formulas/macros, which is pretty much power user territory. Most people either don't do complex operations, or do them by trial and error which works just as well under OOo as Office.

    Also I suspect that most people still have/use the copy of Works/Office that came with their computer, which is probably also running Windows XP and is up to seven (7) years old. Their choice is: use the same old software, pay to upgrade (a much higher price than the OEM got it), or download free OOo. It might not be as good, but it's new and shiny and they didn't have to pay for it.

    Obsessive compulsive upgrade disorder just bit MS in the arse.

    --
    Opportunity knocks. Karma hunts you down.
  7. Probably because of java by ArchieBunker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When downloading or updating java from Sun the default is to also install OO. Highly annoying if you ask me.

    --
    Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
  8. Apathy trumps price for most users by celest · · Score: 5, Interesting

    when it comes to a choice between almost identical software (e.g. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice), price is the determining factor.

    Actually, I'm currently doing my Master's thesis on this exact topic, namely the switching barriers between Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org. I'll post a summary of the full empirically assessed results to Slashdot when the study is complete. Currently, however, it looks like that Apathy is a much stronger factor than price. In fact, the author of the article hints at this:

    In the past, it's always been included on my computers which is fine

    Another important factor which I have hypothesized (and the literature suggests is accurate) trumps price is user inconvenience. Most users will pay to avoid hassle of any sorts. Further, most users will pay to avoid PERCEIVED inconvenience, even if, in reality, there would be no inconvenience. The FEAR of inconvenience is enough to make them continue to pay.

    If you would like more details about my empirical research on this subject, feel free to contact me. A paper on the subject will be published by the Open Source Business Resource in the spring.

  9. Insensitive clods by Charles+Dodgeson · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm an English speaking PPC OS X user, you insensitive clod. I finally gave up waiting and grabbed the Spanish language version. But there still in no English version for OS X on the PowerPC.

    --
    Prime numbers are exactly what Alan Greenspan says they are -S. Minsky
  10. Re:Package Managers? by De+Lemming · · Score: 5, Interesting

    (assuming os x makes up 0%, which is possible due to neo office)

    Now that OpenOffice has native support for OS X, I switched from NeoOffice to OpenOffice 3. I don't see the need anymore for an extra layer above the original software, and releases which lag behind those of OpenOfiice. I suspect a lot of Mac users are doing the same.

  11. Record Schmecord, it's just good stuff! by nickull · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I work for Adobe on the ODF Technical Committee. ODF made some great decisions that make the format much more admirable over others (use of RelaxNG Schema, open formats wherever possible etc.). I am happy about the growing use of OO. Jon Bosak also has posted some great thoughts on this. Jon's thoughts on ODF, OOXML and PDF.

    --
    "Question everything, including this!" - http://technoracle.blogspot.com/
  12. Re:Package Managers? by SaDan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I replaced Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac with OpenOffice 3.0 for Mac.

    Frees up a license for someone who would prefer Microsoft Office 2008 at work, and we buy one less copy overall. This may enable us to drop MS Office for Mac entirely, which would solve a lot of headaches.

  13. Re:"Almost Identical"? by westlake · · Score: 4, Interesting
    You have a point. I would conjecture that the dissimilarities of OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office 2007 are one of the driving factors in OpenOffice.org's adoption.
    .

    MS Office 2007 has been doing quite well in the real world:

    The Microsoft business division, which includes the Office suite of software, grew 20% to $4.95 billion. Microsoft's Profit Rises, But Outlook Is Damped [October 24]

    20% growth in one quarter. If the tech sector as a whole is in the ICU with double pneumonia, Microsoft has a case of the sniffles.

    Microsoft Office 2007/8 holds 4 of top 25 slots in software sales at Amazon.com.

    In the retail market, Microsoft Office is bigger than games.

    It is bigger than anything.

    "Here's the really interesting statistic," said Chris Swenson, NPD's director of Software Industry Analysis. "Over two-thirds of the dollar volume growth in the U.S. retail PC software market in 2007 can be attributed to Microsoft Office. The ratio of Office dollar growth to total PC software growth is 67 percent." The Year of Office 2007

    The geek tends to quote the max price for the retail box that he can find - and it can be useful to insert a correction.

    Office Home & Student is about $100 at Amazon.com, with a three seat license.

    The price of four ink jet cartridges - and if you can't afford the consumables, you can't afford the office suite, at any price.

    The direct sale academic price for Office Ultimate is $60. The Ultimate Steal If your employer has a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft, Office for home use is the price of the media plus S&H. Home Use Program