Con el reciente lanzamiento de LibreOffice 4.0 y la noticia sobre la posibilidad de que Microsoft lance una versión nativa de Office para Linux, vale la pena echar una mirada a las diferencias entre una suite ofimática y la otra.
Dicha comparación llega de la mano de los propios chicos de LibreOffice a través de su wiki oficial, en donde ponen en evidencia las virtudes, así como las variadas deficiencias, de LibreOffice 4.0 ante Microsoft Office 2013.
Una de las diferencias que más se remarca es la disponibilidad de las suites en distintas plataformas, siendo LibreOffice 4.0 la que más plataformas soporta —por obvias razones—, estando presente incluso en más versiones de Windows que el propio Office 2013 (Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 y Windows 8 contra solamente Windows 7 y 8).
General office suite: LibreOffice vs. Microsoft Office
Major Feature Differences | LibreOffice 4.0 | MS Office 2013 |
---|---|---|
Cross-platform availability | Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (based on the same code base). | Windows and Mac OS X (based on different code bases resulting in some format compatibility problems and differences in the user interface). Mac OS X Version is old version "Office 2011". |
Supported versions of MS Windows | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 | Windows 7, 8 |
Portable version that runs on USB flash disks (without installation) | yes | no (discontinued MS Office Starter 2010 edition runs on USB flash disks) |
Open Source | yes, licensed under GNU LGPL Version 3 | no, proprietary and closed-source |
Full integration of all office components | supported, Start Center, creation and opening of files of other office components. | not supported |
Availability free of charge | yes | no, proprietary programme plus additional charges for language packs. 30-day trial version available. |
Eco-system of extensions | complex ecosystem of valuable extensions (over 170 on extensions.libreoffice.org and over 690 on extensions.services.openoffice.org) for LibreOffice (including automatic updates). | partly, no centralized extension system. |
Localization | 111 languages | 37 languages (37 main languages for purchase, 58 local Language Interface Packs for free download (only available for Office 2010 and older)) |
Changing language of the user interface on the fly | supported | supported, but requires additional purchase of language packs / download of local LIPs |
Additional writing aids | extended support (spell-check dictionaries, hyphenation patterns, thesaurus and grammar check, specialized dictionaries as extensions) | limited, requires additional purchase of language packs |
Support of complex languages and special font features (ligatures, true small caps, old style numbers, proportional or mono-spaced numbers, capital spacing, true superscript/subscript) | yes via Graphite font technology | limited via OpenType supporting ligatures |
Easy access to vector clip art | yes via LO Gallery (clipart extensions (1 or 2)) | selection more limited |
Macro scripting languages | multiple languages, support for wide variety of languages (LibreOffice Basic, JavaScript, BeanShell and Python). | single language, support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Indirectly also Visual Basic or Visual C# by using automation. |
CMIS protocol support to access Document Management Systems like Alfresco, Nuxeo, SharePoint | supported | inbuilt support only for SharePoint and Skydrive |
Support of ISO standardized OpenDocument (ODF) format | advanced support | limited |
PDF export extended options | multiple options (Additional options: detailed image settings, watermarks, HybridPDF, embedding of standard fonts, transition effects, tagged pdf, extended security and permission options, PDF forms, initial view settings, extended handling of URLs, digital signatures) | no additional options |
Creation of HybridPDFs (ODF file embedded in PDF for full editing) | supported | not supported |
Import of graphics formats SVG vector graphics, PSD Photoshop and CorelDraw | supported | not supported |
Import of MS Visio files | supported | not supported (only via MS Visio which is not part of MS Office) |
Import of video and audio formats FLAC Audio flac, Matroska Media, OGG Bitstream, Quicktime Video and WebM Video | supported | not supported |
Drawing programme | LibreOffice Draw | no |
PIM and email programme | not part of office suite, referring to Mozilla Thunderbird with Mozilla Lightning. | MS Outlook |
PDF Import | partial, into Draw with the limitation that text is imported line-based (bug 32249). | supported, into MS Word |
Import of Windows Media video and audio formats as well as AAC-Audio (Advanced Audio Coding) | broken, workaround for .wma and .wmv and workaround for .aac exist. | supported |
User interface improved to enable use on touch screen devices | no, ports for Android and iOS in development (1,2,3) | user interface improved for touch screen devices, but not redesigned |
Online version of office suite | no, in development: experimental version. | Office 365 |
Synchronous collaborative editing | no, in development: experimental version | supported |
