Scarecrow Man Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 IBM has joined the growing group of tech companies punting alternatives to Microsoft's omnipresent Office suite.Its new Lotus Symphony package, which launched yesterday, includes word processing, spreadsheet and presentation programs and is available free of charge to Windows and Linux users.The software uses the internationally recognised Open Document Format (ODF) allowing documents to be read by multiple software apps, unlike the standard adopted by Microsoft whose range of office products restrict different file types to one system.Just last week IBM joined the OpenOffice.org development community, kicking off its participation by donating code it has developed for its Lotus Notes project.Full StoryLotus Symphony Home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 The Linux and Windows downloads are both BETA versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 god ...I had lotus on my comp once ..... Its was an absolute bastard to remove ,causing hangs and all sorts .... never again will it darken my hard drive (win 98 days )I just lurve me open office ..does what it sez on the tin .....and its FREEE !openoffice 2.3It will open word ,powerpoint and excell ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted September 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 I remember Lotus 1 2 3, and I also remember the headaches I had with it. That being said, this version is based on the Open Document Format (ODF) just like OpenOffice is. It can't be as bad as it used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 If one is familiar with Open Office or Star Office, why even look, never mind change, to yet another?I think they've missed the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted September 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 If one is familiar with Open Office or Star Office, why even look, never mind change, to yet another?I think they've missed the boat.Lotus also only includes Documents, Presentation and Spreadsheet. OpenOffice includes a equivalent to every program offered by Microsoft in the Office Professional version.I think its good that IBM is taking a step forward towards open source like they said they would. It's just one more voice against the Microsoft cash machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 Got to agree with Tankus, Open office for me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 :)I'm still using all of these :-Lotus Smartsuite Millenium EditionMicrosoft Office 2003Corel Wordperfect Office 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 Not using any freebies boris?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 I've been using all 3 for many years :)Back in the early 80's I used 123 + Wordstar +DBase :0Then I changed jobs and they used WordPerfect/Quattro Pro/Paradox (in the early 90's)In 1998 they changed to Office 97 -> 2000 -> 2003 - so I followed along - but some of the useful (to me) features in WP +QP still don't exist in Excel + WordAt home I used 123/Word Pro as Lotus was bundled with a PC.I can now use all 3 without really thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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