OpenOffice.org 3

OpenOffice.org 3 is the newly-released version of the most popular free office suite in the world.  Compatible with Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), OpenOffice.org has rapidly been gaining popularity over the last few years.  It is the office suite of choice for many pre-built Linux systems (including the ones being sold by Dell, HP and ASUS), and is also compatible with Windows, Apple, and Unix operating systems.  The interface closely resembles Microsoft’s, and there is almost no learning curve for Microsoft Office users wishing to convert to a free alternative.  OpenOffice.org can open Microsoft Office 2007 files without having to install a converter, which is something that earlier versions of Microsoft Office cannot do.  OpenOffice.org can also save any office document as a PDF file without having to install any additional software.

NOTE:  By default, OpenOffice.org is set to be most compatible with international opensource document formats. Follow these easy steps to make it more compatible with Microsoft Office document formats.

Download OpenOffice.org

——————

UPDATE:

Because this is a brand new release, the download servers are being hit pretty hard with web traffic.  As a result, the download may be pretty slow.  But don’t be discouraged!  Just look at all the positive press that OpenOffice has received in the past few days:

Yahoo!

ZDNet

Houston Chronicle

Computerworld

Create PDF files in Office 2007

Microsoft offers a free add-in that allows Office 2007 to save any file as a PDF.  After installing the update, you can create a PDF by using the Save As feature and selecting the PDF option.

 

Download the add-in here

Trouble Opening Office 2007 files?

If you are using an older version of Microsoft Office (97/2000/XP/2003) and are having trouble opening files created with Office 2007, you are not alone.  With the release of Office 2007, Microsoft changed the program’s default file type from the classic .doc (for Word) extension to a new .docx extension.  One little letter makes a lot of difference, and all previous versions of Office are unable to open this new file type without installing a converter.  Fortunately the converter is available for free from the Microsoft website, and is easily installed.

Download from Microsoft

PDF Tools

PDF files have long been the standard file format for e-mailing business documents.  While the majority of PCs come pre-installed with the most popular free PDF reader, Adobe Reader, most do not come with any tools for creating or editing PDF files.  And while Adobe Reader is the most recognized PDF viewer, it is certainly not the fastest.  Below are some free tools to allow you to do much more with PDF files than just view them.

Foxit PDF Reader

A lightweight and super-fast replacement for Adobe Reader, Foxit PDF Reader is rapidly gaining popularity.  PDF files open in a snap, and installation is quick and easy.

Download Foxit PDF Reader

Primo PDF

If you want to create a basic PDF file, you don’t need to pay over $200 for Adobe Acrobat.  Instead, just install PrimoPDF.  PrimoPDF installs like a printer, allowing any printable document to be turned into a PDF.  This is an especially good tool if you want to e-mail Feature Sheets to clients.

Download PrimoPDF

Free PDF to Word Converter

Have to ever received a PDF in your e-mail and wanted to make some changes to it?  Free PDF to Word Converter will convert a PDF into a Microsoft Word (.doc) file, allowing you to edit the contents.  When you’re done, just use PrimoPDF to convert it back into a PDF file.

NOTE:  Free PDF to Word Converter can only convert PDF files that were created using OCR (text-recognition) software.  While this encompasses the majority of PDFs, not all may convert correctly to Word.

Download Free PDF to Word Converter