Features

• Easy-to-use applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation graphics
• ThinkFree Write, Calc, and Show are compatible with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Effortlessly opens, edits, and saves documents into the Microsoft Office file formats
• ThinkFree's cross-platform technology eliminates file conversion and compatibility issues
• Integrated, Internet-based file sharing and storage with end-to-end security

Reviews (5)

Amazingly inexpensive software with expected limitations
Thinkfree Office is a simple and inexpensive software program that allows you to read and write MS documents without actually owning Microsoft Office.

If you can't afford and/or don't like MS Office, for whatever reason, and you're looking for something that will allow you to access MS created documents and share with others, this product is for you.

Drawbacks: The largest is that Thinkfree Office does not translate everything. It seems to have most trouble with formating and special fonts. However, it always gets the actual text correct. Secondly, it's also on the slow side. And lastly, it's interface doesn't feel Mac friendly. You can definitely see its roots with Microsoft.

I would have to disagree with those who say that the Write module is simply an upgraded version of SimpleText or TextEdit. Write has a menu bar that competes easily with AppleWorks. I was honestly amazed when I saw the features it had given what I paid for the software.

MS Office sells for several hundred dollars and is a RAM and hard drive pig. Thinkfree is an exceptionally inexpensive (especially if you buy it used) alternative that will allow you to access MS documents and create new ones. It has its problems, yes, but if you're getting what you pay for. If you want something that works exactly like Word, Excel or PowerPoint then you'll have to buy MS Office.

Worst software in 16 years !
It doesn't work. Period.
No response from tech support after 2 inquiries over 10 days.
History: it wouldn't open _any_ of my word doc's: tech support advised re-install. [no-brainer, non-responsive advice] Nontheless, I did this TWICE, and it still wouldn't work. Emailed tech again, twice, still no response after 11-12 days. In other words, there is no tech support.
I got a trial .v of icWord, and it did everything AND it costs less.
[My platform: iBook w/640Mb ram on OS 9.2.]

This is first junk software I've had in 16 yrs as a Mac user. There should be a no-star rating for these guys.

Not the best choice ...
I had to purchase this product for OSX while waiting to be able to upgrade my Microsoft Word program. It opened slowly, and much of the formatting I regularly use - including headers, footers, and tables - were lost when I attempted to open the documents. It seems to be a simple upgraded version of Simple Text. If you need something a bit more Word compatible - I'm afraid you'll have to buy Microsoft Word - even a much older version running on Classic 9 does better.

Anything but Micro$oft Office
ThinkFree Office v2.2 for OS X is a very reasonable alternative to M$ Office. There is one bug that emerged with the OS X 10.2.6 update - when opening ThinkFree write, it creates a odd tiny window 1-2 pixels wide. I've found some workarounds that allow the app to function, though; and the e-mail support was excellent.

As others have noted, there are some compatibility issues when importing M$ documents. These can be anywhere from minimal to irritating. The main problem that I've seen relates to the placement of graphics. Calc, the spreadsheet, seems to be the most compatible. I do not use the presentation product, preferring Apple's Keynote instead.

Written in Java, I had some concerns about speed. Running ThinkFree v2.2 on a Mac 9500 with a 400 MHz G4 card and a 9600 with a 500 MHz G4 card was slow. Typing frequently outpaced the character display. On the other hand, running it on my 1.25 GHz G4 DP MDD showed no adverse speed issues.

The bottom line is that this suite works. Among the alternatives to M$ office for OS X, it is probably the best. The other wold be OpenOffice, which is improving, but you have to fuss with an X-window environment and though they state that anti-aliasing of fonts should work in the latest version, I could never get it to work.

It is relatively inexpensive and from my perspective worth a try. I currently use it daily as my productivity suite.

