Filed under: Software, Open Source
NeoOffice 3 available for download
We had a lot of mail from users eager to let us know that the NeoOffice 3.0 is now available. NeoOffice is a Mac OS X native open-source office suite originally crafted from the code used for OpenOffice, and its developers are boasting about the following features not found in the current release of OpenOffice for Mac:
- OS X Services support
- Media Browser support
- Native floating tool windows
- Magnify and swipe trackpad gestures
- Menus available when no documents are open
- Import images from scanners and cameras
- Command-clicking on window titlebar
- Mac OS X Leopard grammar checking support
NeoOffice 3.0
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ryemac3 said 12:23PM on 3-31-2009
Cool, but is it fast? I found 2.0 to be very clunky and it took forever to open on my 8 core Mac Pro. I switched to the new native OO.o and it wasn't much better. It's still very slow and clunky.
Reply
Eduardo said 12:57PM on 3-31-2009
Based on their on webpage it seems is faster than OO.o
http://neowiki.neooffice.org/index.php/NeoOffice_Performance_Comparison
Jubei said 11:17AM on 3-31-2009
This is a wonderful suite. It actually works better and has better file translation than the Office for Mac version. Support the developers and donate.
Reply
Comic Book Guy said 11:43AM on 3-31-2009
worst screen cap EVER!
Reply
philpoccia said 11:46AM on 3-31-2009
Agreed. That screen crap is too grainy. Whoops, I meant screen cap.
Tom said 12:03PM on 3-31-2009
Haha, definitely!
SubGenius said 12:54PM on 3-31-2009
I think they need to rename it RetroOffice because the GUI looks like it is circa 2001.
Chris said 11:57AM on 3-31-2009
How does this compare to Open Office 3.0? If someone is already using Open Office, is it worth switching to this?
Reply
Eminemdrdre00 said 12:05PM on 3-31-2009
Took the words right out of my mouth...was just going to ask the same question.
Ed said 12:11PM on 3-31-2009
I tried it a few years back and it was pretty good. Now we've got native Open Office, I wouldn't switch to NeoOffice though, the features they list are nice but not exactly massively significant. I'd guess that most of these willl be covered in the next OOo release...
Download it and try it out though! It's free, so why not?
David Hildreth said 12:24PM on 3-31-2009
OpenOffice on OS X has always felt like an afterthought to me. NeoOffice is from the same code but its really tailored to be a real OS X application.
I definitely prefer NeoOffice to OO.o but the differences are fewer than they use to be.
Stanford Rosenthal said 6:19PM on 3-31-2009
OO.o crashes constantly on my brand new MBP... so I think anything would be better. I use Google Docs, but sometimes it's easier to use a desktop app for creating flyers, etc.
droslovinia said 1:19PM on 3-31-2009
This is a universal binary, right? There's your difference. I truly love Open Office and have used it on other OSes for some time. I was thrilled when the OSX-Native version 3 finally came out, but it won't run on any of my older Macs - Just my MBP with the Intel chips. If this project allows me to use OO stuff on my G4 tower, I really want it!
Reply
David Frantz said 3:01PM on 3-31-2009
Just installed and it is looking good. I can't really comment in depth as I don't use it much. Which is the nice thing about OSS I don't have to pay big bucks for something that may get used a few times a year.
That may change if PDF exporting works well. The big problem is that just about everything is faster than OO. It is very nice to have though when that odd file format crosses your desk.
Reply
Stanford Rosenthal said 6:19PM on 3-31-2009
Torrent on their site has zero seeders it seems.
Reply
Ethan said 6:21PM on 3-31-2009
I use bean to write documents and then openoffice to author them for publishing.
Reply
anaknipedro said 11:15PM on 3-31-2009
I used to use Neo Office 2.x for all my needs. It felt slow, but was worth the price. ;) When OO 3.0 came out I switched over. It felt more unified. Between that transition I started using iWork. Now the only reason I keep OO on my hard drive is as a compatibility parachute. For all original document, presentation, and spreadsheet creation I use iWork.
Reply
Lee Webb said 7:48AM on 4-01-2009
I downloaded this and opened up a multi sheet spreadsheet and it limped like a 2 legged dog.
Is there anything else that will open a multi sheet on a mac?
Reply
stern said 6:10AM on 4-01-2009
If it's a universal binary, why are there still separate Intel and PPC packages?
Reply
stern said 6:37AM on 4-01-2009
Actually installing the application shows that it is indeed NOT a universal binary. GG TUAW, maybe one day you'll actually do your homework and get something right.