Upstart Seeks To Overthrow OpenOffice

Softmaker Software Has Taken Out After Open Source OpenOffice, Saying it's Not Good Enough to Score Against Microsoft

Sep. 17, 2008 08:30 PM

Softmaker Software GmbH, a German Office wannabe, has taken out after open source darling OpenOffice, saying it’s not good enough to score against Microsoft and proposing its own widgetry as a substitute.

The company has just put out a public beta of its Software Office 2008 for Linux, which includes what it calls a Word-compatible word processor, TextMaker, an Excel-compatible spreadsheet, PlanMaker, and a new PowerPoint alternative, Presentations.

Softmaker faults OpenOffice as slow, and says its Microsoft file format compatibility is dicey and its user interface crowded.

It claims its own software reads Microsoft .doc, .xls and .ppt files without a hiccup, without changing charts or objects and without losing formatting.

It also claims features not in Microsoft like PDF export and an ability to run off a USB flash drive without being installed on the hosted operating system, a skill it figures is handy in Internet cafes.

It says it leaves OpenOffice in the dust speed-wise, which translates into superior performance on the new netbooks such as the Eee.

See www.softmaker.com.

Published Sep. 17, 2008— Reads 5,456 — Feedback 1
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About Maureen O'Gara
Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara

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