IBM publishes free Lotus office suite
updated 01:35 pm EDT, Tue September 18, 2007
IBM Lotus Symphony suite
Having announced plans to join the OpenOffice project just last week, IBM has now launched its own free office suite, Lotus Symphony. The software currently supports Windows XP, Vista and Linux machines, with a Mac OS version forthcoming; included are three programs, Presentations, Spreadsheets and the Documents word processor. All of these promote the OpenDocument Format (ODF), a standard first championed in OpenOffice. To maintain compatiblity however, Symphony supports Microsoft's Office formats, and can export to Adobe PDF files.
IBM has been attempting for several years to wrest control of office software from Microsoft, the latter having helped push IBM to a fraction of its former market. Symphony is one of the outputs of a long-running IBM strategy called Workplace, and the company has also poured money into Eclipse, a "rich client" package that is multiplatform and can evolve through plug-ins.
Symphony remains unusual though in that it is being aimed at the public as well as businesses. Moreover, it is a "fat client," run entirely on a client's computer instead of having to contact a server. [via CNET]
Looks kinda familiar
09/18, 02:19pm reply
I wonder what is the difference between this and the stuff in the Lotus SmartSuite (WordPro, 1,2,3 and Freelance). I also wonder what would be advantage of this over OpenOffice, or the online tools such as ThinkFree.com and similar.
Either way, as soon as the Mac version comes out, I will be checking it out.
vasic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Online tools
09/18, 02:56pm reply
As a web developer I do not trust any web tools, unless you don't care who has a copy of your document. Even paid commercial products (such as the upcoming Quicken online edition) are rife with possible security problems.
As for IBM software, I can say I always thought MS Exchange was the worst piece of c*** I ever used, until I had to switch to Lotus Notes.
So even though I hate MS Office's clunky, bloated interface and feature set, it is unlikely that IBM's free software is worth the price.
ClevelandAdv
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Joined: Jul 2004
flat client
09/18, 04:59pm reply
Moreover, it is a "fat client," run entirely on a client's computer instead of having to contact a server.
YEAH!!!
Other than that, I'll prob'ly go with the OpenOffice.org aqua port. It's coming along nicely, last I checked. :)
Flying Meat
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Joined: Jan 2007
Mail Client
09/19, 02:29am reply
Umm they forgot to add a mail client to tie it all in.
SLURPY
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Joined: Jul 2007
re:mail client
09/19, 06:54am reply
Mac OS X already has a mail client builtin.
I've downloaded the Windows version which i'll try in Parallels and if thats cool i will get the OSX version when its released.
coldfusion1970
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Joined: Nov 2004