Office Software Reviews

A product of Sun Microsystems, StarOffice is a propriety office suite package. This program was originally created by StarDivision. In August 1999, StarOffice was purchased by Sun Microsystems. In July 2000, the source code for this program was released, making StarOffice an open source office suite known as OpenOffice.org. The subsequent StarOffice versions were based on OpenOffice, along with additional propriety elements.

Pros of StarOffice

StarOffice supports the XML file format, which includes the standard OpenDocument format. This suite can also handle Flash and PDF formats. When you use StarOffice, a software development kit, a macro recorder, and templates are all included in the package. Programs offered through this suite are StarWriter, StarCalc, StarImpress, StarDraw, StarBase, and StarMath. The propriety components included are the Adabas D database, StarOffice configuration manager, a huge collection of clip art accessible through its clip art gallery, 12 Western fonts, and several Unicode True Type fonts that are compatible with the font metric. Compared to Microsoft Office, users will experience lesser system crashes and virus attacks. And if you are annoyed with MS Word's talking paper clip, you don't have to worry about this because StarOffice doesn't offer this feature. Another cool feature of StarOffice is its compatibility among various versions. This means you won't be forced to upgrade your program every two years or so.

Cons of StarOffice

Because StarOffice is a cheaper alternative for Windows, a disadvantage of using StarOffice is that its exporting and importing abilities in terms of obscure or complex Windows features is never 100% accurate. Of course, this is due to the fact that StarOffice is not Microsoft.

Despite such a disadvantage, many computer users still prefer StarOffice over Microsoft because of its nifty features. Plus, StarOffice is not as virus-prone as Microsoft. If you're looking for an office suite that somehow resembles how Microsoft Office works, then better check out StarOffice and try out its latest additions and upgrades.

MS 2007 is a popular product from Microsoft that is designed for computers running on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. This is the most recent version of the Microsoft Office system, the productivity suite created by Microsoft.

Features of MS 2007 as office software

MS 2007 contains upgrades from the previous version, among them the Ribbon User Interface, which replaced the earlier menus and toolbars that were characteristic of the previous system, as well as new applications such as Groove and SharePoint Designer. Applications that make it a necessity as office software include Microsoft Office Word, Outlook, Powerpoint, and OneNote. The XML file formats also make files smaller and allow users to easily transfer information between different applications.

Cons of MS 2007 as business software

Perhaps the only thing users can complain about MS 2007 is if they mistakenly purchase an edition that does not have business applications in it. For example, Business Contact Manager is not found in home, student, and basic editions of MS 2007.

MS 2007 is a very good software that came with a lot of useful upgrades. The cleaner interface also makes it more attractive to look at. Business owners simply need to make sure that they purchase an edition that contains all business applications they need.

OpenOffice is an open-source software that has been around since 2000. Like Microsoft Office, it consists of a unified set of applications intended for business use and for performing office tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheet preparation, and visual presentation. The following describes what OpenOffice is capable of as an office suite:

Features of OpenOffice as office software

OpenOffice (OO.o) is compatible with a wide variety of operating systems, such as different versions of Mac OSX and Windows, as well as FreeBSD v3.1, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Solaris. Its word processor, Writer, can export documents into PDF files without using other software. The same goes for its Excel and PowerPoint equivalents Calc and Impress, respectively. Among other features, OO.o also comes with the Base, Draw, and Math tools, which are ideal for database management, desktop publishing, preparing charts, and forming equations. Many office workers used to Microsoft Office will not find it difficult to navigate the OO.o office suite. It also has the advantage of allowing more editing versatility and capability of exporting and importing files in PDF, XML, and HTML, as well as MSOffice file formats. On top of it all, maintaining it for corporate use costs only 10% of an MSOffice upgrade.

Cons of OpenOffice as business software

Since it’s an open-source application, one of the setbacks to OpenOffice is its susceptibility to viruses encrypted into the source code. This, however, remains just a possibility, as OO.o is found to contain no in-the-wild viruses as of now.

While MSOffice still dominates the market, OpenOffice is gaining solid ground as a strong competitor. It costs much less, plus it’s easy-to-use and versatile. Although it has a weak spot in terms of system security for now, the OpenOffice.org team is in the process of addressing this security issue.