Free vs. $500...which is the better deal?

Symphony is probably going to be the only free office suite that doesn't completely blow. I got it because there's no way I'm upgrading to Office 2007, no matter what great deals I might get. However, since everybody uses Microsoft, compatibility is a big issue. Is it worth the hassle?

Edit: It's in beta, and there are forums on the website where you can suggest ideas or changes to the program.

I don't know if it would suit your needs (aside from the free part), but have you considered Google docs/spreadsheets? Exportable to Word/Excel format!

http://docs.google.com

thepiratebay has the answer to your question

Browser-based programs are just a big turn-off. Plus, I'm really looking for compatibility with the new .docx format. So far, only Word can efficiently do this, but I'm holding out for Symphony to jump on it.

[quote="sheerheartattack"]Browser-based programs are just a big turn-off. Plus, I'm really looking for compatibility with the new .docx format. So far, only Word can efficiently do this, but I'm holding out for Symphony to jump on it.[/quote]

The labs at my school have 2007 and it's weird and awkward as fuck when compared to office 2003. Then again, I've only really looked at it for like ten minutes... So anyway, if you're going to get Word 2007, just be forewarned that it's pretty different compared to the 2003 version. More than just a regular upgrade would be, btw.