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LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

computerworld.com

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Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#71

Post by int_19h »

tombert wrote: post #42

I am one of those annoying LaTeX people now, so my “word processor” ends up being tmux, NeoVim, and Nix, but I understand that that’s not for most people. LibreOffice is honestly fine nowadays. I feel like Excel is probably a bit better than Calc, but Calc is still capable enough for most tasks. The documents look decent enough, it’s easy to use, it’s reasonably fast, and you can’t really beat the price. I have to ad…

It's a scale. While straight up writing TeX is not for must, there's also stuff like LyX and TeXmacs.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#72

Post by ghaff »

Duanemclemore wrote: post #6

I usually used InDesign for presentations on PC. Switching to Scribus now that I run a linux only office has been trivial. Specific to LibreOffice - as an academic I've had to create a couple presentations in ppt format recently. It sucks, but it was a requirement of the conference. Anyway - LO Impress still has many of the annoyances of PowerPoint, but head to head it's actually an objectively better, faster program…

I’d be grumble to go back to Libre Office which I used for years but it was the company standard. Mostly just use Google Workplace these days. )As does my former employer.) I find Google does a good job of including features most people need 95%+ of the time and does a good job of those.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#73

Post by p0w3n3d »

jwr wrote: post #25
vunderba wrote: post #2

If I'm evaluating a potential application whose core functionality does not require external resources/servers (Dropbox for example) and they don't at a minimum offer some kind of perpetual fallback license (aka the Jetbrains annual subscription model), then I straight up bounce. Examples of good alternatives - Pixelmator > Photoshop - Davinci Resolve > Premiere - Reaper > Audition I have no interest in renting my to…

> I have no interest in renting my tools. While I appreciate the sentiment, the world where you could use the same software for many years without updates is gone. These days developers have to invest significant time and effort into making sure the software just runs on the constantly updated operating systems and platforms — which costs money on an ongoing basis. Expecting your software to be updated regularly with…

It's simple. I buy a computer and buy the software. This software is installed on this computer and will will work unless the computer is broken. When you bought a CASIO keyboard you do not expect it to stop working after 3 years because it's installed newest updates.

Of course CASIO is not connected to the internet, it won't allow me to steer it with my fancy phone app. So maybe, just maybe, connecting everything to the internet is a simple mistake?

I bought my Lightroom when it was possible and am using with my camera. Once I buy a new camera, it won't be supported in lightroom. And I won't be able to upgrade it because now they moved to the subscription model. And I make photos every 5 months let's say... And lightroom them even less often

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#74

Post by gbraad »

LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, both have been a great since I switched away from Office 365—feeling I get overcharged for a function I will not use—for use with Nextcloud. It is even better to get a $39 ('refurbed' license for Office 2024) if you have to use (MS)Office.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#75

Post by dijksterhuis »

eddythompson80 wrote: post #51
vunderba wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I do recognize those concerns I'll note that it is still a viable model and not just for indie devs. Look to the DAW world (Ableton, FL Studio, Bitwig, Logic, etc.) if you're ever curious about building a sustainable business model around a flat pricing structure.

You listed software that range between $500-$15k. Last time a “I want the option to pay for my software” posts here I replied to was about Infuse. And people complained that “$80 is an absurd amount for a software” and “Why isn’t there a free version?” A software that costs $500-15k is only feasible for a B2B type business.

> You listed software that range between $500-$15k.

i’m confused… all versions of the DAWs they mentioned in the parent comment are as near as makes no difference below £500.

> Live 12 Suite: £539

> Live 12 Standard: £259

> Live 12 Intro: £69 (nice)

https://www.ableton.com/en/shop/live/

> FL Studio Full: £469 (nice)

> FL Studio Signature: £279

> FL Studio Producer: £199

> FL Studio Fruity: £89

https://www.image-line.com/fl-studio/compare-editions/

> Bitwig Studio: £339

> Bitwig Studio Producer: £169 (nice)

> Bitwig Studio Essentials: £79

https://www.bitwig.com/buy/

> Logic Pro: £199

—-

in case you were replying to their original top-level comment

> Photoshop £22.99 pcm (£276 pa)

> Photoshop Photography £19.99 pcm (£240 pa)

> Photoshop All Creative Cloud £59.99 pcm (£720 pa)

this last one ^ bundles all the proprietary adobe “rented” software they mentioned into one package.

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/plans.html

so even then your figures don’t seem to make sense?

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#76

Post by mksaunders2 »

nilram wrote: post #10

I started using OpenOffice a couple decades ago when I got tired of pirating the market leader. Not wanting to start any religious wars, but I still haven't made the leap to Libre.

It's extremely risky to keep using OpenOffice. Apache has marked its security status as "Amber" with "three issues in OpenOffice over 365 days old and a number of other open issues not fully triaged."

It's also worrying that The Apache Foundation continues to promote and distribute OpenOffice despite unfixed security issues and zero updates to the software. So many people in the FOSS world have called on them to finally retire it, put it in the Attic and keep up a good reputation for FOSS - but they won't do it. It still gets hundreds of thousands of downloads despite being unfixed.

It's irresponsible of The ASF IMO.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#78

Post by pjmlp »

vunderba wrote: post #2

If I'm evaluating a potential application whose core functionality does not require external resources/servers (Dropbox for example) and they don't at a minimum offer some kind of perpetual fallback license (aka the Jetbrains annual subscription model), then I straight up bounce. Examples of good alternatives - Pixelmator > Photoshop - Davinci Resolve > Premiere - Reaper > Audition I have no interest in renting my to…

While those producing tools for living might not have an interest on keeping offering them free of charge.

Eventually that guy/girl in Nebraska is going to look elsewhere.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#79

Post by _carbyau_ »

pcurve wrote: post #16
nitrogen99 wrote: post #13

Google docs doesn’t work?

It works fine for most use cases, but Google Docs and Sheets features pale in comparison full desktop base apps.

Until you get to multiplayer document editing.

Having multiple people working literally at the same time is an interesting way to work, though not something I want to repeat/rely on often.

Re: LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

#80

Post by parasti »

donatj wrote: post #37

I've commented as much before but what do people even use office for these days? Like I hear individuals complain about the prices and I'm just like I have not needed a real office suite in years. Google Docs has been enough to get by with for free for well over a decade. Are you... creating and printing documents? Why? I haven't had a real need for a word processor since email was invented.

Kids' school "teaches" it, meaning the kids have to memorize where to click to do X in various Microsoft products. So you're stuck with Microsoft if you want decent grades for your child.
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