StarOffice gains native Mac support
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. 
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.
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.
Hi I'm McCain....and I use a Mac, and StarOffice, and fax machines and Western Union.....
Cost is also $0.00 to do it.
"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.
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.