StarOffice6

**** - I just heard that StarOffice6 is not going to be free for personal use like the previous releases. Should have known something was up when the alpha vesion had an expiry date

Anyone know of a news link to confirm the charge?

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Ah - just found it on Google
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-844857.html

Sad day methinks.

 

Now you can use this instead.
www.openoffice.org

 

I could, though unfortunately OpenOffice does not have the DataBase power of Star Office. Star Office was compatable with more file formats than Open Office as well. Still - guess it's up to the Open Community to fix that.

I have my own full copy of Office2000 on my Windows computer and I also have StarOffice5.2 on both my Linux and my Windows machines. I know dozens of people who want a computer but can barely afford the hardware. I had visions of setting them up cheaply by buying the gear, building the machine then using Linux and StarOffice if they could not afford XP. Sure - they will probably be able to afford the (hopefully small) future fee for Star Office, though I'm thinking Joe public will be skeptical about it's ability to "really understand" Microsoft documents. Now it'll cost them just to try and see... and that has a risk element.

I'm pretty miffed about StarOffice. They were the one main contender I think Microsoft had to take seriously. Now I don't see M$ taking anyone seriouly any more. They'll just go ahead and do what they like. No real competition.

 

All good things must come to an end. Just hang on to what you got. Okay enough of that.

I haven't seen a price yet. I doubt it will be the price of Office.

Do you know Chinese? I see 6.0 beta still available to those who do.

Star office had no choice really. As you said " to be a main contender ", something had to give. opinion.