open source alternative to MS Office

AsheGuy wrote:

tyoungs wrote:
Just got new laptop and previously wife's work IT folks loaded MS Office to our home computer. They can't do that this time (new owners) and so I am looking for suggestions on alternative to paying full boat for MS Office. We have files for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Publisher. What do you suggest for alternative.
Thanks in advance,

It seems you are talking about personal use instead of doing work related work. Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) are free, can open MS documents, and have a similar (or easily used) interface. I've been using them for years, not paying for MS apps.

Just be aware, Google docs only works if you are online, no Internet connection and you have nothing, no word processor and no files..

Google docs also has a lot of short comings like saving (doesn't like to save to your PC), printing (has to "create" a temporary PDF on your PC, then you can print the PDF) and on and on.. Retrieving files from this poor excuse of software is often a frustrating of a nightmare undertaking of epic proportions.

Yes, I have been dealing with this with my DD who got used to this stupidity of Google docs because of the stupid High school teachers which INSISTED that ALL students HAD to use Google docs :M for all of their work :S , spent many hrs last week helping my DD retrieve vital documents she needed to physically turn in to her Profs for finals..

Yeah, had to copy text and photos, then paste those into MS Word docs one page at a time then print them, much cleaner results than using the PDF print version of Google docs.

Now it leaves me to FIX this bad habit because in the real world of business no one in their right mind is going to use it for business..

Friends, don't let friends use Google docs..

Go with Open office or Libre office before messing around with Google docs, you WILL thank yourself many times over the years..