OpenOffice 3.0, the latest version of the totally-free office suite that challenges Microsoft Office, is now ready for download.

I am actually downloading OpenOffice 3.0 as I type this, and I will have to say goodbye to the free StarOffice 8 suite which I got courtesy of Google’s software pack.

Many of us have tried OpenOffice in the past and I’m pretty sure we were mostly disappointed by previous versions. But OpenOffice 3.0 promises to give us something better.

Read more about OpenOffice 3.0 here.

One reviewer described OpenOffice 3.0 as “great”.

A ComputerWorld reviewer of its beta version says that OpenOffice 3.0 is so good and thus wonders “who needs Microsoft Office?”.

A new review said that:

OpenOffice.org is still a reasonably competent office productivity suite for a large number of users and the various extensions, including the new Import PDF Extension for 3.0, mean it can be, at least, sufficient for many tasks.

Another said that:

Overall, OpenOffice 3.0 seems like a great step forward, and for the low low price of free, how can you complain? Grab a copy and have at thee, it is everything you could need in an office pack without the $500 price tag, ever-changing UI, and forced file formats that people don’t want.

Anyway, I just hope you give OpenOffice 3.0 a try.

Screenshot of OpenOffice 3 Start Center belongs to CNet Networks.