Monday Magic - Free Alternative to MS Office Suite

One of my projects this year is to move from a Windows platform to Linux. Actually, my Darling Hubby will be helping me with this.

We are part of the millions switching from expensive cloud-based subscription software and Windows operating systems to Linux and free open source software.

There are a few reasons for this: tired of the constant updates, the virus/worm threats, the  expense associated with all of that, and the time required to deal with it as well as re-learn software that worked perfectly well until it changed.

Like I said, the Linux operating system is free as is most of the software needed to replace the software I currently use.

That brings me to the free software today's post is about: LibreOffice.

I'm making changes in my Work Life

LibreOffice is an entire suite of applications that is open source. It's a viable and very popular alternative to Microsoft Office.

Writer is the word processing software—like MS Word. 

Calc—like Excel—is for spreadsheets. Impress—like PowerPoint—is their version of presentations. Draw is for vector graphics. Base is for databases, and Math is for math formula editing.

COMPATIBILITY

The files created in LibreOffice are compatible with Microsoft Office files, i.e. docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and OpenDocument formats, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

It's backed by The Document Foundation which provides a powerful, private, subscription-free experience for millions worldwide. 

Included in LibreOffice are all the essential tools for productivity. You can open, edit, and save in Microsoft Office formats which makes it easy to collaborate with users of other suites. Some complex documents might need minor adjustments so be aware of that.

There is no cost and no subscriptions to be paid. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with unofficial support for other systems. You can also use it to work offline, giving you privacy and control over your files, unlike cloud-based alternatives.

Even better, there are a gazillion YouTube videos discussing how to make the switch from Windows to Linus as well as videos about all of the software to replace software you currently pay for—like LibreOffice.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm testing LibreOffice since I can use it on my Windows computers and haven't come across any problems with it. I definitely think it's worth trying, and the price—FREE—can't be beat.

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