Just my $.02.  OpenOffice is a good start; a total answer for some.  However, due to the fact that its community and corporate backing can't seem to see eye to eye they need a little leadership.

http://www.gnome.org/~michael/blog/ooo-commit-stats-2008.html

You can also try IBM's Lotus Symphony.  It's heavily based on OpenOffice but a lot different.  If IBM can continue to provide leadership it seems that Lotus Symphony has this will be a good project.  Aside from the fact that it only comes in 32 bit ATM it is as available as OpenOffice and easy to install.

http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home

Justin

Ed Anderson wrote:

For situations where openoffice won't do, crossover-office is a great
solution.  It runs MS Office on Linux using wine libraries. It runs
quite well.  I recommend you try that out if you'd like to make the
switch to linux.  Needing Excel might not be tying you to Windows
after all.

Ed

On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 9:41 AM, Richard Costello
< Richard.Costello@ncmail.[redacted] >  wrote:

Julian,
At work (real world), in the public sector, we are using Ubuntu Linux with
Vista and Windows/XP on some workstations and laptops.
We are seriously considering going all Linux on the laptops and drifting
away from MS.
Reasons: Linux is a solid OS, less malware problems, excellent support, and
a lot of freeware.
Problems:  My staff encountered an MS Excel problem that could not be
resolved with Open Office.
The implications are that we are stuck with Office 2007 which ties us back
to the MS/OS. This may change as Open Office evolves.
Also, I dumped Netware, an NOS, for Ubuntu Linux Server, and the performance
in comparison is like night and day.
The Server runs solid and does not break a sweat in terms of utilization of
resources.
If you like the MS look try KDE Linux on your laptop although Ubuntu suits
me and my IT Staff just fine.
Best regards,

Richard Costello
IT Manager
NC Public Staff Utilities Commission


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-owner@lists.ncsu.[redacted] [mailto: lug-owner@lists.ncsu.[redacted] ] On Behalf
Of Julian DeFronzo
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 10:19 AM
To: lug@lists.ncsu.[redacted]
Subject: LUG: Just an introduction

Hey all,

Just wanted to say hi, and introduce myself to the group. My name is
Julian DeFronzo, and I am a freshman Business Administration/IT major here
at State. I've been using linux (at home and at work) for almost 3 years
now, and was looking for a place where everyone else has the same passion
for linux as I do.

I was wondering how the actual "group" works:

*Are there meetings/gatherings? If so, when.
*How does membership work? ie dues, etc.


Also, I do have an actual question:

I am debating whether to install linux (probably Ubuntu or Fedora)as my
main OS with a VM for Vista. I was wondering if anyone else is doing this,
and what obstacles the overcome, etc. My main issue that I can think of
right now is an iTunes (DRM and iPod) solution. Anything would be
appreciated.


Well that's it for now, I just wanted to introduce myself.

~Julian DeFronzo