I use OO and it suits my needs well. I've not used LO yet, and since they are so closely related I wouldn't expect the differences to impact me very much. Since both are free, you should just flip a coin and take one for a test drive. There's really nothing to lose.

OpenOffice is probably the most well known. Another option is StarOffice. StarOffice is the parent of OpenOffice and contains some proprietary code. The two products share the same code base, but StarOffice adds some third party technologies. I haven't used eitehr very much recently, but in the past, StarOffice did a better job of converting MS Office files. If you use databases, StarOffice includes a licensed database, but OpenOffice does not. I've used both extensively in the past, but haven't used either very much recently. I think I'd be inclined to use StarOffice now. StarOffice is available for free as part of the Google pack. Another free Office suite is IBM's Lotus Symphony. I don't know much about this one. I know that OpenOffice and StarOffice can open MS Office password protected files that use older password protection, but can't open the newer types. Lotus Symphony can't open the newer types, but I don't know about the older ones.

no but bob is right on with the thunderbird suggestion, that is an excellent option for replacement of OE or Outlook, I use it on several of my computers and like it a lot. It is by mozilla the same that give us firefox. There are lots of good add-ons for thunderbird too and there is a good calendar add on for it called sunbird. You can find it at the mozilla.com site.

People are giving me a lot to think about. And I did broach the idea of a lift to DH. The lot is just over half an acre--150x160. For what it's worth, I've been watching the expanded northwest/west Chicago suburban area for homes with extra large garages (or both an attached and detached garage). There aren't many and they disappear fast. They will only appeal to a certain market, but to that market, they're in high demand. (Car collectors, people who have a hobby that requires a large workshop) As for garages in the neighborhood, the few existing homes have 2--several with an additional detached garage. The new homes mostly have 3--and a few have 4. I know it's not what everyone would do but that's one of the reasons to build instead of buy--because we can plan for the things that are important to us, even, or especially, if they're not commonly available. But when it comes right down to it, few of us only have as much house as we "need". I *need* a place to sit with a computer. I want it to be comfortable (desk with pullout keyboard tray), and I want a window to look out of, and I want to have nice furniture in it. I don't need any of those things (although my chiropractor might make an argument for the keyboard tray). But I want them and can't think of any reason why I shouldn't make them happen. We're all different--there are those on this board who prefer jack&jill bathrooms. I hate them. There are those who think a 2nd sink for a hall bathroom shared by kids is a waste of money. I disagree (and so would my kids)--but that's okay. We want a house with a large double shower and don't care at all about a soaking tub. Someone else wants that tub enough to devote 36 sq ft to it. That's all okay. Looking at houses on-line, I saw zillions of "newly remodeled kitchens" that I hated. Some were objectively bad designs. But most of them weren't--they were just finishes that I didn't like at all--and knew we'd pay a premium for that 'newly remodeled kitchen' even though I'd want to rip it all out. It's all part of why people build instead of buy. We want what we want--and some of us are fortunate enough to be able to make that happen.