Filed under: Software, Freeware, Beta Beat
Sun offers StarOffice 9 beta for Mac
Sun has released a beta for StarOffice 9, which brings native Mac support to Sun's commercial version of the OpenOffice suite of applications (finally bringing to fruition Sun's joining the Mac porting team back in 2007). The new version is a regular Aqua application and no longer requires X11. In addition, it integrates with "the address book and other system tools" including Spotlight, and allows importing the new XML-based Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac file formats (.docx, .xlsx etc.). StarOffice9 is Intel-only and requires OS X 10.4+. The beta expires on August 17. It is a free download from Sun Microsystems (registration required). The regular price of StarOffice 8 is $69.95.
[via MacNN]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Big John said 6:29PM on 8-04-2008
13 days? Thanks for the offer but I'll pass.
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required said 6:44PM on 8-04-2008
Cool!
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Egg and Spam said 7:16PM on 8-04-2008
70 dlls is cheaper than MS Office, but more expensive than Open Office.
I'll pass and I'll continue with my OpenOffice Beta 2 such is also Cocoa build.
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flokru said 2:39AM on 8-05-2008
Just because an application uses Aqua elements does not mean it's Cocoa. Not to mention following Apple's design guidelines to give the app a Mac-like look & feel.
In other words I think both OpenOffice/StarOffice and NeoOffice suck as Mac OS X apps. They don't have the look & feel other Mac apps have and they are often far too complicated to use.
Numpty said 7:32PM on 8-04-2008
To be fair, it's only expires on August 17th because that's when the next beta is due out.
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Allister said 7:48PM on 8-04-2008
Aqua is so last year.
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Ed said 11:24PM on 8-04-2008
I've been using OpenOffice Beta 1 and 2 for the last few months and I'm really happy with it. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone who wants Office (or most of it) without the cost. It's also much Snappier™ than Office 2008.
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Virtuous said 11:56PM on 8-04-2008
No wonder Sun is losing so much money. They're charging for something that should be free. I'll keep using NeoOffice.
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Snowman said 2:54AM on 8-05-2008
How would giving it away make them money or even stop them from losing money? lol :P
Nikax said 2:51PM on 8-05-2008
I believe Sun charges for SO because they provide tech support for it, which makes it a better choice for enterprise users, otherwise OO is a good choice. Sun provides funding for both. And Sun "should give it away" because....????
Snowman said 2:51AM on 8-05-2008
Already own MS Office 2008, but I'm sure this would be more than fine for most people.
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Fawn said 10:50AM on 8-05-2008
Intel-only? That makes me almost annoyed enough to type a displeased smiley face.
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FearlessFreep said 9:57AM on 8-06-2008
What's the difference in this and NeoOffice? Why would I pay $70 for the same thing?
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