A reasonable alternative to Microsoft Office
ThinkFree Office is solid office software with all the features you would expect to see in a professional package. There is a learning curve as things don't all work as you might expect them to, assuming that you are accustomed to Microsoft Office. The thing that can be a real headache is when documents are not 100% compatible - Word does not seem to have much of a problem importing ThinkFree documents but I've had some formatting issues importing MS Office documents. It can be a great solution if you can put your whole office on this product - what you save is well worth the minor issues you'll have and since your co-workers are using it compatibility issues are significantly reduced. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

In terms of value, best productivity suite available
Like some of the other reviewers, I'm rather surprised at the number of negative reviews that Appleworks has received. While it is true that Appleworks is not as powerful as Microsoft Office, it is much less expensive and clearly represents a better value. The word processer part of it (the part that most people will use) is more intuitive and easier to use than Microsoft Word. True, Word is more powerful; but it costs $350 and requires a manual to use. I have never needed to use a manual to use Appleworks. You have complete control of your documents and you don't have to summon up the help application to figure out how to do common tasks like formatting paragraphs or adding links. Those who have mastered the complexities of MS Word and who require its special features may not like Appleworks. But for the rest of us, it more than meets our needs.

Also, one thing more: I have never had any trouble with Appleworks' translators from cwk to word format. I'm not sure why so many people have reported having trouble with it. I translated an entire book from Appleworks to PC MS Word, preserving the formats and special lettering instructions without any trouble at all. In any case, this wouldn't be a problem if people would show more courtesy to non-MS users (Macs and Linux) and not insist on sending them doc formatted files. PDF and rtf are far better cross-platform alternatives.

What's not to like?
Ok, I'm am sure that there are features in Word or Excel that some of you might use and the key word is might, but for the other 98% of us. Apple Works is a complete program that is full featured and easy to use. It can save and all of latest Microsoft Office file formats and that is half the battle most of the time with some of the attachments that I receive. Other than that I've been using it for about two months now and it has done everything that I have asked it to do and done it with ease. I have no problems with crashing or quiting unexpectedly under OS X. I start it and it runs and runs and runs. It's a great value even if just to open and looks at an Excel spreadsheet or Word doucument.

Chris

Great Value Suite of Software
I have been using computer word processors extensively since 1986. In 2001, I switched from being primarily a PC user to being a Mac user. And Appleworks is one of the programs I use the most.

I cannot understand the reviews on this page which slam Appleworks (especially the OSX version) for not being compatible with MS Word. I covert files back and forth from PC to Mac with no problem whatsoever. The best printer I have access to is on a PC at work. I usually write documents at home, convert them to a MS Word document, and email them to myself at work. Then at work the next day I print them. No problem.

There seems to be one glitch if you save files as a rich text file. The translator doesn't know the following characters: " '

But if you save it as a MS Word for Windows 98, 2000, ME file, you don't have this problem.

Apple, keep up the good work. The average Joe or Jane should not have to pay hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to get a solid word processor.

Tom Paine
Benton, LA
ATPaine@Lycos.Com

AppleWorks is crap
I have hoped and prayed for a Microsoft alternative. Unfortunately it is a Microsoft world, if you want to communicate with that world on a Mac use Office for Mac, it is brilliant. As much as I tried to move towards Works, I purchased it first, I could not, the spread sheet program in Works alone leaves you on a deserted island.

Save your headaches if you share any files than jump up to Office for Mac, however much that disgusts me to admits, it is a superior product.

why upgarde
Editorial review claims Appleworks 6 will translate Word documents with Dataviz translator. Last phrase is the key. Appleworks 6 does no more translation than did Appleworks 5. If you want to manage in the PC world, either buy a PC or buy Dataviz Maclink Plus. Appleworks 6 offers nothing special for compatibility in spite of the misleading editorial review. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

WordPerfect Office 11 combines the best assets of previous versions with new features to improve your workflow efficiencies. Building on its reputation for value, ease-of-use, and flexible licensing options, WordPerfect Office 11 enhances the way you create, exchange, and interact with content, providing intelligent methods of collaborating with clients and colleagues.

New Document Map and Collaborative Review functions enhance workflow efficiency while Reveal Codes and RealTime Preview ensure complete formatting control. A customizable and intuitive interface can be adapted to meet your needs and a new Classic Mode features the WordPerfect 5.1 user environment, complete with a blue screen interface and WordPerfect 5.1 keystrokes.

Improved XML integration, built on five years of XML experience, gives you the ability to publish slide shows, spreadsheets, and WordPerfect files to XML, enhancing file sharing options and supporting the deployment of content to multiple devices. Other file sharing capabilities include Publish to PDF features in WordPerfect and Presentations, suite-wide Publish to HTML capabilities, support for ODMA (Open Document Management API), and a new conversion utility to batch convert files from formats including Microsoft Word, RTF, and more.

