Unlike some competitors, this suite was not created
from a collection of separate pieces of software. From the start,
it was designed as one complete office package.
All the packages have a similar 'look and feel' making them
very easy to use, with common 'learn once use everywhere' tools
like the Styles and Formatting. OpenOffice.org takes its 'look
and feel' from your computer - if you change your desktop, OpenOffice.org
will change to match.
The same tools are used consistently across the suite - for
example, the tools you use to work with graphics within Writer
are also found in Impress and Draw.
You don't need to know which application was used to create
a particular file - you can 'File Open' any OpenOffice.org file
from anywhere and the correct application will be launched.
All the packages share a common spell-checker, etc.; and if
you change an 'Option' in one package, it's changed in them all.
Information can be transferred easily between all the packages.
All the components save in OpenDocument format, the new international
standard for office documents. This XML based format offers substantial
disk savings compared to common competitors' formats. It also
means you can access your data from any OpenDocument compliant
software.
All the packages are installed in one single operation, using
the installation process you are used to on your computer.
All the packages are released under the same open licensing
model - there are no hidden charges now or in the future.