Ubuntu 11.04 vs Windows XP vs Windows 7?

Question

I`m a law student. And most of the assignments and project works given to me are in the microsoft office 2003 format. I want to upgrade; and am really excited about ubuntu 11.04. However, as most of the work given to me is in microsoft office and unbuntu has libre office, im doubtful if there exists and microsoft office to libre office and vice versa converter. Does any one know if its there? And in case it isnt there, should i stick to xp or upgrade to 7? As being a college student i`m pretty tight on budget and given the prices microsoft charges as of now i can afford only windows 7 starter; which does not have many of the things i need. Please suggest.

Answer 1

Since you are in school......check the student price for Win 7 at the campus book store. I got XP Pro and Office in 2002 for $12 each. Still have it. You may can do better than you think.



If you already have XP and you keep it updated with MS Security Essentials, thats the no cost route. While you are in school- don't fool around with trying to convert files from MS Office to Open Office and stay away from WINE except to play around. Do not jeopardize your school work converting from one thing to another. Wine and Vbox and all that kind of stuff is experimental- do not DEPEND on it.



As far as Ubuntu- I have been using it for about 3 years. 10.04 is good, as is 10.10. But 11.04 and 11.10 are for the birds-I would not put it on the same computer that I do my work on.





DO NOT use pirated software ....that is asking for serious trouble. You have too much to lose in school. Before you resort to something stupid like that- tell your school advisor you can not afford the software.....perhaps they have legal work-arounds for these situations.

Answer 2

I would suggest using XP , just consider this the drivers available by the hardware manufacture is even more compared to Win7, and the percent or the number of Business PC is still WinXP.

I understand your case being a law student you need to keep a lot of preformatted office papers. Which using Office 2003 will justify, instead of using win7 that has office 2007 making using office complicated.

Although i too would like to try Ubuntu 11.04 in my second partition and i have a MTS plugin, which Ubuntu 11 fails to recognise peiod. But libre office has one good thing it can read HINDI fonts doc file which Office 2007 even fails to read.

Stick to XP you are not behindanything, if you can have the budgetwitch to Win 7 Home Premium instead of Starters. Home Premium has the option of upgrading to WIn 7 Ultimate, by giving a valid key, i can help you in that, provided you have Home Premium.

Answer 3

Libre Office opens and writes Word files just fine! You just double click the file and BAM it opens. Furthermore, when you are in Libre you can say SAVE AS a doc or docx file. It's beautiful. If you're only concernse are word processing then go for Ubuntu. You will be happy!



BTW, DO NOT buy any windows 'starter' editions. They are really just for netbooks and have many limited options (eg. No remote desktop, limited file and printer sharing, limited security options) run screaming!

Answer 4

Ubuntu is just about the worst Linux distro. available these days. Canonical who produce Ubuntu have become arrogant and ignored users needs however well voiced across the many Forums that make reference to Ubuntu. For example Ubuntu 11.10 doesn't offer the classic GNOME Desktop and it doesn't include the Synaptic Package Manager despite the fact many users did not want these changes. I used to have much time for Ubuntu starting with Ubuntu 6.10 finishing with the last decent release which was Ubuntu 10.04 LTS



Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using OSS. Linux does have its limitations with some applications and in particular gaming.



I suggest continue working with XP and setting up a Dual Boot with Linux. I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 11. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 11 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=81



How to dual boot Windows XP and Linux (XP installed first)

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



Linux Mint 11 Release Notes/User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_katya.php



You download the ISO. image of any of Linux Mint 11 then you need to create a Bootable LiveDVD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Linux Mint 11 can also be run straight from the LiveDVD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive





LUg.

Answer 5

Libre Office will work with Microsoft Word file extensions. Just make sure that when you save your work you save it as a .doc file extension and not the default .odt extension. It is the file extension that tells the operating system what program to open so the the file can be opened.



You can, if you wish, go into Tools and then Options and set the default Save As file extension to .doc.

Answer 6

You should go for ubuntu 11.04 if u r nt able to afford an os like win 7. and if you want to use microsoft office in ubuntu you can always use it with the help of "WINE" software. This software runs most of the windows executable files in ubuntu

Answer 7

hi the latest version of ubuntu is 1110 phew dont they fly by. i believe that after a court action back inthe day .other companies were alowed to use microsoft office docs . (please correct this if im wrong) why dont you creat a live ubuntu disk and give treir version ofoffice a go before you decide :o)

Answer 8

try windows xp along with linuxmint.10

its the perfect blend to save data

it has open office too

if you install wine the windows executable files will be supported in linx

Answer 9

LibreOffice can open and save Word documents.

Answer 10

search torrent get a ultimate copy( pirated version )

use it

don't need to buy it........



I know some will hand down this post

but this is good solution.