I've downloaded OpenOffice, and so far I like it. It also has 3D drawing capiblilities! In addition, you can import/export BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and etc. graphics files! Moreover, it includes spellcheking capiblilities! It is approximately 64 MB download, but it is well worth it. Also, it will expand to over 100 MB when you install it. And best of all it is FREE! Here is the link for OpenOffice -> OpenOffice.Org

I use Open Office, as well. It's a fantastic program, and I certainly can't complain about the fact that it's free.

So far, I've been able to use it for everything that I can use Microsoft's Office Suite for, and it's cross compatible, so I can e-mail my work to my office which does use the MS suite.

What program opens it? I'm going to try it.

A couple of quick questions?

It offers a stable version and a Beta version. What is the difference? Which would those of you who are using this recommend and why?

We are using three networked computers in the house. If I download this to all three computers, would it still be free? I wasn't able to find a clearly worded licensing agreement.

Open Office, like all open source software is designed by a community or team of programmers. Sometimes a company will be in charge of designing open source applications but even then it's still free. That being said, the application is normally in constant development. A "beta version" is the latest and greatest version that they've have up and running but it doesn't necessarly work 100% or completely stable. It's pretty much still in development and is what the next version will eventually hopefully become. Sometimes they'll offer the beta version so other programmers can download the application along with the code and continue to work on it or get involved in the project by submitting bug reports etc. I personally normally just stick with the stable version unless it's a new project that's only in Beta and they don't have a stable version out yet.

The stable version is a version that has everything working. (Well, as much as you can gaurantee any software "works.") It's the version they'd "take to the market" if they sold the stuff.

In terms of licensing, you're pretty much in the clear. You can install it as much as you want on any computer. As far as I know, the only hitch is you personally can't charge anyone for it.

Open source software makes for a great alternative to....well, Micro$oft I know many companies are switching to products such as Open Office or even changing their operating system from Windows to Linux and Unix (also open source and free). Normally the cost involved with open source products is in support. Support is normally imporant for a big company that is trying to push the limits of the software and also wants some say in the direction the next version is going but for the home user, it's just download and go. You can buy "pre-packaged" versions of some of this software, like the SuSE Operating System for home use. This basically gives you an operating system and a TON of tools to go a long with it so you don't have to try and download them all. Cost wise it's much much cheaper than say windows, especially when you factor in that these packages come with tools equivalent to M$ Office, or Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia etc etc. (all which would have to be bought seperate if you went M$).

Now, if I think about this enough I'm sure I can come up with a really sweet thread on how Open Source Technology goes against the idea of capitalism (work for free...only true computer nerds do that! ) and is great for schools that keep getting budget cuts.

PS: If you want to find out more free products check out: sourceforge

and for the love of cake, if you still run M$'s IE do the internet and yourself a favor and switch to Firefox. (Less viruses, exploits, more features, and it's FREE!)