Reducing Costs and Saving Money with Open Office

OpenOffice.org is both an open-source application and project. It is free. The product is a multi-platform office productivity suite compatible with all major file formats.

By avoiding the costs of MS Windows XP ($180) and MS Office XP ($360), a company can save $540 per computer and still be compatible with every Word, Excel and Powerpoint document already created. Even without going to Linux, a company can save $360 for each copy of OpenOffice.

How good is it? One journalist says "OpenOffice Writer outperforms MS Word in almost every way" -- Opening Up to OpenOffice.org: Finding an Alternative to Microsoft Word [RayComm.com]. This excellent review compares these two products and includes an extensive reference document: A Comparison of MS Word 2000 and OpenOffice.org1.03

• Open source software as a viable business choice -- ZDNet.com, November 7, 2003
  For managers who are faced with the cumulative high cost of Microsoft software licenses, there is a huge advantage to switching to open source software.
• The Role of Linux in Reducing the Cost of Enterprise Computing -- PDF document by IDC, the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries.
  "This study has shown that enterprises with the right mix of workload requirements and in-house skills can realize a significant cost reduction by using Linux for workloads today. This deployment can be accomplished in-house or with the help of professional services provided by consultants knowledgeable in Linux use and deployment."
• Doctor prescribes Linux for more reliable networks, lower cost -- DesktopLinux.com, November 3, 2003
  This report describes a decision to move a "200-user network to Linux-based thin clients. The NY medical practice's conversion to Linux has improved performance, reduced costs, and increased stability."
• Austin tests desktop Linux waters -- ZDNet.com, December 19, 2003
  The city of Austin, Texas, is evaluating Linux and OpenOffice.org for desktop computers, the newest indication that open-source software has become a serious alternative to Microsoft products.