FreeOffice

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by CloneRanger, Apr 3, 2014.

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  1. CloneRanger

    CloneRanger Registered Member

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    I saw HandsOff mention this in here https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=361812

    I don't recall hearing about it before, but it's been around since DOS days ! Anyway it "appears" to be very compatable with MS & "seems" almost too good to be true, especially for free :) Anybody else tried it, or uses it, if so how does it compare to MS & say Kingsoft ?

    That's just for starters !

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TextMaker
     
  2. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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    It's been around longer than MS Office.
    Free version is a truncated version of Softmaker Office.
    I've been trialing their paid version and am quite impressed. I've found it MUCH faster / lighter than Libre Office. I cannot compare it to Kingsoft (which generally gets good reviews).
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2014
  3. Pav Tuc

    Pav Tuc Registered Member

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    FreeOffice is kind of a lite version of SoftMaker Office, and IMHO the very best free office suite for Windows and Linux alike.
    Compared to any other free office suite I ever tried out (OpenOffice / LibreOffice / Kingsoft Office / Google Docs), it has an unrivaled compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. It's fast, feature-packed, well coded, and has a nice user interface. I can strongly recommend it.

    www.freeoffice.com/en

    Btw., if you spend a few (but not many) bucks, the commercial version SoftMaker Office comes with even more functionalities, more templates, a macro language, free technical support, an Outlook alternative (only in the Pro version) and much more. It lets you not only read docx, pptx, and xlsx faithfully, but also save in these xml formats (FreeOffice opens them without any flaws, but you have to save as doc, xls, ppt).
     
  4. Sampei Nihira

    Sampei Nihira Registered Member

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  5. guest

    guest Guest

    Well, since KO is starting to be a PITA by asking internet connection everytime I open it and there's no way to turn it off unless I write a rule for it, this will be an alternative I really should try. Can we only download/install the TextMaker only? I just need the word processor.
     
  6. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    FreeOffice is a nice suite that's very compatible with M$ Office, particularly with word documents. It does lack some key features offered in OpenOffice and LibreOffice tho. The other nite I was working on a writing sample for a presentation that required a specific word count. To my chagrin the free version does not offer that feature, and I was really missing OpenOffice or LibreOffice at the point. But if you not going to be using it in a professional capacity it should do nicely.
     
  7. cet

    cet Registered Member

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    I am using the free softmaker office on Ubuntu.Actually it offers word count.You have to enable statistics and update button from the toolbars customize option.
     

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  8. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    Hey, thanks for the tip, Cet. Have it setup now. Would've been great if it gave a live count but still better than nothing. :thumb:
     
  9. cet

    cet Registered Member

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    You are welcome aztony
     
  10. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Wow, very nice find, I will check it out. :)

    I was thinking about trying out Kingsoft Office 2013, but I will now pass on it. :thumb:
     
  11. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Didn't work on Debian XFCE. I couldn't change the font and I couldn't see any font selection. It was all blank spaces.
     
  12. Sampei Nihira

    Sampei Nihira Registered Member

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    No.
     
  13. guest

    guest Guest

    IMO it's not much of an issue since you can just write rules in your FW to block internet access for them. At least they don't hijack svchost.

    Well I guess it's another time to install software that I never need. :eek:
     
  14. Sampei Nihira

    Sampei Nihira Registered Member

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    ;)
     
  15. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Im sorry but the freeoffice looks ugly. Libre office and open office look so much better. KO looks the best out of them all.
     
  16. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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    I suspect they're trying to mimic MO. Tools/Options/Appearance offers skin options (at least on paid version).
     
  17. Victek

    Victek Registered Member

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    I'm not seeing "system requirements" on the website. Does FreeOffice work properly on Windows 8.1 Update?
     
  18. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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  19. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    What kind of skin options are offered?

    But so far my grudge with Linux version of Softmaker Office is that it's less complete than Windows counterpart.
    Their Linux version consists of:
    - Textmaker
    - Planmaker
    - Presentations
    Meanwhile their Windows version has additional:
    - eM Client
    - Basic maker
    If Im going to pay I don't want to be treated like a 2nd class citizen. Especially that LO is free and office online is free too.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2014
  20. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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    I can't comment on truncated Linux ver. I opted for the "Standard" Win version, as I have no use for eM Client.
     

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  21. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    I was aware of those themes. I thought there were some additional ones such as ribbon.
     
  22. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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  23. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Im not crazy about ribbon but it would be nice to have it as an option. Otherwise no, I am not crazy, their standard UI is full of low resolution and/or weird looking icons.
     
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