OpenOffice is a worthy alternative

Google Chrome has some very appealing features. For one thing, it's UI is nice and clean. Chrome has ... ahem ... less chrome. But, its lack of a print preview makes it a non-starter for me. I can't tell you how many trees and petroleum (paper and ink) the print preview feature in Firefox and IE has saved.

Initially, I also thought there was no way to check for updates. There is. You have to open the "About Google Chrome" window (from the "tools" (wrench) menu). When you do, Chrome calls home looking for pending upgrades.

Open Office is God. Quite an accomplishment of Open Source features and functionality.

Still waiting for extension/plug-in support for Google Chrome. Can not and will not, surf the web without Ad-Block. I'd like to see an FTP client like FireFTP for Chrome as well. The "garbage cleanup" or something makes my hard drive churn continuously when using Chrome. ;/

GOS is good as a purely minimalist web centric OS, but I'd recommend Ubuntu as a true Windows replacement.

Need native games support. :( Although I did get a free copy of Crossover Games/Linux yesterday. THANKS CODEWEAVERS and Bush.

WidgetGuy - Not to mention GoogleUpdate.exe runs in the background when the computer starts. >:/ Didn't notice a lack of preview. That sucks.

Chrome and VISTA, made for each other.

OO.o association with G00gle is unfortunate but, so far, my extensive set of G00gle filters haven't interfered.

I'm a Windoze junkie and need some method-done to dual-boot linux with WinXP for productivity. cold turkey is tough - and delicious.

I am using OO3 already and I think that is good enough for me to use at home. It is also good for students and people who cannot afford the high price of the MS Office. It is not perfect but very useful and easy to use.

Tried OO 2.4 and 3.0 and didn't like it. For me, it was as inviting as a rainy backstreet in Bucharest in 1970. Microsoft Office 2003 is much more polished. Unfortunately, they messed up the UI in 2007. Can't wrap my mind around ribbons.

There is a little-known office suite from Germany that I like much better. It's called SoftMaker Office. The current 2008 version is payware ($79.95), but the predecessor version 2006 is available as a free download:

http://softmakeroffice.com