Microsoft Word clone- Opal Office...
By jessigirl116
@jessigirl116 (848)
United States
May 13, 2008 5:49pm CST
Is the Opal Office clone any good? It's only $12 compared to the $120 version from Microsoft. I happen to be well aware of the old saying- 'You get what you pay for', I was just wondering if it was true in this case as well.
Has anyone tried this product, and if so, what do you think??
3 people like this
4 responses
@ferdzNK (3211)
• Philippines
13 May 08
I first though it was a misspelled one but I check it out and yes there is Opal Office - http://www.officebestdeal.com/?gclid=CMeVl7_m-pECFQhaMAodIFjOow it is a modified Open Office that is completely free. They have probably modified it to lessen the adjustment or transition from MS office, but base on the screen shots, the window icon is an open office. Better check this one first http://www.openoffice.org/ before anything else.
2 people like this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
14 May 08
It is Opal but it turns into Open Office. I don't know why they don't just call it one thing and leave it at that. When they change the name, it confuses people. What's the point of that?
So, the question is- Is it worth the 12 bucks? I don't fully grasp the difference.
Thanks for taking a minute to help!!
1 person likes this
@ferdzNK (3211)
• Philippines
14 May 08
Open Office(OO) is the "free" alternative to the expensive MS Office. OO is open source meaning its programming code is freely available for the taking and modification. I haven't read OOs Licensing agreement if selling of a modified OO is alright, maybe it is and $12 is not that much.
I haven't tried Opal Office so I cannot say much about it but I have used OO a bit and it does work "like" MS Office: Writer for Word, Calc for Excel, Impress for PowerPoint, Base for Access, Draw is somewhat like a publisher and a Math program for creating mathematical formulas.
Between the two I would go to the original free OO, here I can be assured of regular updates, similar to MS Service Pack, and my data will comply with MS office and a growing number of OO users.
@forrestcupp (1)
• United States
6 Jan 09
OpenOffice is a totally free MS Office compatible office suite developed and supported mainly by Sun Microsystems. This Opal Office suite is exactly the same thing. Someone is just taking your $12 and giving you OpenOffice which you could get for free from the official website. This "Opal Office" that you pay for is actually an older version of OpenOffice than what you can get for free on the official website.
So basically, Opal Office is a scam. But it's not illegal because according to the LGPL license that OpenOffice uses, anyone can make money off of it if they can find someone ignorant enough to pay for it.
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
13 May 08
Ferd beat me to the punch. I have been using Open Office for ages. It's free and has all the same features as it heavily overpriced alternative. It also supports all Windows office documents. I'd go that route, save yourself $12
2 people like this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
14 May 08
So, basically you're saying it's as good as 'Word'? I can't stand not being able to open a document or music because I don't have the right program, not that I'd know how to find it even if I did have it. Will 'Open' open everything automatically? I've used 'Word' before but I'm not really very computer literate, so I don't even know what it did, except it made writing things easier. I'm learning slowly, but at least I'm moving along.
Thanks for your input.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
13 May 08
I don't know about this new program, so I can' answer your question, but I will thank you for bringing it to my attention. I think Microsoft products are way too overpriced. In some cases you get what you pay or (OK in most cases) but there are those rare times when a superior product starts out at a reasonable price, so that people may buy it in volume, and they'll make their money that way. Again, thanks for bringing this to my attention.
2 people like this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
14 May 08
I'm not so sure if it's as good or better than 'Word', I was just wondering if it was worth the money. I agree that Microsoft is way overpriced. Like they need the money. I'm thinking they would want to sell the product for a price that everyone can afford, that way people just have to purchase an inexpensive upgrade. If they charged $30-$40 for the program(ridiculous but affordable), then sold a yearly(or however often) upgrade disc for $10-$20 to keep people up-to-date. They could put out a program disc(up-to-date) every year for the same $30-$40 for people who have not yet purchased it, and also put out an upgrade so everyone else can keep up. Where's the problem???
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
6 Jan 09
I have not tried it. I tried Open Office, and my java does not work, so I doubt Opal Office will work as well. There has been quite a few Microsoft Word wanttobees, and I have tried them, but much of them are really glorified rich text format or word pad software. The photos look like Microsoft Office and I do wonder if it is an older version of Microsoft Office that has been made into open source.
However I would like to try it for free before making up my mind.
@Christopher7 (1)
• United States
14 Jan 09
Opal Office is a complete scam. When you purchase it they just send you a link to the free download of Open Office 2.3.1 I've been using Open Office and it's really great and it's completely free. Don't get fooled into paying for it.
1 person likes this
