OpenOffice: 2.3 is now out! What? M$Office you’re still here…!

Posted by

2

For those dedicated Ooo users, Version 2.3 is now out. You can pretty much try it out, even if you don’t keep it! It installs simply, and removes simply. Even on Windows 98se it doesn’t need a reboot usually. I wish I could say that of most other software.

250px-OOoWrite22

Anyway, OpenOffice.org says:

OpenOffice.org 2.3 incorporates an array of new features and enhancements to all its core components, and protects users from newly discovered security vulnerabilities. It is a major release and all users should download it.

Plus: It is only with 2.3 that users can make full use of our growing extensions library.

It really is available on many platforms from Win32 to Mac to some very esoteric platforms (including Solaris). I do think that Ooo isn’t yet COMPELLLING as software, but it is developing some characteristics that are making its adoption in the future a certainty.

Why? Well, compared to Microsoft’s product, it offers a number of advantages:

  • 1. it’s got a growing base of user components (intriguing)… just like Firefox at version 1.0+, it was the components as much as anything else that drove adoption.
  • 2. it’s got a wide userbase, with platforms supported from Windows 98 to Linux to … and a wide range of language options.
  • 3. it’s a full user suite including a database (unlike many versions of Office proper).
  • 4. its upgrade cycle seems to be speeding up, too.
  • 5. early niggles have gone, but there are some niggles like setting default pages and some screen refreshes don’t play well.
  • 6. it doesn’t use MS’s new proprietary document formats.

Though it is quite a jump from lower end office applications like MS Works, or Apple Works, and there are few ways to import text directly from some of these alternatives. For example, to get text from Works, you first have to save it as an RTF file or HTML or even a DOC.

Many companies have already adopted it, as has ours. We’ve got five operational computers, but we only use MS Office on two systems, as we still run Win98se on two ‘old’ systems. Eventually, that will be reduced to one. Then zero when the oldest PC dies.

We will not purchase new copies of Office at all. Integration and standardized systems make things much easier, but CDs with serial numbers, activation, and the continual problems with the Genuine Advantage program really distract from the point of buying software: to get the job done!

You can find out more information from the Wikipedia pages on OpenOffice as well as the comparison of Office Software page.

What is your attitude ot OpenOffice vs. M$Office?

Random Bits and Bobs: Argus, Lost Cameras, and Dreamhost PS

Posted by

2

Get a life!
I am not particularly interested in sitting on my keyboard and bidding minute-by-minute for items I don’t absolutely need on things like eBay, Payperpost and Stocks. Who has the interest to sit with their finger poised over the enter key? After being kicked off eBay unceremoniously, it’s made me somewhat more reticent to become involved in some kinds of websites. It’s also made me question why we should be doing that!

Missing Kodak
The second bit of news is that I lost my second digital camera. It was a Kodak C360 Model with EasyShare. Included in the camera was a rechargable battery, and a brand new 2GB memory card with photographs of our cute students! I didn’t make a copy, who’d have thought I would lose it! I know when approximately it went missing, and some idea where. But it has not been found…

31DMQTWRR2L

It was a nice little camera which took good photos in daylight, but the night time quality suffered from too much flash. I liked the fact I could take movies, but hated the fact that the movies were in QT format. I dropped it a couple of times, it had no problems with that!

When you lose things like that, it’s important to remember to let it go! I’m still trying to accept that it’s gone. I really hope that whoever finds it makes the most and takes great pictures… My own problem is knowing now which one I would like to replace it with…! Any ideas? Do comment me some suggestions… I’d be happy to purchase something more expensive, but I did have a soft spot for those with drop in batteries…! I won’t buy a Sony… but other brands… ? Let me know!

New Server
I’m happy to report that I’ve been moved to a new Virtual Server, courtesy of Dreamhost . I had been thinking about it for a while, and finally opted to go for it after the problems with the blog on a shared server. You can check out how the PS works here. Since Dreamhost is now offering only one plan, I opted for that, and decided to spend the extra money on my server. Here are my stats for the last few days, it’s fun to see how things go up and down. There’s also a reboot server button for when things get sticky! It works a treat.

dhps

I’ll be doing a full review of the service in about a couple of weeks. Suffice to say, if you’re interested, you can use my special Dreamhost Coupon. To celebrate Dreamhost’s 10th birthday , I’m offering the Triple 10 – That’s get 10% more bandwidth, 10% more space, and 10% off the price, too, on ANY plan, and that’s in addition to the discounts that Dreamhost is offering for longer term contracts.

Payment Period

Cost

Discount

Monthly

$60.90

$5.10

Yearly

$119.40

$11.94

Two years

$214.80

$21.48

Three years

$286.20

$28.62

Five years

$417.00

$41.70

Ten years

$714.00

$71.40

If you’re interested, when you sign up , you can use the DreamHost Promo Coupon Code: DH10THBIRTHDAY . And yes, pass it on!

Argus: Payperpost’s new system
After Payperpost’s proposed deal with Performancing fell through, they were left without a reliable stats program for traffic. Alexa isn’t particularly reliable for low volume, Google PR is getting strict, not to mention, VERY Slow in updating, and Analytics is private, there are no public options at all. So Payperpost is developing their own set of tools! I was invited to help track the data and verify their own stats. I’m not sure of the implications for Posties, yet as I have not seen Argus, but you can find out what’s known here. There’s a lot of talk at the moment about Argus in Payperpost Circles, what is Argus? Who knows…?

And that’s it on InvestorBlogger’s News Round-up!

Dreamhost: A good place to start hosting

Posted by

If you have never hosted your own website’s before, it’s actually not that complicated. But still those first steps into the unknown can be actually quite tricky. I’ve been a Dreamhost customer for quite some time, 2004 in fact. During that time, I’ve had good service, lots of space to grow, and some great tools!

Of Dreamhost, Servers and Coupons for all!

As I’m happy to report that I’ve been moved to a new Virtual Server, courtesy of Dreamhost. I had been thinking about it for a while, and finally opted to go for it after the problems with the blog on a shared server. You can check out how the PS works here. Since Dreamhost is now offering only one plan, I opted for that, and decided to spend the extra money on my server. Here are my stats for the last few days, it’s fun to see how things go up and down. There’s also a reboot server button for when things get sticky! It works a treat.

dhps

I’ll be doing a full review of the service in about a couple of weeks. Suffice to say, if you’re interested, you can use my special Dreamhost Coupon. To celebrate Dreamhost’s 10th birthday, I’m offering the Triple 10 – That’s get 10% more bandwidth, 10% more space, and 10% off the price, too, on ANY plan, and that’s in addition to the discounts that Dreamhost is offering for longer term contracts.

Payment Period

Cost

Discount

Monthly

$60.90

$5.10

Yearly

$119.40

$11.94

Two years

$214.80

$21.48

Three years

$286.20

$28.62

Five years

$417.00

$41.70

Ten years

$714.00

$71.40

If you’re interested, when you sign up, you can use the DreamHost Promo Coupon Code: DH10THBIRTHDAY . And yes, pass it on!