Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 12:11:59 -0100 (GMT) From: Remy NONNENMACHER <remy@synx.com> To: Doug White <dwhite@resnet.uoregon.edu> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: ApplixWare vs. StarOffice Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.971031111138.8253P-100000@rs1> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.96.971030114659.17844R-100000@gdi.uoregon.edu>
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On Thu, 30 Oct 1997, Doug White wrote:
> We're drifting a bit here but what the heck ;-)
>
> Anyone out there tried ApplixWare and StarOffice and have any opinions?
> I'm in desperate need of a word processor and don't want to clog my laptop
> with MicroSlop Word while I'm trying to sell it.
>
> My previous experience with the StarOffice betas was not enjoyable. The
> installation was confusing and some features were broken for the English
> case, such as the SmartQuotes. (There are no separate `` and ''
> characters in the X font set, but it does have the German << and >>.) I
> also had trouble with it crashing intermittiently and with graphics
> artifacts and a generally unstable interface.
>
Idem for me. It frozes my X server while playing with.
> ApplixWare is cheap for students ($80!) and apparently has a nice word
> processor and spreadsheet modules.
>
Words and spreadsheet are nice and works well (althought, i was not able
to build a graphic with a zero offset but may have missed the point in doc).
Compared to StarOffice, the interface is simpler but the whole product
have very powerfull tools. Also, import/export has more filters (Word
6/7, Excel 5, etc...).
I think that Applix has build a word processor with similar way of use as
((M$(tm) Word(tm))(tm))(tm), but StarOffice is more a pure copy of the
M$(tm) products(tm) inferface. (Same buttons, presentation, etc..)
In that way, Applix lets you understand you can avoid using M$ systems
on your desktop, and StarOffice SHOW you that you can. (or helps you show
that you can, if you seewaimeen).
Pro/cons :
Applix :
Pro:
- Pure X11, quality look, worked fonts.
- Low memory use
- Fast
- Good integration (insert anything, anywhere, at anytime)
- Easy to install
- bunch of supported language (spell checking)
- On-line doc
cons:
- poor graphic charter
- RPM distrib for Linux.
StarOffice :
Pro:
- Immediat use from the M$(tm) World(tm)
- Nice style applyer window (really good idea !!).
- good charter (exactly like PP(tm))
- Usefull Word processor
- Free for personnal use
- Lighter disk usage.
cons:
- Motif (??, i mean : Why !!)
- Hang sometime (It's motif) and, preferably, after having grabbed
your mouse 8(.
- Poorer speadsheet
- lack of integrations between modules
- slower and uses more memory (motif again).
- lack of language support (only Full with German, with some funny
forgotten messages (funny only, no nogo).).
> Presentation graphics is nice but not necessary. The word processor is
> the priority.
>
Graphic in applixware is near pure bullshit. It can't label an object
(draw a box then center a simple text on it : you will need to produce a
paragraphe object then center it in the box by hand. If you use the text
tool, you will have a *resizable* texte !!). Centering object with the
grid lacks precision, can't draw a simple arc with arrows, etc....
This can be a problem if you need to quickly produce a graphic to be
inserted in a document: don't expect good results without spending
some time.
I would recommend to start with StarOffice, play with it, convince
yourself it's possible to drop M$, then, buy Applix if you start writting
volume docs (and want security) or if you want phase-out M$ from your
company (Applix have a really nice Java presentation applet for their
products, so no need to replace all your PC's).
Thanks for your attention, Unix-hu-Akbaar.
-----
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(Happy billy(tm) ? ;)
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