OpenOffice which is the 100% free fully featured alternative to Microsoft Office released its long awaited version 3 today. It is either the fact that they never knew how high the demand was or they are using the same server that Entrecard is using…. Me thinks its the first one.

The 120MB file size download has had some great reviews as it now supports the new Microsoft new XML formats docx, xlsx and pptx. It also has opened up its calcs 256 column limit and expanded it to over 1,000 which is big news for many of its users wishing to switch from M$ to a better free program.

This is what is now greeting OpenOffice new users

A bit plain? I think so to…. As you see its just a plain old html file with some links on it. The servers are still very speedy for downloads (I was getting 700+KBS) but I guess the server with the website files could not handle all the requests.

I love OpenSource software and believe that it is the future of the everything software related. I do not think it will be long until you see M$ pulling down their $499+ pro version and making it a more realistic price for the people to scared to try something new. A lot of people still believe that you do not get anything for free and think that for some reason OpenOffice must have some bad evil code in it some place (Which Microsoft Office has).

Anyone who has not switched yet will see that it is not such a scary switch over. It is so easy to use and now has a 99% n00b friendly interface and does FAR more than M$ Office can. Not only that it is much less of a memory hog and you can get 1000s of Plugins for FREE.

OpenOffice unlike Microsoft Office works with close to all Operating Systems:

Linux (Using the infamous Deb format)
Linux (RPM Format)
Solaris x86
Solaris SPARC
Mac OSX Intel
Mac OSX PPC
Oh and Windows

So now we get to the scary part of making a decision…. I think its simple, but for many people this could be the sweaty palms part where you waiver on clicking the download link…. Then you have the all mighty part of installing this questionable FREE bit of software that boggles your mind of how it could be truly free!

So here I come to make it simple. Ill make as simple as ABC:

If you have $500 (£300 for my country friends) in you pocket would you:

A: Spend it on Microsoft Office and feel better of making Bilbo Gates richer
B: Keep all of the $500 (Or send it to me) and get a even better version for $0
C: Get both as your all about the options

Answer______

Go DOWNLOAD OpenOffice NOW!!!

Go spend $500 on something you can free NOW!!!!

Graham (Entrecard Owner)

Mar 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Lee Doyle you’ve started a movement!

This is the first stage on in revamping U Drop I Follow. Here we have the long awaited Wordpress widget for Entrecard and U Drop I Follow.

When you have downloaded this you will be able to create your Entrecard Widget. You and also give you all of U Drop I Follow badges to pick from.
(Remember I am paying people to design new badges!)

This is a great widget made by my good friend Stuart Ryan from Secluded Habitat. He has been hard at work on building the BETA version of this widget. This widget is for Wordpress (Self hosted) websites ONLY! I will be getting myself a Blogger widget made  as my goal is to get this service as easy to use as I can.

Right now registration is closed as I am working on a new signing up form for joining. You can still go ahead and use this but please join the BlogCatalog group for when it is reopened!

Soon I will have a system in place to really benifit the real EC droppers! It will organise everyone depending on your drop rank so the best droppers get to the top of the list!

So get ready for U Drop I Follow Version 3!

Please VOTE for the widget on the Wordpress page!

WIN SOME CREDITS AND A AD-SPOT

I am offering 500EC for the top 5 people to write about this widget on their blog. I will also offer 3 free adspot on the UDIF page for the best article.

I will review all posts and send the credits asap.

Win FREE hosting!

Click here for more details!