I’ve been using EasyOffice(free) and it’s a lot more stable than StarOffice.

I was compiling a large document in MS Word and it started crashing repeatedly after about 100 pages. I was able to finish the document in OOo (over 400 pages, fully indexed) with no significant problems. I have also noticed that OOo Writer tends to keep graphics in place much better than Word (where they tend to "float" from page to page, seemingly ignoring paragraph anchors).

It certainly isn't as pretty as MS Office, but at least it doesn't subject me to an animated paper clip.

I have made the same expierences. While surely speed and usability is a domain of MS Office, especially the strange handling of graphics almost makes it unusable for large documents. Moreover, the layout-enginge is clearly superior to MS Office.

In my opinion, Staroffice 6.0 has same regressions and crashes more often than SO 5.2.

I don't miss any features in comparison to MS Office, but sometimes you really have to search for them in SO a long time until you find them. The GUI is simply cleaner and more user-friendly in MS Office, let alone the design.

I wonder who uses this programme. I installed v.6 some time ago on linux. man, what crap. totally uncomfortable, user unfriendly, lacks features, looks like s***, slow because based on java, doesn't open office documents properly. I uninstalled it and hoped to forget about this product, but it tends to come back in my ugliest nightmares and I wake up dripping with sweat. On windows I am using Office XP Builder edition and it's perfect: fast, user friendly plus it has many useful extensions like the smart tags you can download from MS or other firms. Who needs Star Office? if you are poor like me and can't afford buying the Suse version of MS office, which runs on linux, it doesn't matter. if you have to write a letter or term paper or whatever, just reboot your pc, start windows and use office, then reboot back to linux. take 2 minutes to reboot. Better to wait 2 min. than to use this staroffice programme or the openoffice (which is basically the same as staroffice). Yes, I know, MS office is expensive, my edition costs over 800 euro, but it's worth it, and besides, there are cheaper editions and students get discounts

ehh, I mean not builder edition, but Developer edition

"slow because based on java" Uhh, StarOffice is not written in Java. I do agree that it is very ugly. But as far as functionality it more than enough for 99% of people doing office work. There are still some nice things that MSOffice can do that StarOffice cannot, but most of the functionality is there. Now if they only got some people to design a decent UI for this thing...

"Uhh, StarOffice is not written in Java": staroffice is not written in java, but it requires java. at least it was required when I tried to install v.6 on linux, so that I first had to download and install a java package before installing sun office

doesn't really need java...just needs it for some functions...

like breathing or eating with utensils

Any idea of the differnce over 6.0?

In my experience it's not ready to replace MS Office in most heavy duty or corproate environments yet, but it has come far enough that for many. many home users it will do everything they need.

If they improve usability and stability in this release they will have made some major strides.

I've used OOo every day in a corporate setting for almost a year now, and I can honestly say that there are some holes left but it's almost there. I rarely run into compatability issues with advanced formulas between OOo Calc, and Excel. It still doesn't support Windows controls (which is a given), and it blows up some formatting when exporting to word. If you aren't an advanced user, and are in a small company environment I do believe that it can completely replace Office.

Some pretty heavy duty compatibility problems left to fix with presentations and PowerPoint as well.

for probably 80% of the people it more than enough/equal to office

nope

Yup

no way, StarOffice won't be useful in most offices because people need to interchange documents as well as conform to standards. Walk into any major company and tell them you have vast experience in StarOffice - next to the guy who knows MS Office in and out and guess whos more valuable?

Either StarOffice becomes a contender on the major market or its not worth s***e to anyone who matters.

StarOffice is in fact years behind Microsoft Office, whether you admit it or not. I would be happy to elaborate on my statement, but using the product should convince people I care to convince. There's no way in hell that 80% of office users would benefit equally from StarOffice.

Please elaborate.

Actually I lied. My other reason against elaboration is that I just don't care. I don't have the time or resources ($$$) to provide a better argument. The best answer I will give right now is: I tried StarOffice 5.0 (yes, five), and couldn't tolerate it for more than ten or so minutes. But maybe that's just because I'm a technical user. NOT. I was nowhere near trying to use advanced features before I decided to quit Star Office. Sorry, but this is where I end. Hopefully someone else will give you a better answer.

from experience about 80% of people dont use any of the advanced office features...they could use startoffice with no problems...its the 20% of power users that would complain...but then u could also use works for these people without any problems...one last thing, wordperfect is now available on dell computers...its just as good if not better than word...

Interesting. NOT. I use Open Office daily and I AM a power user. I find it will do the job and the price is right. $700 for MS Office XP vs free? Hands down winner is OOo. You really ought to look at the current version before making comments ans slamming a product like you have. Oh, I flip back and forth between Linux and Windows 2000 and have not run into file format issues with either.

you get what you pay for I guess. I tried Star 5 myself hated it and went back to Office withing a day or 2, too clunky and nonintuitive for me. You like the price so accept any problems which is fine but its not going to change everyone elses opinions either. We each have our own and will decide accordingly.

What gets me is how some seem to have empirical data showing that 80% of users never use an advanced feature etc. What research company do they work for and how was this "Data" collected? Seems to me its more a case of "In your opinion what you PERCIEVE as 80% of all users" not a fact and shouldnt be treated as one.

My bad went and reread and see the person did say it was opinion not fact so I retract that sorry

Side Note:
Would be nice if Betanews would set it up so you can see the posts your responding to while typing out the response.

I've never used StarOffice before; however, if it is indeed based on OpenOffice.org then I'm sure it's a well rounded product. OpenOffice (in my opinion) is the best office program hands down. It takes M$ Office's functionality and removes all the pretty stuff. So, it has an ugly UI... are buying Microsoft Office because it is pretty? www.customize.org they have some pretty backgrounds.... get one and download OpenOffice and/or StarOffice.

On a side note : Giving your opinion is fine, but once I read things like "looks like s***" and how people make claims and then refuse to back it up... It just disgusts me.

"Would be nice if Betanews would set it up so you can see the posts your responding to while typing out the response."

Just use "Open in new window" (or new tab) when you click on "Reply to this Comment". Makes flipping back and forth between the original post and your reply real simple and you don't have to wait for Betanews to change anything.

"What gets me is how some seem to have empirical data showing that 80% of users never use an advanced feature etc. What research company do they work for and how was this "Data" collected?"

How about Microsoft's "Office Discoverability" survey they conduct every two years. Around 80% was the figure they returned in 1995, 1997, and 1999. (I don't think they did the survey in 2001 for some reason) Gartner also supplies similar figures, though they actually describe it as being over 80%.

I am a huge advocate of WordPerfect, though sadly I use MS Office right now.

open in new window is what I try to do now. But once in a while just forget to rclick hehe.Still think would be a nice future change to consider personally.

I agree. Was just throwing out a workaround for those that weren't already using it.

Not wanting nice looking GUIs, that contribute to a more pleasant experience is fine. But you definitely can't assume that other people don't want attractive interfaces. I personally want the computer to invoke more than just dry or negative emotions when I'm using it. Nice "looking" software achieves that. It's possible that in StarOffice's case it produces equally to MS Office, but it has years to gain in aesthetics. I consider aesthetics very important as well as functionality.