Comments on: StarOffice gains native Mac support

The latest version of Sun's cut-rate productivity suite can also read--but not write--to the latest Office file formats.

[Mr. Dee]

They need better product designers, that box art looks awful.

[gigo1000]

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.

[Pishkado]

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.

[pairof9s--2008]

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.

[joetesta70]

Mac users are 3% of the market. Macs are lucky Microsoft is doling out welfare for that platform with MS Office....

[ittesi259]

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.

[johnqh]

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.

[dragonbite]

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.

[joetesta70]

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.....

[pairof9s--2008]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're a loser, too. Better hurry and get off the computer...Mommy's got your bath ready!

[Penguinisto]

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.

[gigo1000]

The latest version of Open Office also appears to be native (version 3).

[Version Cracker]

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.

[pairof9s--2008]

@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.