Korean Job Discussion Forums

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

http://www.openoffice.org/

They reformatted our computers at work and didn't put MS Office back on. I don't touch that Hangul WordProcessor. Anyway, I loaded OpenOffice's Word clone. I'm damn impressed, actually. Bear in mind I started my typesetting on Ventura 1.1 on a DOS pc and I've been using a WP during the days of WordStar. I've seen a lot of alternatives to Word and Wordperfect in my day. I gotta say, what I've seen is impressive. Pretty much everything you enjoy in Word is in OpenOffice. Haven't played around with Macro function, though. That's the ultimate deal killer for me. If I can't write my own macros to automate tasks, the WP is of little use to me. But it looks like OpenOffice can use scripting languages like Javascript.

Anyway, instead of DLing a pirated copy of Word and run a virus risk, just DL OpenOffice for free.

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

but you cant (or i just dont know how) transfer and open the document on another person's computer without it. Openoffice has no problems opening word documents though.

skindleshanks · Joined: 10 May 2004

I usually use Open Office--my main peeve is that I can't "draw" a table with the mouse the way Word can.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I absolutely HATE the new Windows Office 2007. Especially with it all in Korean.

Totally re-worked program, and for what??? More money off of training programs??

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

You can install two versions of OpenOffice on your work computers; ensure you put them in different directories, of course. One version in English and the other in Koreean or whatever the local language is where you happen to be.

If you use OO, instead of saving your documents in MS Word format, save them in Rich Text Format. I convinced all the other teachers in my office (they all use that worthless Hangul Word program) to save their word processing documents in RTF and we're all much happier when we have to share documents.

I'm unsure what you mean, skindleshanks. OpenOffice Write has an icon on the toolbar where you can draw ("click and drag") a table.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

I hate the Hangeul word processor. It's the worst.

OpenOffice is quite nice .... I also found this story very interesting:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070918-ibms-free-symphony-hopes-to-drown-out-offices-brass-band.html

IBM is launching its own free office suite!

Are the days of paying $700 for a copy of MS Office over?

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

What I most enjoyed from that Wiki article on the the HanWord program is how the company was going belly-up until the massive "Buy Korea!" (or whatever they called it) campaign saved them. Even Koreans thought it was worthless! Within at least the last three years, the government has been urging government offices to switch as many computer operations as they can to open source. It's amazing how people here turn their minds off when something is touted as "native Korean."

On the subject of open source programs, here is a good list.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Speaking of North Korea, anyone know what word-processing program is popular there?

On Edit: I think I found an answer.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

I may be in the minority but...MS Office 2007 rocks! I love the layout--much more intuitive and gives you more control over the finished product, especially in PowerPoint. Open Office's version of PowerPoint leaves a lot to be desired.

btw, I use Office 2007 in English since my work computer only had Office 2003 in Korean. It was a pain in the ass to install but after a couple of days of working on it I was successful. Smile

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Fair enough, but you don't necessarily need $300. Since the school is already using pirated XP I didn't feel bad about using pirated Office. I wouldn't dream of using pirated software in a school back home, but this is a case of doing what you have to do, in the students' best interests.

fwiw you can find office 2007 on any torrent site. Get the image file (approx. 1.4 GB), which you'll need Power .iso or Alcohol 120% to open. If your school is cheap like mine, you might need to install service pack 2 (be sure it's the same language as the OS).

Granted if you don't feel like going through all of that, OpenOffice may be the easy way to go.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007