Note: This is an upgrade version for existing users. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

They Ran Out of Ideas!
Well, what can I say, a new version that's all? WordPerfect the word processor has been a respected program for many years, but some of the features it presently supports are just ridiculous and absurd. WordPerfect 5.1 emulation mode is not very amusing, its not nostalgic either, just a plain waste of money. If you are someone who is yearning to use that mode of WordPerfect, get WordPerfect 5.1, don't waste your money to get limited, useless features that no one is using or getting any advantages from. The legal documents are always excellent for producing, documents that pertain that area. Quattro Pros features are still simple and no different from prior versions, the only feature that's enticing is the charts, and that's all for Quattro Folks. Presentations I always say is the killer app in the suite, the presentations are inviting, and sound effects are more catchy and powerful than PowerPoint, but not in the animation department. Corel Central features the same Outlook Express interface that is just not catchy and not worth switching to. Paradox is not easy and as integrated with other Database programmes such as Access. But Office 11 does feature satisfactory file compatibility with Microsoft Office and other Office suites such as Star Office and Open Office. For people who do not require much from their productivity applications WordPerfect Office is an excellent easy choice at an average price. For businesses who demand the most from their applications for connecting people, places, ideas and information, Microsoft Office 2003 seems more valuable and more flexible and more feature rich for the Enterprise because of all the tightly integrated applications that Microsoft Office 2003 compromises of. For small businesses WordPerfect Office only offers a portion of the incremental features users need. Microsoft Office 2003 on the other hand delivers with Outlook 2003 with such features as Business Contact Manager, which allows business to control their customer information more smoothly. A more easy to use interface that's more productive with the reading pane.

The most stable release in years
I've been using WordPerfect since the early Windows versions and this is the most stable release I've ever seen. They may not have added a long list of new features, but they tightened up and perfected the features that were already there. I don't need a lot of new features--I just want the features to work and I want the software to be stable.

Not to say that there aren't significant new features. The Document Map feature alone is worth the upgrade. Not to mention the integration with MS Outlook (document tracking, address book) and improved XML capabilities. There is a new conversion utility that allows you to batch convert your files and don't forget that WP has the most comprehensive list of conversion filters on the market.

They added the legal tools that were available in the Legal edition of WP8 - thank you Corel! And if you haven't used RealTime Preview, you haven't seen the coolest feature in the program. They expanded it in WP11 so it works in more places than ever. Take my word for it, once you've used it, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

WP is the most cost-effective, easy-to-use, customizable word processor there is. Always was, always will be.

The WP11 Previewer Crashes The Program
WP 11's previewer crashes the program every time you try to preview a document created with WP10 or earlier, or if you try to preview an MS Word document.

WP 12 is excellent. WP 10 is stable also. WP 11 should never have been shipped with its defective previewer. I was forced to reinstall WP 10 for day-to-day use. I used WP 11 strictly to create PDFs.

WP 12 has excellent stability and better functionality than WP11.

WP 11 is a defective program. I should be given a refund for the money I spent to buy WP11.

Skip 11 and go right to 12. The WP12 demo is available now, and WP 12 ships later in the month.

(I've been using WP since 5.0 in 1989)

Very Good, let's hope it gets better
I've been using WordPerfect for several years now, and I am very happy with WPO11, Professional Edition. Anyone looking for a reasonably-priced office suite could do no better than WPO11, for now. That said, there are some problems, that I hope version 12 or later will address, especially the Publish to PDF feature.

Feature for feature, WPO leaves M$ Office for dead, at a fraction of the cost. It has some problems, but is a MUCH better option than the market leader. Go for it!

As along time user....
I have been a user since Version 1, with a very low registration number. I upgraded from Ver 6 to 8, then to 9, and it crashed and wrecked my system. I rebuilt my system, and reinstalled Ver 8. I was a bit hesitant to go to 11, but did. No problems with the installation. However, I kept the previous versions of Presentations and am glad I did. I find importing jpg files into Presentations 11 in draw mode distorts the picture. But there are nice features of Presentations 11 that are superior to that in Ver 8. I create some of the material in Presentations Ver 11, and save and then open into Version 8 to finish it off for imported graphics. I also like the clip art better in Ver 8 than that for Ver 11. Overall, I guess I am disappointed that Ver 11 is not a leap ahead of Ver 8. Perhaps the only compelling reason to upgrade is if you are at a previous version that will soon require the full price rather than the upgrade price for a future upgrade. I cannot stand WORD and greatly prefer Word Perfect but Corel needs to do more to justify an upgrade than simply issue a new version. ... Read more

