ThinkFree Benefits: Compatibility

ThinkFree Write 3.6 vs OpenOffice Writer 3.0

When using a word processor to create documents, you really shouldn’t have to worry about whether your client will be able to see the document as you intended.
However, if you use a low-cost solution like OpenOffice, you should be prepared for frustrations and disappointments.

Layout Issues

When layout issues occur on any page, the whole document layout may look broken. Click here.

ThinkFree Office

Proper layout in ThinkFree Write

Open Office

Layout issues in OpenOffice

Drawing shadows and arrows

Adding some visual elements to documents helps to explain some key concepts. Unfortunately, OpenOffice doesn’t handle things so well.

ThinkFree Office

TF Write shows proper shadows

Open Office

OpenOffice has problems showing shadows properly

ThinkFree Office

TF Write shows arrows properly

Open Office

OpenOffice doesn’t display arrows properly

MS Office 2007 compatibility

If you want to use the latest MS Office 2007 file format you better not depend on OpenOffice. Try for yourself. Click here.

ThinkFree Office

Good compatibility

Open Office

Looks extremely broken

ThinkFree Office

Same as MS Office 2007

Open Office

Major problem

ThinkFree Office

Just like MS Office 2007

Open Office

Another major problem

ThinkFree Show 3.6 vs. OpenOffice Impress 3.0

Though OpenOffice is available at a low cost, it definitely comes with drawbacks as well. If you are going to deliver an important presentation, it is not enough to be somewhat compatible with MS Office. Let us go through a couple of examples that will illustrate the typical problems you will encounter when using OpenOffice.

Slide transitions

This feature is often used to spice up presentations. But when you use OpenOffice quite a few transitions have very slow performance or just don’t work properly at all. On the other hand, ThinkFree Show works as expected. Download the file to see for yourself. Click here.

Animations

Animations bring life to your slides. However, OpenOffice doesn’t handle them so well. You can try for yourself by downloading the files to view the animations. Click here.

ThinkFree Office

Open Office

Layout issues

In addition to animation issues, it is evident there are layout issues as well.

ThinkFree Office

Properly displayed in TFO

Open Office

Layout problem in OpenOffice

Richer multimedia slides

When it comes to dynamic presentations, a well-placed video, picture or 3D model really drives home the point. However, can you depend on OpenOffice to deliver? It’s fairly evident OpenOffice has issues. Try for yourself. Click here.

ThinkFree Office

Properly displayed in TFO

Open Office

Multimedia display problem in OpenOffice

ThinkFree Office

Properly displayed in TFO

Open Office

Multimedia display problem in OpenOffice

ThinkFree Calc 3.6 vs. OpenOffice Calc 3.0

When you really want to get to work quickly, you don’t want to wait for your spreadsheet to load up. Using OpenOffice, you might as well go on a long coffee break instead of waiting for any complex spreadsheet to load. ThinkFree Calc loads the MS Office 2007 very quickly. Click here