Steep learning curve & dire interface but better fundamental functionality than others
March 27, 2018
Steep learning curve & dire interface but better fundamental functionality than others
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with LibreOffice
It's a replacement for MS Office. It was used across the organisation, particularly for internal collaboration and documents in a mixed (Windows/Mac/Linux) environment. Once we got finance to start using it they actually preferred it to Excel (had some statistical features) though there was a learning curve. It's particularly handy because it's free and able to be downloaded and avoids the upgrade/version compatibility cycle that we have had with MSO.
- Calc has better statistical tools built in
- Ability to map macros (i.e. ctrl-K for inserting links) to whatever you want
- Cross platform better than windows/mac
- Works on Linux
- Interface is actually dire - 20 years out of date. It's like Word 2000, or maybe 98.
- The PowerPoint analogue leaves a LOT to be desired. You have to spend quite a lot of time making stuff up for it.
- There's no real analogue to Project.
- The Visio analogue is Draw, which is really not as easy to use.
- Cheaper, straightforward licensing (it's free)
- High initial learning curve
- Resistance from some users (due to high learning curve)
- Overall probably equal - less faffing with licenses, particularly for SMEs
The online docs - people often found [them] confusing and limited in what they do. LO was preferred to those though they lack the real-time collaboration features in the other documents.
Users preferred Office 2016 though support was going to go away for it so we investigated alternatives.
People liked having a local thing that worked for them rather than yet another thing in the browser.
Users preferred Office 2016 though support was going to go away for it so we investigated alternatives.
People liked having a local thing that worked for them rather than yet another thing in the browser.