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Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

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Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#101

Post by pmontra »

esrauch wrote: post #65
erelde wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What connotation does "Libre" have in American English? (I'm French, to my ears it sounds perfectly reasonnable, if a bit "legalese")

I think it would register no recognition to the majority of American English speakers. It is a French loan word used essentially only in open source contexts because we don't have an equivilent ("free" is way more ambiguous is meaning). The only negative connotation I know of is the association with some overzealous nerdy kids who find out the difference between libre and gratis and loudly bring it up all the time.

Italy here. "Libre" sounds spanish to me. I realized only now that french has the same word (and I read it many times), but probably the final e is silent. I pronounce it, so it's spanish. Apparently it's the correct way: https://lwn.net/Articles/408141/

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#102

Post by aoloe »

evacchi wrote: post #61
ekianjo wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

? Libre is a french word in the first place. How is that hard to pronounce ?

IMO it's unintuitive how to pronounce it to most non-French-speaking people.

IMO only because you think that there must be one single way to pronounce it.

Who cares if somebody says laibr, laiber, leeber, ... Get over it and write a song like the one with the tomatoes...

Or are you one of the braves that are pushing Nike to change their name, because nobody can figure out that it should pronounced [nǐːkɛː]?

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#103

Post by SamBam »

jasonkostempski wrote: post #84
nxzero wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "it is easier to explain to people" Which is why "Office for Free" (OfficeFree, oFree, O4F) would be a better non-Linux name. Average user doesn't care if something is "open" they care if it's free.

I think its a bad idea to even use the word "Office" because it sounds like a lame rip-off you'd download from CNet. In fact, Im suprised MS doesnt have a legal issue with it. Thats always bugged me about a lot of OSS projects and vegan dishes, they pick a name based on their competitor instead of something original that doesn't constantly remind the user they're not quite getting the "real thing".

I'm going to try and use this comparison as often as possible now.

"One of the things that always bugged me about OSS projects and vegan dishes is the evangelizing of their proponents.

"One of the best things about OSS projects and vegan dishes is their excellent documentation."

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#104

Post by sandGorgon »

Aardwolf wrote: post #30

Could they drop openoffice, then rename libreoffice to openoffice? That would be fantastic

+10000

Libreoffice is terrible to pronounce in asia ... and especially in India. I dont know if it is better in other countries (like the multilingual United States). Till today, Libreoffice is the only software that I have said aloud (and on the phone) and people could not remember. I have had people search for "libby office", "libra office", "lee office", etc

Call it anything but Libreoffice.

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#105

Post by sandGorgon »

davidgerard wrote: post #22
Doctor_Fegg wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But not the same way! I've never known whether the Spanish or French version is the canonical pronunciation for LibreOffice.

In English I just say Lieber-Office, as in Beiber-Office. I have had zero people confused at this pronunciation in the last six years. (edited to clarify)

Asia is the problem. FWIW - its the largest market for open source software and the market that needs it more than any other market. I posted another comment on this thread - but in India, I have had ZERO success with getting people to know what I said ("libby office")

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#106

Post by EdSharkey »

Here's an idea. If OpenOffice has no contributors. How about all the libreoffice folks start committing to both code bases or mirror them, whatever? Maybe the only thing that differs between the code bases is some splash screen and text resource bundles, ultimately.

Why not bury the hatchet, devs?

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#107

Post by aninhumer »

Doctor_Fegg wrote: post #21
ekianjo wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In French too.

But not the same way! I've never known whether the Spanish or French version is the canonical pronunciation for LibreOffice.

I tend to use the Spanish, because I find the French more awkward to combine with "Office".

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#108

Post by PeterisP »

EdSharkey wrote: post #106

Here's an idea. If OpenOffice has no contributors. How about all the libreoffice folks start committing to both code bases or mirror them, whatever? Maybe the only thing that differs between the code bases is some splash screen and text resource bundles, ultimately. Why not bury the hatchet, devs?

What's the point of that wasted effort? What you're asking is "if X has no contributors, why don't Y people become contributors and start contributing?"

Currently there are differences between code bases. If the OpenOffice team wants to abandon OO codebase and distribute a version of LibreOffice with some splash screen and text resource changes, then they're free to do so, it's open source.

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#109

Post by frik »

Aardwolf wrote: post #30

Could they drop openoffice, then rename libreoffice to openoffice? That would be fantastic

Good idea.

It's like or at least similar to Node.js vs. IO.js. Finally they agreed to use IO.js branch but go with the Node.js name.

So it would be great of LibreOffice would be rebranded to OpenOffice. And it needs an web initiative to compete with GoogleDocs and Office365 - I know there is already some kind of prototype, but make it a high priority project.

Re: Contemplating the possible retirement of Apache OpenOffice

#110

Post by matt4077 »

jasonkostempski wrote: post #84
nxzero wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "it is easier to explain to people" Which is why "Office for Free" (OfficeFree, oFree, O4F) would be a better non-Linux name. Average user doesn't care if something is "open" they care if it's free.

I think its a bad idea to even use the word "Office" because it sounds like a lame rip-off you'd download from CNet. In fact, Im suprised MS doesnt have a legal issue with it. Thats always bugged me about a lot of OSS projects and vegan dishes, they pick a name based on their competitor instead of something original that doesn't constantly remind the user they're not quite getting the "real thing".

That's actually a pretty good description of OpenOffice.
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