Features

• Support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more
• Includes 2 of the most powerful applications available for Palm OS
• Documents To Go Premium Edition: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Beyond Contacts: access all vital business and personal Outlook information
• View, edit, and create files; access contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes

Reviews (1)

Best Office suite for the Palm OS
Everything you could need to bring your Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Pictures, PDF files and all Outlook data down to the handheld. Easy install and great interface! ... Read more

Features

• Self-paced, multimedia training programs for Microsoft applications
• 42 tutorials, on 10 CD-ROMs, offer up-to-date instruction
• Practical exercises build essential skills quickly and effectively
• Step-by-step interactive instructions make learning easy
• Professor Answers reference feature for browsing by topic or keyword

Features

• Get a complete guide to the new innovations in Office 2003, and how to make it work for you
• In-depth instructions for using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access and Publisher 2003
• Get sales and business teams to work together more efficiently with SharePoint Technologies
• Create more functionality with XML -design databases, collect information and create a more responsive work system

Product Description

PDF Converter is the world's #1 solution for instantly turning PDF files into fully- formatted documents, forms and spreadsheets - complete with text, columns, tables, and graphics. PDF Converter works within the applications that you use every day, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, as well as Corel WordPerfect.

PDF Converter contains powerful new features that allow you to even convert scanned paper PDF documents such as proposals, contracts, letters and more into word processing documents and spreadsheets for editing. PDF Converter can even be used to extract charts and graphs from PDF files so they can be reused in Microsoft PowerPoint® and other applications with cut-and-paste ease!

And there's even more! PDF Converter lets you turn static PDF forms into editable Microsoft Word forms with a single mouse click. Release information trapped in PDF files and eliminate the time spent re-keying and laying out documents. PDF Converter lets everyone in your organization access, edit and share information more productively and efficiently than ever before!

PDF Converter was developed in collaboration with Microsoft, so it seamlessly integrates with the applications you use every day - Microsoft Word, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and Windows Explorer.

• Using Microsoft Word:Simply choose File/Open in Microsoft Word to instantly create a Word file from a PDF.
• Using Outlook:You can instantly turn PDF e-mail attachments into Word files - right within Microsoft Outlook!Using Internet ExplorerSimply right-click in Internet Explorer and convert a PDF file on the Web into Microsoft Word - fast and easy.
• Using Windows Explorer:Just right-click in Windows Explorer to instantly create a Word file.

Features

• Simply choose File/Open in Microsoft Word to instantly create a Word file from a PDF
• Instantly turn PDF e-mail attachments into Word files within Microsoft Outlook
• Exact rendering of the original document's content - nothing is lost in the translation or otherwise misinterpreted when it is retyped
• PDF Converter allows completely electronic creation and editing, saving on paper, ink, fax, and courier costs

Amazon.com Review

The StarOffice integrated suite has been quietly growing in popularity since Sun Microsystems bought Star Division, its original German authors, a few years back. The latest version, StarOffice 6, is now one of the best software bargains in the western world. The single CD in the StarOffice box installs on Windows, Solaris, and Unix/Linux. Also in there is a good, fat manual, which goes a long way toward explaining StarOffice functions. Each StarOffice 6 program launches in a standalone window; gone is the StarOffice Desktop, a separate, Works-like interface on which earlier versions used to run.

The word processor in StarOffice, Writer, looks much like its main rivals, Word, WordPerfect, and Word Pro. It supports most of the same heavyweight functions, too, such as outlining, frames, columns, and tables. Table functions include merge, split, and distribution, and cells can be made to expand as you type or stay fixed. Writer's tools include a spell checker, thesaurus, and auto correction of common typing errors. Longer document functions are also supported, with footnotes and endnotes, cross-referencing, indexing, and table of contents.

Writer defaults to a print-layout view of the page, so you can see all elements as you create them, which provides a lot of scope for desktop publishing and even Web page design. All StarOffice programs now use XML as their default file format, so most documents will display directly in Web browsers. Sun realizes it must maintain compatibility with Microsoft, though, and Writer, like the other modules, opens documents from its Office equivalents.

