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November 17, 2008 7:01 AM PST

StarOffice gains native Mac support

by Ina Fried

With its latest version, Sun Microsystems is adding native Mac support to its StarOffice productivity suite.

StarOffice 9 is the first version with native Mac support, but just one of many products that aims to be a low-cost alternative to Microsoft Office.

(Credit: Sun Microsystems)

The software, a distant rival to Microsoft's dominant Office package, sells for $35 to individuals and $25 for each user inside a business.

StarOffice 9 is open-source and its code is shared with OpenOffice.org 3.0, which was released last month.

In addition to adding the Apple support, StarOffice 9 can also read the Open XML file formats that Microsoft introduced with Office 2007, but StarOffice cannot write files back into those formats.

Sun may add that ability if the market requires or requests it, said StarOffice product manager Iyer Venkatesan, but there are no immediate plans to add the feature, he said.

Other file formats supported include the Open Document Format as well as PDFs, which can be read and edited.

The launch of StarOffice comes even as the company prepares to shed thousands of jobs as part of a new wave of cost-cutting. StarOffice also faces increasing competition at the low end of the productivity market with a range of products, including Google Docs, ThinkFree Office, free and low-cost versions of Microsoft Works as well as forthcoming Web-based versions of Microsoft Office.

A study, released on Friday, found Microsoft Word was used by about half of all Internet users, while about 5 percent used OpenOffice. The study, by ClickStream Technologies, found about 1 percent used Google Docs.

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
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by Mr. Dee November 17, 2008 7:51 AM PST
They need better product designers, that box art looks awful.
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by gigo1000 November 17, 2008 8:07 AM PST
I use open office on both a Mac and Windows. I really like it. I think Its major problem is the lack of a native database.
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by Pishkado November 17, 2008 8:23 AM PST
Also a problem with Microsoft Office for Mac: no Access DBMS. While FileMaker Pro is comparable (some would say better, but that's an argument I don't want to start here) and cross-platform (though no Linux, AFAIK), market realities have made the Access infrastructure, range of application packages, pool of trained developers, etc., etc., much larger. Lack of Access is an objective reason why many people use Windows rather than Mac. If someone developed an Access-compatible DBMS for Mac it would have an instant market. Even if it was execute-only, it would solve the problem for many people who need to run applications created in Access but don't want to develop new ones.
by pairof9s--2008 November 17, 2008 9:44 AM PST
Welcome to the dance, Cinderella...it's 11:45!

It's this "always last" mentality with StarOffice that keeps it from gaining any serious traction with Mac users. An aggressive development cycle met with smart marketing (like knowing the strategic benefit of launching prior to Microsoft's newest release of Office for Mac) would go a long way towards at least letting Mac users feel like StarOffice for Mac has legs. I just get the feeling this is going to be dropped from future investment by mid-2009.
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by joetesta70 November 17, 2008 9:51 AM PST
Mac users are 3% of the market. Macs are lucky Microsoft is doling out welfare for that platform with MS Office....
by ittesi259 November 18, 2008 12:40 PM PST
Wow you make no hint of your feelings jotesta...but I would say MS writes even crappier versions of Office for OSX then they do for windows....which is why OpenOffice is my suite of choice. I have Office too, but only because someone got it for me as a gift. I should have returned it.
by johnqh November 17, 2008 9:45 AM PST
Pishkado,

Very good points. Lack of Access compatible DBMS is a reason why a lot of small businesses stick with Windows. It is just much cheaper and easier to find an Access developer to do a small and quick in-house app.
Reply to this comment
by dragonbite November 17, 2008 9:51 AM PST
Open Office has Base, but that is a sad replacement for Access. Plus part of what makes Access so powerful is that its combination of data, SQL queries, forms and VBA make it a very powerful application just before going to the Visual Studio level.
by joetesta70 November 17, 2008 9:50 AM PST
Wow - 2 losing platforms. Add McCain and you've got a great commercial.

Hi I'm McCain....and I use a Mac, and StarOffice, and fax machines and Western Union.....
Reply to this comment
by pairof9s--2008 November 18, 2008 3:09 AM PST
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're a loser, too. Better hurry and get off the computer...Mommy's got your bath ready!
by Penguinisto November 17, 2008 10:56 AM PST
Funny, but I've been using NeoOffice (a native OSX port of OpenOffice) since 2005, no sweat.

Cost is also $0.00 to do it.
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by gigo1000 November 17, 2008 11:42 AM PST
The latest version of Open Office also appears to be native (version 3).
by Version Cracker November 17, 2008 3:05 PM PST
Picture captioning:
"StarOffice 9 is the first version with native Mac support"

That's not true. I remember using Star Office on my Mac in 1997 or 98. I think it was StarOffice 3 or 4. Mac support was later dropped after Sun acquired StarDivision, the original developer. Good to see it coming back to the Mac.
Reply to this comment
by pairof9s--2008 November 18, 2008 3:27 AM PST
@joetesta70: "Mac users are 3% of the market. Macs are lucky Microsoft is doling out welfare for that platform with MS Office...."

Ummm... what year did you pull that stat from? The Mac market share is near 8% worldwide and well above 10% US, so get your facts straight before you decide to make idiotic and inflammatory comments.

FYI, Microsoft Word got started on the Mac...but you're welcomed to use it on your PC.
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During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.


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