OpenOffice.org

Most Windows users have Microsoft Office installed.
Of course, with a text editor, a spreadsheet, a slideshow maker, and many more.
Office suite like this are very issential for office, well...maybe home users as well. So...do you all really need to spend all those money for this all? worth it?
You may say yes. No matter.

Anyway, I'll introduce this: OpenOffice.org !!!

They have this cute lil birdies as logo. ^^

ok. Here are what it is all about.

	OpenOffice.org Writer Similar to Microsoft Word
	OpenOffice.org Calc Similar to Microsoft Excel
	OpenOffice.org Impress Similar to Microsoft PowerPoint
	OpenOffice.org Base Similar to Microsoft Access
	OpenOffice.org Draw A vector graphic editor
	OpenOffice.org Math Similar to Microsoft Equation Editor

Most of the time people will be using Writer, Impress and Calc only. (or maybe it's just me. LoL)
IMO, for the Writer, its function to export your work into PDF is very useful. However, Microsoft has something I want, that OpenOffice.org Writer doesn't have...
That's...Word Art!!!
I use word art very often when using MS Word... :(

The dictionary is bad...So my advice for you is to turn off automatic spell check.
If not, you may see red curly lines under many words... :(

The Impress and Calc are more or less similar to Microsoft Office's PowerPoint and Excel.
I have not met any issue on this. My office is using Microsoft Office 2003, my personal laptop is using this OpenOffice.org. Microsoft Office's file format is very compatible with this office suite. Be careful when choosing file version while saving in OpenOffice.org. :)

In any case that the program crash, it will automatically save any projects, restarts itself, and load it back for you. Well, no need to worry, as long as your hardware isn't that bad, crash do not happen often.

Performance:	above average
Features:	great
Ease of Use:	average
Support:	satisfying
System Requirement:	below average

Overall rating: 7/10

their ad in their official website

External Link:
Their official website
Download:

Download java here.
You cannot run OpenOffice.org without Java Runtime Environment.

Reviews:
from official website
from wikipedia
from PC Magazine
from Slashdot
from CNET