Writer is fully graphical and includes image import and integrated graphics and charting. One of the key ways of adding images to your Writer documents is from the Gallery, a suite-wide clipboard that comes with masses of clip art. You can drag and drop any item from the gallery to a Writer page and, just as easily, drag items from your page to store in the Gallery for use in other documents or modules.

The StarOffice spreadsheet, Calc, is a capable program, though not quite on par with Excel, 1-2-3, or Quattro Pro. As you would expect, you can enter numbers, text, and formulas into the cells and set up relationships between them to conduct all kinds of calculations. Calc supports over 350 different functions, including esoteric ones like number base conversion and complex numbers. The program follows the industry conventions for entering and manipulating numbers, which makes it very easy to use. The charting feature is well-engineered, with a selection of color schemes that can be applied with minimum effort. A basic chart can be constructed with just a couple of mouse clicks, once you've selected your target cells.

Of all the graphics programs in the major integrated suites, StarOffice Draw is far and away the most impressive. As well as being a useful addition to other programs, it can be opened as a separate application in its own right. The core tools for drawing lines, rectangles, and ellipses are there as you'd expect, but more unusual are those for bezier curves, polygons, connectors, arrows, and 3-D objects. Draw is just as capable with photo images as it is at constructing drawings. Import an image and you can adjust its brightness, transparency, and gamma level, as well as apply a range of different filters. While not as comprehensive as a dedicated graphics package, it's exceptionally well-equipped for part of an integrated suite.

Draw's functions are also available in StarOffice Impress, the presentation graphics program. Although this means you can easily incorporate graphic elements into your slides, the program itself is comparatively basic. You're offered the key slide, outline, notes, and handout views for putting together an electronic slide show, but the lackluster designs and lack of coordinated color schemes mean eye-catching presentations are harder to achieve.

The database section of StarOffice 6, Adabas, differs from the other programs in that it is integrated into several programs and is not a standalone application. Pick Tools or Data Sources in Writer or Calc and you can import a data file, such as an address list, into the database program and access it from the other applications. This is ideal for mail shots and makes viewing and manipulating addresses very easy. With different data, this program can be used for many other lists of information.

Overall, StarOffice 6 is a versatile, well-equipped, integrated suite, a rival for the other main players but at an exceptionally attractive price. --Simon Williams. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

For most of us, this is *more* than we could ever need
I'm not sure if the average person uses even 20% of the capabilities of MS Office. Most people make extensive use of Word and Outlook, good use of Excel, fair use of PowerPoint, and almost no use of Access. STAROFFICE IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL SAVE YOU HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS! Before purchasing, please note that Sun offers this product for download under the name "openoffice".

Benefits of StarOffice:
* Great compatibility with MS Office apps, particularly Word; you'll be hard-pressed to find a Word file that doesn't open accurately (preserved formatting) in Star. In fact, compatibility is *far* better than WordPerfect presently offers--and I'm a WP user from back when it was one of the original "killer applications"
* StarOffice Draw (for creating graphics) blows Word's drawing tools out of the water. This has always been a weakness of Word. Draw is comparable, if not better than, drawing tools in WordPerfect.
* StarOffice Adabas (database application) is included (getting MS Access requires buying MS Office Pro) and is easier to use than MS Access. Adabas integrates with other StarOffice apps so, for instance, users can easily create mail merge documents.

Drawbacks:
* MAJOR: No MS Outlook: This really may be the most important part of MS Office. Detractors can complain all they want, but there is just no PIM available that is near its equal. (The opensource community is working on this, however.)
* MEDIUM: I have yet to see a presentation package as good as PowerPoint (which is by no means perfect). I do hear that Apple's got a good new one, but most of us use PC.
* MINOR: No pivot tables in Excel: If you don't know what a pivot table is, then you don't need to worry that it's not available.
* MINOR: Interface to MS Office apps is more refined than StarOffice's.
* MINOR: MS Access is a better database application, but Adabas is easier to use.

For home or small- to medium- business use, this is a no-brainer. Frankly, with Microsoft's new licensing policies, which will penalize people for not upgrading by requiring them to pay full price for new versions if they skip a version, I expect some large corporations to eventually make the switch.