Import of media formats: MP4, MOV with H.264-Video | not supported (bug 60535) | supported |
Minor Feature Differences | LibreOffice 4.0 | MS Office 2013 |
Import of graphics formats DXF, MET, PBM, PCD, PCX, PGM, PPM, PPM, RAS, SGF, SVM, TGA, XBM, XPM | supported | not supported |
Import of additional video and audio formats: CD Audio, Vivo Video. | supported | not supported |
Support of Firefox themes (Personas) | supported | not supported |
Ink annotations (e.g. on a windows tablet computer) | not supported, (only support for import of existing ink annotations from MS Word file format) | supported |
Live preview while formatting | not supported (bug 37048) | supported |
Import of graphics formats MEZ, WMZ, PCZ, CGM | not supported | supported |
Import of audio and video formats RMI, SND | not supported | supported |
Word processors: LibreOffice Writer vs. Microsoft Word
Major Feature Differences | LO Writer 4.0 | MS Word 2013 |
---|---|---|
Working with large documents | stable layout | layout problemsa |
Handling of captions for graphics or image boxes | stable layout | layout problems |
Styles (page styles, frame styles, list styles) | supported | not supported |
Frames | desktop-like features like text in multiple columns and text-wrap around graphics | concept of "horizontal frames" is more limited |
Overlining of text | supported | no, but complicated workaround |
Master documents for longer texts | supported | supported but deprecated because it causes file corruption |
Extended label creation features a | supported (generic database access, synchronise content) | partial |
Business card wizard a | supported | not supported |
Text auto completion of words already used before | supported | not supported |
XForms documents creation | supported | not supported |
Mathematical calculations in tables | complex calculations | only basic arithmetic |
DirectCursor (allows to enter text anywhere on a page) | supported | not supported |
DocBook import & export | supported | not supported |
Import from Lotus WordPro | supported | not supported |
Export to MediaWiki (Wikipedia) format | supported | not supported |
Export to XHTML | supported | not supported |
Grammar check | out of the box only 4 languages (English, Russian, Hungarian and Brazilian Portuguese) extensions: e.g. Languagetool for 29 languages (level of language support varies), Grammalecte for French, CoGroo for Brazilian Portuguese, Duden Korrektor (commercial) for German |
out of the box (22 languages supported with additional costs) |
Comments for text ranges | supported, but limited to a single paragraph. | supported |
Rotate images | missing (bug 34423), solution: extensions WriterRotationTool or Easy Image Editor | supported |
Picture styles & additional effects | not supported (bug 59906) | supported |
Table styles | not supported (bug 34392) | supported |
Print comments in right margin | not supported (bug 36815), only on next page or at the end of text | supported |
View changes in the right margin in "track changes" mode | not supported (bug 34355) | supported |
Diagonal borders in tables | not supported (bug 51665) | supported |
Extended reading mode of documents | not supported (bug 55168) | supported |
Collapse and expand parts of a document | not supported (bug 47746) | supported |
Simultaneous editing of a document | not supported, in development | supported (via Skydrive or Sharepoint) |
XML import / export | no export | supported |
Minor Feature Differences | LO Writer 4.0 | MS Word 2013 |
Protected cells in tables (allows better creation of forms) | supported | not supported |
Open erroneous .doc files | better recovery modea,b | more frequently denies opening those files |
Wizard to create personalized letter templates | supported | not supported |
Import Hangul WP97 and T602 documents | supported | not supported |
Import & Export Unified Office Format | supported | not supported |
Import & Export AportisDoc (Palm), PocketWord documents | supported (requires Java installed) | not supported |
Logo toolbar and interpreter | supported | not supported |
Bibliographic features | basic inbuilt support. Excellent extensions: e.g. Zotero, Mendeley, Bibus, JabRef, Endnote. | supported plus extensions: e.g. Zotero,Mendeley, Endnote. |
Decorative page borders | not supported (bug 39270) | supported |
Add watermarks to pages | not supported, workaround exists. Watermark option in PDF export. | supported |
Support for paragraphs longer than 65534 characters | not supported (bug 30668) | supported |
Horizontal split view of the same document | not supported (bug 31481), workaround: Windows > New Window to clone document window. | supported |
Additional views (outline and draft) | not supported (bug 39080) | supported |
Export to XPS format and MS Works format | not supported | supported |
Spreadsheet applications: LibreOffice Calc vs. Microsoft Excel
Major Feature Differences | LO Calc 4.0 | MS Excel 2013 |
---|---|---|
Comparison of two spreadsheet files | supported | not supported |
OpenFormula standard | largely supported | not supported |
Page styles (in addition to cell styles) | supported | not supported |
Hyphenation in cells | supported | not supported |
Import Lotus 123 data | supported | not supported |
