[OPLINTECH] Open Office Software

[Ed Liddle]

We have MS office and open office on our public computers. I have not
heard of any open office specific questions, but have heard several
microsoft office questions. This could be that open office is easier to
use or no one is using open office... I have not looked into it. I do
not know how familiar our patrons are with any office suite. I have
noticed that most patrons seem to use the internet. I do see a few using
an office application. For adult programs we offer some classes using
microsoft office we do not offer any for open office. We do recommend
open office for patrons to use at home if they are looking for a free
office suite. I have not had many patrons ask where they can buy
microsoft office, but have had some ask if they could get it from the
library to install on their home computer. Also with Tech Soup I believe
you are limited to 50 office licenses.

-Ed 


On Wed, 2008-01-23 at 11:12 -0500, Shane Ian Hoffman wrote:
> For $20 - that was the price when I looked several months ago at Tech Soup.
> http://www.techsoup.org/ Most Public Libraries are eligible
> 
> They have an article on the true costs of free and low cost software:
> http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/software/page7940.cfm
> 
> You can get it for about $60-$75 or so as all public libraries should
> qualify for academic pricing from Microsoft.  If you order through CDWG or
> someone, they should offer you that pricing.  If you're buying off the shelf
> at Best Buy, you'll pay full retail.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On
> Behalf Of shivelri at oplin.org
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 10:57 AM
> To: oplintech at oplin.org
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Open Office Software
> 
> Here's a couple of things I have to ask after reading all these 
> responses (thank you all for replying by the way):
> 
> First, where do I get MS Office for $15? or even for just $55?
> 
> Second, we have a tight budget and 35 computers now and will have about 
> 50 by this time next year, at $15 a computer thats $750 when there is an 
> option for a $0 product. Is it really beneficial to buy an Office 
> software when the majority of users are just e-mail, browsing, or gaming?
> 
> Finally, for those of you using OOo: Have any of your patrons said, "I 
> can't use this /because/ it is OOo." or is more of a they have never 
> even used a Office suite in the first place.
>