STRIDER72  I would really like to like OpenOffice, but every time I open it up and actually try to DO something with it, it fails me. For example, today I opened an Excel file that shows a 30 year mortage amortization. Change a cell and save. No problem.

Now print: OpenOffice prints the whole long spreadsheet on one page, which is unreadably small. There's no way to tell it to go ahead and fit it to the page width, not height. Huh????

So I try to open the file in Excel again. Now that it has been saved by OpenOffice, it crashes Excel. Just Great. (Yes, I did save it as an Excel file.)

In the past I've tried to use the "Word" part of OO, and have have similar frustrations. IT looks solid until I actually try to do real work with it, and then I end up stumbling over seemingly obvious holes in the software.

*sigh* Maybe by version 4.0 they'll have it worked out.  
(Version 3.1.1)

MYRDINN  After reading the comments, I'm kind of persuaded that I'm the only one with this problem.

And it's a huge one! I've downloaded the software (multiple times, different versions), and I can't open the .dmg file. This file give me the worst crash I've ever seen on Mac OS X. Can't mount the file. Final. I've tried many thing, and everytimes, result is the same : I've to reboot to regain control of my iMac. Weird, isn't it? I did even tried to rename the file, just to see. As soon as the file is selected : crash city! As bad as the first one trying to open the file! This is supposed to be a great piece of software, but I'm stuck with Micro$oft Office, maybe for the rest of my life.  
(Version 3.1)

BURAK  OpenOffice.org 3.1.1 RC1 PPC version is buried here: http://ooopackages.good-day.net/pub/OpenOffice.org/MacOSX/3.1.1rc1_20090807/

Scroll down and download

MacOSXPowerPC_install.dmg" (for us english)  
(Version 3.1)

ONE78MAN  If you have no need to create complicated document but you still want more then a simple office suite this is the best choice and if you do not need to deal with Office documents this is then... a MUST! :D  
(Version 3.1)

SOUTHPAWAMI  OpenOffice appears to work fine on my macbook in 10.5.7, whereas it did not work on my macbook in 10.5.6 as commented previously. Just a friendly update.  
(Version 3.1)

AMC3  I have the same MacBook set-up and also use NeoOffice and OpenOffice. Virtually all docs of either of those two apps open and save just fine in each other, and both seem to offer better value that MS Office for Mac. The reason I use both is certain feature sets available in each. Both to me are now pretty much on par, but I find that OpenOffice gets more use because of all the available extensions for it and the fact as each are updated via a pop-up at launch it gives you the option to update the extensions. I hope both continue their development. My 2 cents.  
(Version 3.1)

SOUTHPAWAMI  I have to comment, due to the fact that OpenOffice won't load on my computer.

My computer specs are

MacBook

HFS+ format

10.5.6

320GB 5400RPM Toshiba HD

3GB RAM

The tools I use for maintaining my computer are IceClean, MainMenu, & iDefrag(recently did a full defrag of the HD from a DVD boot.. does improve performance... all programs run fine)

NeoOffice runs great on my computer. I have not tried NeoOffice 3 yet, as it is still going through testing. OpenOffice 3.0.0 & .0.1 used to start downloading OpenOffice as soon as I opened them without consent... attempts at options didn't seem to make a difference. OpenOffice 3.1 went through the install, and loaded up to the nice looking blue rectangle with colors and the Sun Microsystems logo.. after that, it has not loaded any more.

I am sure that many people are not having any issues. I suppose there may be some issue with certain laptops.  
(Version 3.1)

BURAK  Works on PPC as well.  
(Version 3.1)

LUMINOUS  I'm delighted! It's fast, more features than MS Office, 100% compatible and platform independent!

Well, I hoped that MS Office 2008 would finally work as it should, but that is just not a priority in Redmond.   
(Version 3.1)

BILL CLINTON  Wow. This thing is an unbelievable turd. On the first launch, the wizard screen opens _behind_ a Finder window. After working my way through the wizard, the program hangs and I have to force quit it. On the second launch, I type a half dozen words then try to insert an equation and immediately the program crashes--completely disappears. I can hardly wait to see what the next five minutes brings.

I'm on a one-week old MacBook Pro, so it's hard to believe there's anything wrong with my system.

Just awful.  
(Version 3.0.1)