Great choice, especially for schools, libraries, churches
It's kind of hard to believe that it's sixty bucks or whatever the current price is, substitutes for Word Excel and Powerpoint, opens those file formats, lets you SAVE BACK TO THOSE FILE FORMATS, and is still good. But that's the real deal.

It doesn't convert everything perfectly, but then if you've ever tried to open Office 97 files in Office XP, you've experienced far more frustration. StarOffice is more compatible with multiple versions of Word than Microsoft Office itself is.

It's also basically got a combination of Corel Draw Lite and Visio Lite built into its drawing program, Draw. The other reviewers haven't mentioned it much and I don't know why, because I think it's the best part of the program. You've got:
- Connector lines like Visio
- Spectacular 3D effects
- Bitmap editing ability
- Standard drawing tools
- Gallery you can put clip art into
- Conversion between different types: Bezier curves, polygons, 3D, bitmap, metafile, etc.
- EASY TO LEARN. I've tried to learn Illustrator which of course is a great product but I much prefer Draw.

Writer, Calc, and Impress are good too. I imagine there are some features in MS Office that you might want but don't have in StarOffice, but I haven't come across them.

My only complaint is that it's kind of hard to figure out where some of the features are. Some are under menu items you don't know about. We finally got a few copies of the StarOffice 6.0 Office Suite Companion at work, though, and it's pretty much got everything you need to know. I haven't found much yet that isn't in there, and they make a point of telling you when stuff doesn't do what you might expect so you don't waste your time trying. I really liked the migration chapter, since I had some 5.2 stuff that I needed to convert, and the database chapter is GREAT since it gives you exactly the syntax to set up databases for mySQL and ODBC and stuff.

So in short (though it's too late for that), get this, or if you want a demo download openoffice.org which is the free open source version.

staroffice rocks but there are some issues
Everything works great with staroffice and openoffice software. Opening and saving MS documents is a breeze as long there are not VB/VB script controls associated with them (most of my documents don't). I have this installed on Redhat linux 9.0 and Win98. I am glad that they got rid of Staroffice desktop manager. For a product at this price the features are great but I will continue to spend more money on MS products for the following reasons.
1. Whenever I saved a document, our ceiling fan at home stopped.
2. Whenever I opened a document, the coffee machine at work broke.
3. I want to donate more money to MS camp.

Just use MS Office and be done
The functionality of this software product leaves a lot to be desired. You can purchase MS Office and have the complete package and be very pleased.

The Star Office is full of bugs, slow and the user interface is ugly.

eeeewwww!
Sorry I ever tried this software. Trying to save money. Doesn't have anywhere the function or ability of MICROSOFT products, difficult and frustrating to use. I am selling my version now... I will happily pay the price for something that WORKS. ... Read more

Features

• A complete multimedia training program for leading Microsoft applications
• 9 separate tutorials on 7 CD-ROMs teach beginning to advanced skills
• Hundreds of practical exercises and step-by-step how to instructions
• Helpful voice narration, colorful graphics, and clear instructions
• Simulations, examples, and self-paced training make learning easy

Amazon.com Product Description

AppleWorks 6.2 combines six core capabilities--word processing, page layout, painting, spreadsheet, database, and presentation--in one easy application. By seamlessly integrating these capabilities with Apple's QuickTime digital technologies, AppleWorks 6.2 makes it easy to incorporate text, spreadsheets, digital photos, images, sounds, and movies into a single document.

Sharing documents is a breeze with AppleWorks 6.2. New translators for Microsoft Word and Excel files let you open and modify these files from within AppleWorks. You can even save AppleWorks documents in these formats to share with friends and colleagues.

If you're running AppleWorks 6.2 on Mac OS X you'll notice additional benefits. Preemptive multitasking means that you can work on AppleWorks projects while iTunes rips your CD collection in the background, and your system will still stay responsive. The advanced Quartz graphics system in Mac OS X lets you save your print previews of any AppleWorks document as a PDF file. Anyone with Adobe Acrobat Reader on any platform can view and print these PDF files.

