MS Office substitute? Openoffice??

My dad is getting a new PC, likely with Vista, and I have suggested not to buy MS Office, but to use Openoffice....can anyone recommend?
He needs replacements for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, can all existing documents be edited?
He also would need a replacement for Outlook, that functions very similarly, any suggestions? Note that he currently synchronises contacts with his mobile/cell phone and would want to do same, and need to be able to import emails/contacts (from .pst?).

 

The latest verison of Open Office supports Microsoft Office formats, although I'm not sure if it supports the latest office 2007 formats, e.g. docx. Mozilla Thunderbird is a good alternative to Outlook.

 

Does he use office at work? Does he take work from work to home? Then I'd stick with office.

IMHO, the functionality of OO isn't all that great. But, if one only uses OO, then by all means use it.

 

It doesn't. 2.4 was supposed to, but someone made the stupid decision to leave it out. Its NOW slated for 3.0.

 

He only uses at home, and all current files are of Office 2003 format, still OK?

 

Specifically, what Outlook features (Mail, Calendar, Tasks, etc.) does he use? Contacts could be exported from Outook in CSV format and then imported into Windows Mail on the new Vista computer. Likewise, I see an option to import messages from Outlook in Windows Mail.

I don't know whether Windows Mail allows any synchronization with mobile phones.

Windows Vista does have a Calendar.

 

Again, he only uses for private use at home as he is retired.
He only uses mail & contacts in Outlook, so Mozilla Thunderbird looks good, and i've checked that it has an add-on to synchronise to Nokias.

 

Yes.