Good question. I wish I had a better answer than what I’m about to say.
It just is.
I’m a diehard anti-Windows, Linux-lovin’, FOSS crusader myself, but if Microsoft released a copy of MS Office for Linux (as a one-time-purchase), I would buy it today.
For most tasks, you’re right, there’s not much you can’t do in LibreOffice. But the interface is clunkier. Excel makes it easier to make good-looking spreadsheets. And as much as it hurts me to say, looks matter when dealing with nontechnical folks.
Plus there are some things that are just more intuitive in Excel, like certain kinds of charts and graphs. There are some advanced features of Excel that don’t even exist in LibreOffice. Like chart styles and certain team collaboration features.
Compatibility is… okay… For the most part, but having it all guaranteed by a bunch of paid devs would be really nice.
Good question. I wish I had a better answer than what I’m about to say.
It just is.
I’m a diehard anti-Windows, Linux-lovin’, FOSS crusader myself, but if Microsoft released a copy of MS Office for Linux (as a one-time-purchase), I would buy it today.
For most tasks, you’re right, there’s not much you can’t do in LibreOffice. But the interface is clunkier. Excel makes it easier to make good-looking spreadsheets. And as much as it hurts me to say, looks matter when dealing with nontechnical folks.
Plus there are some things that are just more intuitive in Excel, like certain kinds of charts and graphs. There are some advanced features of Excel that don’t even exist in LibreOffice. Like chart styles and certain team collaboration features.
Compatibility is… okay… For the most part, but having it all guaranteed by a bunch of paid devs would be really nice.
There is a more detailed list here