[Carry_Okie]

OpenOffice is also free and is Microsoft Office 2003 Compatible.

If OpenOffice is any indication, I'm not changing to Linux. I gave it a look and was not impressed. My kids (both in college at 16) ran it for a while and had nothing but complaints about file compatibility. I write fully annotated and heavily illustrated books. I run applications from PhotoShop to CADD. I need everything both Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite offer (and then some). There is no way I could afford to switch over with anything less than FULL compatibility. I have way too much work to lose.

And there’s LOTS of free help on the hundreds of Linux forums.

Lol.

[Westbrook]

Someone like you, with such specialized applications, would be much better off with a Mac.

My oldest daughter at home is in college and uses OpenOffice. She is required to submit her documents in .doc or .xls format, and receives assignments in MicroSoft format.

She has reported no problems with OpenOffice.

[kevkrom]

If OpenOffice is any indication, I'm not changing to Linux. I gave it a look and was not impressed. My kids (both in college at 16) ran it for a while and had nothing but complaints about file compatibility. I write fully annotated and heavily illustrated books. I run applications from PhotoShop to CADD. I need everything both Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite offer (and then some). There is no way I could afford to switch over with anything less than FULL compatibility. I have way too much work to lose.

I find it's quite useful for most people. I do agree, however, that OpenOffice and MS Office are not 100% compatible when it comes to layout, which really matters for desktop publishing.