From owner-freebsd-questions Fri Oct 31 02:24:12 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) id CAA27222 for questions-outgoing; Fri, 31 Oct 1997 02:24:12 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-questions) Received: from bsd.synx.com (rt.synx.com [194.167.81.239]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id CAA27217 for ; Fri, 31 Oct 1997 02:24:07 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from remy@synx.com) Received: from s3.synx.com (s3 [192.1.1.247]) by bsd.synx.com (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id LAA03505; Fri, 31 Oct 1997 11:27:08 +0100 Received: from rs1 by s3.synx.com id aa19755; 31 Oct 97 11:16 GMT Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 12:11:59 -0100 (GMT) From: Remy NONNENMACHER To: Doug White cc: FreeBSD Questions Subject: Re: ApplixWare vs. StarOffice In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk 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. ----- tm: Registered Trademarks of (M(tm)i(tm)c(tm)r(tm)o(tm)s(tm)t(tm))(tm) (Happy billy(tm) ? ;)