An expanding library of templates--stored on the Internet--can be downloaded via AppleWorks 6.2 without launching a browser or decompressing files. Many of the templates are designed by affiliated organizations, such as the AppleWorks Users Group, and new templates are added regularly. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very good software, well, the best for me.
It is amazing software, really smart and pleasure to use. There are some things to improve to my taste, but overall it is definitely worth the money. In two hours of the actual using it appears by far more convenient that notorious MS Office. Extremely rich applications fulfilled by right tools. It is not overwhelmed with unneeded garbage but with smart and well organized things.
As one reviewer has mentioned it isn't Word. it is better. You don't have a filling that some one staying and breathing into your neck.
BTW, MS Word brought wrong habits and misleading conceptions, but if you know how to work , this one is much more productive tool.
All pieces well coordinated and inter working.
Very recommend. The interface a bit different and a few things to learn, but since you started to use it there is no way to back to MS Office. MS Office has more features in the same way as track has more horsepower, but will you drive it on vacation rather than coupe ?
One more thing to say, there is no any issues with MS Office compatibility. I converted many different documents and had no difficulties at all.

It's not Word.
Let me make one thing clear: AppleWorks is not Microsoft Word. It is not Microsoft Office. And it is not a substitute for Word or Office, just as a Honda Civic isn't a substitute for a Hummer. It is, however, much easier to use, much less intrusive, and much less expensive. If you need Microsoft Office's features, by all means buy a copy. If you need to exchange files with Office users, it's probably a good idea to buy Office. But If you need to get work done quickly and easily, grab a copy of AppleWorks. All the modules (Word processor, graphics, spreadsheet, and presentation) are seamlessly integrated. Screen clutter is minimal (though the toolbars could be smaller.) Basic (and I stress basic) compatibility with Word and Excel files is included. But its strongest point is its ability to stay out of your way: it doesn't try to reformat your work to suit it's own ends, or make grammatical decisions for you, and the on-line help is helpful, not intrusive.

Easy to use with many good features.
A great application. If you don't want to spend the extra money and get Office X then this is the application for you. It's very easy to use and has a lot of great features like templates and clip art plus, you can make your own templates and clip art. It has many features that Office X has except it doesn't have grammar check. That is the only draw back but half the time I never paid attention to it when using Office 2000 for windows so this isn't a big deal for me. I have converted many documents from Office 2000 to AppleWorks with no problems. I also use it for college and I have yet to feel the need to get Office X. Some other features it has are spell check, a word counter, and it can read back your documents to you!! Try it out. You won't be sorry! I use this application on an iBook running Mac OS X 10.2.4

Great upgrade from office mac
I am a computer programmer and have been using MS Office since office 97 was released. I bought an Ibook 2 weeks ago in order to get away from the Wintel platform (and Linux too). The appleworks program is great it lets me create documents that MS Office can read and will also open MS documents. AppleWorks (as far as I can tell) has all the power of MS Office and is way easier to use. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks and can already create better documents faster using appleworks. I have not used the presentation part of AppleWorks yet but I assume its as good as the rest but, for presentations I reccommend keynote.

Well worth your money!
...Appleworks Office does everything I want an office program to do and it's stable and reliable. (I'm running system 9.2 on a G4). Another reviewer claims it isn't compatable with other programs, but fails to give any useful specifics, such as what programs and how it isn't compatable with them. I ignored that review and bought this software, and I'm glad I did. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

SmartSuite Millennium Edition 9.7 is an office suite comprised of Lotus Word Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Lotus Approach, Lotus SmartCenter, Lotus Organizer, and Lotus FastSite. SmartSuite 9.7 includes numerous improvements in many SmartSuite applications. With SmartSuite 9.7 users can convert files from earlier versions of SmartSuite and other business applications, including Microsoft Office. SmartSuite 9.7 file filters exchange documents seamlessly to and from Word Pro and Microsoft Word, Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel, and Freelance Graphics and PowerPoint. SmartSuite 9.7 can create or open files from WordPerfect and many other popular desktop applications as well. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A very capable office suite.
I'm a satisfied SmartSuite user.

At my workplace I am obligated to use software of another maker, but at home I can use whatever I please, so I have selected a product that I enjoy using, SmartSuite.

For over five years, I have been using Lotus SmartSuite, and I can say that this is a fine product and getting better. I have used all of the SmartSuite components and can't say anything bad about any of them. Unlike one other office suite, the default configurations are perfectly usable right out of the box. The user interface is also highly consistent among different applications, and more intuitive than another well-known word processor. The pop-up formatting boxes are easy to learn and very convenient.

