[OPLINTECH] Open Office Software

[Vanessa Bradt]

It's entertaining reading about the comments about Open Office.  Microsoft Office products have been around for over 10 years now and I am surprised by the lack of use and knowledge still of these products.  If anyone can remember the DOS based WordStar, my first word processor and I thought that was way better than the typewriter. Today, we have so many "choices" of Office products that people still don't know how to use them.  Now, comes the "free" open source competition to Office.  If people aren't comfortable with them, they still won't use them.  I know that Microsoft Office products are being taught in schools.  That's what the kids are learning to use.  If you can get past the product name and just learn the concepts I can see Open Source Office products being used, but I don't see it.  Patrons come into the our library to practice, you guessed it, Microsoft Office because they are taking local college classes and they NEED these software programs. We purchased Microsoft Office recently and the cost is very low.  I don't know free and unfamiliar vs. low cost and familiar. For non tech people, what they learned or have at work or school is the program they are going to be more comfortable.  I still use Microsoft Office.  BTW, Office 2007 is pretty awesome.


Vanessa Bradt
Automation Specialist, Norwalk Public Library
46 W. Main Street
Norwalk, OH  44857
419-668-6063



-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Neeper [mailto:neeperro at oplin.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:52 PM
To: OPLINTECH at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Open Office Software

First, I admit to only paying slight attention to the discussion.
Second, I think each library must decide based on their needs, goals, funds,
etc.

Next my 5 cents:

I spent 30 + years in industry (Mettler-Toledo aka Toledo Scale)
M-T seemed to generally use brand name s/w. MS Symantec, Oracle, etc.
But, they had a lot of bucks available.
Although, on occasion, they did roll their own.

If you needed to know a package, M-T provided in-house class training.
Many times hiring 'pros'.
This will probably be the case for much major industry as they will want
conformity of use.

So I don't think a library needs to be able to train a patron beyond the
basics.



MS may still dominate the world but open source seems here to stay.
Dell and others are now offering openSUSE as an option.
You won't find MS products in it and you don't need to be a geek to use it.
It may have a different browser, email client, word processor etc. but still
useable.
If you absolutely must have some MS type program, WINE might be able to
install it.

As this continues, libraries actually should learn about open source as some
patrons will expect it.


In support of OO & open source.
Much open source. Gimp, OO, Picasa, Kompozer, 7zip, etc is very easy to
support.
You download and install a later version. Not much different from Windows
apps.
OO even will check and install updates automatically.

Edubuntu, openSUSE, apache etc., may take more specialized support.
(So does MS workstations and MS servers etc.)
But if a library has an IT staff that set up a system, that should be in the
qualifications for replacement staff.
They should easily then be able to support the system and open source.



If a consultant (other than Chad ~ shameless plug) provides a system,
workstations, etc. , the library should be proactive in decisions. They
should question future support, response time, upgrades, software used, etc.
etc.
It's necessary, especially if there is not IT staff on site.
But even then, open source should definitely be considered.
Take advantage of what's available.  You should be able to get more for less
money.



Prior to 2002 our PAC's had 2 mb ram, NO hard drive and booted from the
network.
We had Windows 3.1 , 95 and 98 and WordPerfect 5, MS Office 6 etc.
Since then the staff has grown through W2K, XP, WordPerfect 8, MS Office
2000, Firefox, Wireless some Edubuntu etc.
The director even has openSUSE on his old W2K pc.
No techno stress breakdowns for staff yet. (My hair would be grey anyway)

Our patrons have gone with the flow with few exceptions.
For the most part they just want PAC & internet access.


Right now for us, it doesn't matter how cheap MS applications are.
If it's workable, free is better.
We just do not have funds available at our library to chase technology
advances.
I'd rather buy more memory than MS Office.


BTW ~ I'm not anti-MS.
My laptop is a W2K with OO & Office 2000, I predominately use Opera but also
Outlook.
Sometimes IExplorer for the backward websites.
It's all sort of a mixed bag on my PC.


R. W. (Bob) Neeper     Cell: (740)-407-3572
Community Library
44 Burrer Dr.
Sunbury, Oh 43074
Tel:  (740)-965-3901