Hey now--not only is a commercially supported version of OpenOffice now available right next to the Microsoft Office boxes it competes with, but the company that distributes and supports it, Flexiety, is touting its PDF capabilities as a selling point.

"OpenOffice.org Plus Updates & Support has 90% of the functionality of the market leader plus extended capabilities like integrated PDF export, unlimited online support, and quarterly updates," says Anthony Long, marketing manager at Flexiety. "Now this great program is available at two of America's top computer retailers at a fraction of the cost of leading alternatives."

The software package is available through SoftwareToGo, a distributor that supplies ATM-like machines capable of producing boxed software at the point of purchase. These are set up in only 25 CompUSA stores right now--including those in Seattle and Silicon Valley--but will be in all the chain’s outlets by 2006. Those who don’t live near a SoftwareToGo-equipped store can purchase the application suite online at Tiger Direct.