Import Quattro Pro 6 data | supported | not supported |
Export to XHTML | supported | not supported |
Exporting of a single chart as image (PNG, JPG) | supported | not supported |
Number of columns per sheet | max. 1024 columns (bug 50916) | up to 16384 columns |
Interactive diagrams / PivotChart | not supported | supported |
Import Access databases | not supported | supported |
Export generic XML | not supported | supported |
Minor Feature Differences | LO Calc 4.0 | MS Excel 2013 |
View clone of spreadsheet in new window | independent window | cannot be moved outside the application window |
Formatting of cells | more detailled e.g. feature to hide cell when printing |
less features |
Import Unified Office Format | supported | not supported |
Import & Export from / to Pocket Excel | supported | not supported |
Import from Gnumeric | partial (experimental) support | not supported |
Quick analysis feature | not supported | supported |
Flash fill | not supported | supported |
Chart recommendations | not supported | supported |
'Publishing' spreadsheet for online team meetings | not supported | supported |
Sparklines (to give a quick overview of the trend in a data range) | not supported, extension: EuroOffice Sparkline | supported |
Add points to a line, possibility to bend lines | not supported (bug 36943) | supported |
Copy only visible cells | not supported, extension: Copy only visible cells | supported |
Polynomial trend lines | not supported, extension: CorelPolyGUI | supported |
Export to XPS format | not supported | supported |
Presentation software: LibreOffice Impress vs. Microsoft Powerpoint
Major Feature Differences | LO Impress 4.0 | MS Powerpoint 2013 |
---|---|---|
Hyphenation support | supported | not supported |
Export to XHTML | supported | not supported |
Export to HTML | supported | not supported (removed feature since MS Office 2013) |
Export to Flash format (SWF) | supported | not supported |
Export to EPS | supported | not supported |
Export to SVG | supported | not supported |
Presentation remote control for Android smartphones | supported | not supported |
Edit embedded videos | via external programs | directly in the program |
Comments and reply to comments | partial | supported |
SmartArt diagrams | not supported (bug 37932), solution: smArt extension | supported |
Save highlights and drawings during presentation | not supported (bug 51928) | supported |
Broadcast presentation on the Internet | only via export to PDF or SWF | supported |
Collaboration features. Several people working on same presentation | not supported | supported |
Animated diagrams | not supported | supported |
Record a slide show | not supported | supported |
Minor Feature Differences | LO Impress 4.0 | MS Powerpoint 2013 |
Number of slide layouts | 12 | 9 |
Export to Unified Office Format | supported | not supported |
Export to graphics formats: MET, PBM, PICT, PGM, PPM, RAS, XPM, PWP | supported | not supported |
Editing of master slides | limited editing | powerful editing |
Creation of automatically starting presentations | not supported, extension: ImpressRunner | supported |
Export to XPS format | not supported | supported |
Database programme: LibreOffice Base vs. Microsoft Access
Major Feature Differences | LO Base 4.0 | MS Access 2013 |
---|---|---|
SQL syntax highlighting | supported | not supported |
Native connector to MySQL databases | supported | not supported |
Integration of Mozilla Thunderbird address books | supported | not supported |
Minor Feature Differences | LO Base 4.0 | MS Access 2013 |
Native connectors to dBase databases | supported | not supported (removed feature since Office 2013 |
Native connectors to SharePoint lists, Microsoft Outlook and Paradox databases | not supported | supported |
Otras características interesantes presentes en LibreOffice 4.0 y no en Office 2013 —o estarlo parcialmente— son: la posibilidad de ejecutar la suite desde un dispositivo USB sin necesidad de estar instalada en el sistema anfitrión, el hecho de ser software de código abierto, contar con integración total entre sus componentes, ser completamente gratuito, contar con un organizado ecosistema de complementos, soportar más de 100 idiomas, soporte para lenguajes como JavaScript o Python, soporte completo del formato ODF, opciones extendidas al exportar PDFs, así como la posibilidad de importar gráficos vectoriales, archivos PSD, archivos de MS Visio, archivos FLAC, OGG, MKV y WebM, entre otros.
Claro que hay muchas otras áreas en las que Microsoft Office sale ganando: importación no parcial de PDFs (así como archivos WMA, WMV, MP4, MOV y AAC), una interfaz fácil de usar en dispositivos táctiles, una versión en línea funcional al cien por ciento, vista preliminar mientras se da formato, además de otras cuantas. No obstante, no se trata de una tabla para ver cuál de las dos suites es mejor, se trata de de una tabla de referencia para que el usuario valore cuál de las dos puede cubrir mejor sus necesidades.
En la wiki hay más tablas comparativas —entre LibreOffice Writer y Microsoft Word o LibreOffice Calc y Microsoft Excel, por ejemplo— a las que en verdad vale la pena dedicar unos minutos de nuestro tiempo.
Fuente: Wiki de The Document Foundation | I love Ubuntu | ubunlog