Ur Ya'arApr 23, 2025
As #Windows10 nears its EOL, I think more and more about moving my family to #Linux. However, the major obstacle is dependence on #MSOffice. Unfortunately, compatibility IS a problem. I recently received a quite simple docx document, that merely have some sort of a textbox. I tried #LibreOffice, #OnlyOffice, and even MSOffice online, and they all messed up the layout (see pictures).

Of course the fault is on #Microsoft, but recognizing this doesn't help. What are your thoughts?
@privacyfoss
Show threadHrvojeV
@yaarur @privacyfoss as long as you expect it to be perfectly 100% the same as your current windows environment - it's not for you
Apr 23, 2025 at 7:05amWeb
Show threadUr Ya'arApr 23, 2025

@hvulin @privacyfoss
What does "it" refer to?
I don't expect or even wish for the entire computing experience to be the same.

I do **wish** that the layout of a document will not be messed up when moving to an alternative, and I'm pointing out that this is a bigger problem than may linux advocates like to admit.

(BTW I myself use linux, but fortunately my professional environment doesn't rely on MSOffice, or any kind of rich text format).

Show threadHrvojeVApr 23, 2025
@yaarur @privacyfoss It means that Microsoft hasn't changed and it never will... It was always making sure there is no compatibility with its competitors so it can have monopoly... If you want it to be 100% compatible with M$ - stay with M$ - there is nothing to it... I switched to LibreOffice and ignore the incompatibilities...
Show threadUr Ya'arApr 23, 2025

@hvulin @privacyfoss

Good for you! Until recently I took the same approach. But as MS is pushing towards more privacy infringement (see Recall for example) and might soon move more to a subscription based payment, I feel there is more need to help non-technical people (especially those we care about) move away from it, and to do that we must find ways to reduce the inconvenience as much as possible.

Show threadHrvojeVApr 23, 2025
@yaarur @privacyfoss sure but M$ was always a company doing things against standards - you can't expect the linux community to fix that for them - people need to decide and ditch the broken company - we can help them AFTER that - there is no helping anyone who want's to leave but not really make a change...