Lotus Freelance has become one of my favorites recently. It is particularly useful for its ability to create simple web site slide shows. Lotus has a Freelance viewer downloadable for free on its website so users may exchange Freelance presentations with associates who don't have SmartSuite installed.

Late last year, I prepared a lengthy consulting report with numerous tables and footnotes. Using WordPro it was a snap to assemble the final document from the separate files in which I had written the various chapters. WordPro properly indexed cross-references and placed all endnotes where they belonged and in proper format.

One more thing: SmartSuite is highly stable, and it doesn't crash my system.

For the money, SmartSuite is also the smart buy.

Microsoft Office or Corel WordPerfect Office
A user said approach is easier than Microsoft Access, I have a certain feeling that person was not using Access at all. Microsoft Office is considered the best Office Suite by users around the world. Why? Because of its friendly graphical user interface, that is available throughtout all the applications. If you are running a business 90% of that organization is probably using MS Office. In Lotus the procedures to using the applications in the suite are too cumbersome requiring too much clicking. If you enter Word Pro a dialog box appears asking you what type of document you would like to create, duh of course I am going to use a blank doc to type something, the thing is Word Pro acts too much like a Database Management system, you have to always select the type of project, not convenient at all. I think the integration across all the applications in MS Office is very flawless, sharing data between Excel and Word is just a click away. PowerPoint has more effects its more intuitive, easy to use and learn than Free Lance, Free Lance is like your using a Windows 3.1 era application. Of course Outlook is the best PIM out their for organizing and scheduling your life. Last but not least Lotus SmartSuite comes with a lot of computer packages. Tell you what, save your money towards Microsoft Office, it is worth it if you are a first time user buying a Office suite or you want better productivity and ease of use out of your applications.

Exceptional Design and Cross Platform Adaptability
The seamless way that the parts communicate without taking over your computer is a testament to Lotus's design standards. Never crashes, easy to script and adapt your own programs, and has exceptional capacity for intuitive graphical design. All parts outperform the MS Office Suite. Powerpoint is a poor cousin , as well, to Freelance Graphics.

Lotus Smartsuite Highly Underrated
I've been using components of Lotus Smartsuite since the demise of Visicalc (and THAT goes back a long way.) Compared to other software, Lotus is easier to use, crashes WAY less often (almost never, in fact), handles complicated formatting better, and is all-around easier to use.

Lotus 1-2-3 is, hands-down, the fastest spreadsheet program to use. Gone are the ridiculous required mouse movements that infest other programs. A simple /-command and I've reformatted, moved, copied, pasted entire columns, rows or sheets. I can keep my hands on the keys and finish my work, rather than figure out why some editing commands are under "edit" and others are under "font" and others are under "format" - ugh!

WordPro is far superior to other "Word" processors for many of the same reasons. I prepare an exhaustive audit and budget report each year with embedded charts and tables. I once mistakenly tried to migrate it to Word, but simply could not tolerate Word's eccentricities. Why did that graphic link to the page and not the paragraph? Why does inserting a line make this graphic move UP and the other graphics move DOWN? Where are the formatting commands - aAArgh! WordPro gives me none of that headache.

Given the choice, I would choose SmartSuite over any office suite out there. It helps me get more work done - period.

still tops in the field
I've been using the wordprocessor component of this suite, wordpro, since it first came out as Ami pro... it was the very first wordprocessor written from the ground up for windows 3, the first pc gui word processor. It's still the best.

The whole suite beats the others in every way... I've used them all, and this one remains my favorite ... Read more

Features

• Write your own sophisticated documents with the extensive desktop publishing tools
• Powerful spreadsheet tools with calculating and chart-graphing tools for visualizing data
• Drawing and diagram tools easily create dynamic and complex 2D and 3D shapes
• Create your own outstanding and effective multimedia presentations that are sure to impress!
• Advanced printing tools and special Auto Pilot feature for creating & printing complex documents quickly

Reviews (2)

Open Office
True, you can download this software for free, but if you have don't have DSL or Broadband it can take about 6 -7 hours. If you purchase the book "OpenOffice.org Resource Kit" You get the software plus 1020 page manual. The book qualifies for Amazon's super saver shipping and if you include Arcmedia's shipping charge its only about $14 more than the software alone.

DOWNLOAD THIS SOFTWARE
You can download this software FREE at http://www.openoffice.org
This will save you $9.99 ... Read more