The Ultimate Linux Desktop

Using PowerPack for Office Applications

Word Processing

If you have to write a letter to your aunt, a report, a newsletter or even a whole book, simply fire up Writer. It has everything you'd expect from a modern word processor, as well as some very advanced features (like a great style manager). It outputs to PDF. Also consider LaTeX and Lyx if you need advanced document processing and quality output. These two tools allow you to concentrate on content and handle all presentation issues. Look at a screenshot.

Spreadsheets

Calc is a powerful spreadsheet program. Use it to make calculations, work out a balance sheet or plot sales data. Calc also supports a lot of advanced statistical functions.
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Presentations

Impress will help you make presentations to remember. It is, of course, compatible with Microsoft Powerpoint, and has a range of nice features such as export to PDF or Macromedia Flash format.
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Personal Finances

Gnucash helps you manage your personal finances. It allows you to track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses. As quick and intuitive to use as a checkbook register, it is based on professional accounting principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reports. It can import QIF (Intuit Quicken QIF) files.
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PowerPack is not just an Office system. It's also great for Multimedia, Development and the Internet, as well as a number of advanced uses.