I'm currently using OpenOffice.org, on Ubuntu 8.04. According to Synaptic, it is OpenOffice version 2.4.0. For me, it is a giant pain in my ass to use. Sometimes as soon as I try to save a chapter of my fic, anything over around 3000 words, it locks up. Ubuntu turns the screen black and white and it stays that way until I force it to quit.

It really, really sucks. It automatically recovers my files from the last auto save, which is nice, but those auto saves aren't ever where I left the file at when it locks up. It really likes to do it when I am proof reading and editing something, that way I get upset and don't go over everything again, missing mistakes I have already corrected.

I'm wondering if OpenOffice is more stable in Windows, because I could just boot to XP when I want to write. That's a last resort though, because I really like Linux, and have become pretty dependent on it. The only thing I use Windows for anymore is syncing my iPod with iTunes, because I have a fairly new iPod that doesn't really like Rhythmbox.

I really don't want to switch to Windows and I will not buy any more of Microsoft's shit (My 360 was enough). I know that there are forums dedicated to troubleshooting this kind of shit, but I want some actual writer's opinions first. Any suggestions?

 

Have no fear The giant hunk of shit that is OpenOffice does the same locking up shit on windows.

 

This probably isn't useful, since you're not on a Mac, but I've seldom run into problems with OpenOffice on that platform. For writing fiction, I use either Pages (a Mac thing), or OpenOffice.

Sometimes I just use xemacs or vim and copy/paste into Word or OpenOffice. Either editor is about as rock-solid as software gets nowadays and both will autosave up to your last changes. If you go this route, you'll want to add a bunch of Harry Potter names/terms to the ispell dictionary or you'll go insane during spell-checking. This approach should work in Windows or Linux as well.

 

I have Office 2007, so I use Word. With me being a student, I got Office Ultimate for £38, 90% of the R.R.P.! Bargain.

 

I'm using UbuntuStudio 8.04 and am using MS Office 2003. There is a WINE-like program called Crossover Office. It'll run stuff like MS Office, Photoshop, Adobe Reader, and some other stuff.

It's not free, though. There are sites that have a free version, however.

 

Microsoft Word always works for me.

 

Open Office runs fine for me.

Abiword is great though. Very light. Try that.

 

I generally use vim or abiword on OpenSolaris. Sometimes, I use Staroffice on OpenSolaris. The only problem with Staroffice is that it is a behemoth - otherwise, it gets as stable as most software these days.
Regards,
Maidros

 

N-n-n-notepad.

No formatting, no load times, no worries.

 

What, no sed? And I thought you were a geek...

 

Cool, thanks for the ideas. I'm going to look into abiword first. I also can't believe I didn't even think of Wine, I had never heard of that Crossover Office though, sounds interesting.

 

I usually use OpenOffice to write, but haven't even tried anything over 3k words since upgrading to Hardy. Gedit or Abiword probably are best. Kword too maybe...Though it seems to unnecessarily rape system resources. (Then again, so does Firefox...>.>)

 

Abiword is ok, don't love it, Don't hate it either. Used to crash all the time when I has it though, Taking my fic with it. >_>

 

Wordperfect is my preferred wp.

But I usually have to use OpenOffice. (It's free)

 

I use Word 2007. Always worked for me.

 

Open Office, I've never had it crash on me, seems reliable enough.

 

Notepad++

Change the language to MS INI and use [square brackets] around the titles of your scenes. It allows you to quickly break down your fic, identify and work on missing parts, and shrink it into a format viewable on one page.

Notepad++ is awesome.

Obviously it's an advanced text editor and not a word processor.