[Am-info] Apple and StarOffice

[Mitch Stone]

There are several obvious problems with this article. First, OpenOffice 
(which has been in alpha for a couple of months now, not just since 
Thursday) is not to my knowledge Java-based. Second, if they are using the 
Java ThinkFree Office as model of how OpenOffice might turn out, they'd 
better think again. ThinkFree is a very sluggish performer and the 
interface is certainly not Mac-like. Even at $50, it's not a bargain.

Third, if the MS Office file translation issues aren't solved, they'd 
better hang it up right now because about 90% of the justification for a 
Mac user to own MS Office is to accurately open files originating from 
Office for Windows. If they don't have this particular need, most of the 
functionality of MS Office can already be had with AppleWorks, which, 
contrary to the statement in the article is "available" for all Macs, not 
just the consumer models, and can "work with" MS Office files.

If anyone can tell me what StarOffice would offer to Mac owners that they 
can't already get from several other sources, then I'd like to know what 
it is.

Mitch

On Saturday, July 27, 2002, at 01:58 PM, Paul Rickard wrote:

>
>     Anyone remember the discussion here a few days ago about replacing
> office:mac when the Microsoft-Apple agreement expires in a couple weeks?
> I said Apple might take portions of StarOffice and incorporate them into
> AppleWorks 7 or start backing SO for the Mac. Well, here's the story.
>
> http://news.com.com/2100-1001-946714.html / Sun to push StarOffice for
> Apple's OS X
>
> "Apple Computer and Sun Microsystems are cooperating on a version of
> Sun's StarOffice productivity software for Mac OS X, the companies said.
> Sun has been looking for hardware allies in its long-running quest to
> popularize StarOffice, which competes against Microsoft Office. To date,
> no major PC makers have pledged to heavily promote StarOffice. .."
>
> "The partnership is expected to produce a Java-based version of
> OpenOffice by the end of the year, followed by a commercial StarOffice
> release sometime in 2003. "
>
> and my favorite part:
>
> "Sun executives, however, say Apple knows what it's doing. "Historically,
> Apple was a little bit worried about working with us because of their
> relationship with Microsoft," Siress said. Now, "Microsoft is mad, and
> Apple's coming at them hardcore.
>
>    Looks like Sun is planning to give Apple source code to work on the UI
> and let the company bundle it for free with their professional hardware.
> Looks like I nailed this one.