For nearly two decades, the name Apache OpenOffice has been synonymous with "free and powerful desktop productivity." As the open-source successor to Sun Microsystems' StarOffice, it has saved countless users from paying for Microsoft Office.
There is no technical benefit to doing so. The software is outdated, the installation process requires intermediate Linux knowledge, and the daily user experience is filled with friction regarding file saving, copy/paste, and speed. openoffice chromebook
If you have just unboxed a new Chromebook and miss the classic feel of OpenOffice Writer or Calc, you are about to hit a technical brick wall. However, with some elbow grease, there is a way through. For nearly two decades, the name Apache OpenOffice
You are a digital archivist who needs to open a specific StarOffice/OpenOffice proprietary file format ( .sxw , .sxc ) from 2002 that modern software refuses to touch. In that niche case, installing OpenOffice via Linux is a valid rescue tool. Final Recommendation Table | User Profile | Recommended Action | Time Investment | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | General Student/Worker | Use Google Docs / Sheets. | 0 minutes | | Microsoft Office Power User | Use Office for Android or Office 365 PWA. | 2 minutes | | Linux Enthusiast / Tinkerer | Install LibreOffice via Linux (not OpenOffice). | 10 minutes | | Legacy File Recovery | Install OpenOffice via Linux (as per guide above). | 20 minutes | The Bottom Line Apache OpenOffice was a hero of the 2000s. But on a modern Chromebook, it is a square peg in a round hole. Embrace the cloud, or at least migrate to LibreOffice. Your Chromebook’s battery life and sanity will thank you. If you have just unboxed a new Chromebook
On the other side of the computing aisle, have evolved from "glorified browsers" into the best-selling educational and lightweight business laptops in the US.