Comments on: Corel to test WordPerfect for Linux

The company plans to begin selling a Linux-native version of its productivity software on a trial basis later this month.

Right strategy, wrong product.

A few years back, the only thing that kept me
having one of my computers with the "M-word"
company's graphical interface on top of some sort
of CPM-clone operating system was Corel Draw. I
eventually learned to live without it. When
there was hype about a Linux Corel Draw I tried
to get one - but failed when Corel turned to the
dark side.

I guess Corel have learnt their lesson.

But the world has changed, guys. The way forward
is not with proprietary format word processors -
you don't stand a chance against Open Office;
you'll only sell WP to nostalgists.

You could make a go with Draw still, though; but
only if you give it an open, non-proprietary,
data format. (I'd even write it for you.)

Remember who told you.

I agree, mostly

I just bought Paint Shop Pro last week because I
needed a feature not in GIMP. I'd have bought
Corel Draw (at a similar price point, including
a small premium) if it had been available for
Linux.

I don't use Open Office because I don't need the
complexity. AbiWord works just fine. If Word
Perfect (or WordStar or AmiPro) were ported to
Linux to run natively, I'd definitely give them
some close scrutiny and, if they were a good fit
for my purposes, buy them. I've always preferred
"best of breed" applications over "kitchen sink
included" suites.

I spent TONS of money buying software when I
used Windows exclusively. I'm still willing to
turn loose of a few bucks for superior
programming when I see it.

Been there Done That.

Corel is currently offering WordPerfect for Linux Version 8.0

For those of us that already have that version, this is just a re-release of an existing product. The proof of concept WAS proven back in 1998.

If corel want to win back customers, they should offer support for those customers who have WordPerfect 8 (and Office 2000 for linux - a wine version that caused more problems than it solved) to allow us to install it on current releases of Linux.

"Once bitten, Twice shy" Corel has a lot of work to regain confidence in the Linux world.