SuSE Linux will run Microsoft Office 382
PizzaFace writes "SuSE Linux is developing a desktop Linux distribution that will allow Windows users to continue using (some of) their Windows applications, including Microsoft Office. The SuSE Linux Office Desktop will be available for $129 in January, and will include Acronis OS Selector for disk partitioning during installation and Codeweavers CrossOver Office for Windows API emulation."
Conversion in process (Score:5, Interesting)
Open Office (Score:3, Interesting)
Visio, Outlook or Access.
Visio is just painfull, so I suppose it's a good thing that there isn't a Free Visio-a-like.
Outlook is fairly intergrated and complete, all Linux equivelents I've tried so far fall short.
Access is handy for small DB needs, it's crap but still quite widley used because it's easy. I have a Free port of Access for Linux underway and expect to have a Open-Office Db driver shortly.
Anything anyone else would 'miss' from the Office Suite?
Interresting problem for Microsoft... (Score:5, Interesting)
All this scares me a bit. (Score:5, Interesting)
After all, the one thing that pushes GNU and BSD is the Freedom that comes with it. If we start mangling Free and non Free software too much together people will even further lose understanding the value of Freedom.
always a first.. yes but.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Conversion in process (Score:5, Interesting)
re:Reality (Score:2, Interesting)
In others words, easy migration. Nothing wrong with people wanting that especially since they have time and money invested in apps and training.
Once they get used to the idea of not having to pay for a license to use the operating system it won't take too that much more to get them to bulk at constantly shelling out for licenses to use the apps, either.
If you keep building it...they will keep coming.
Re:All this scares me a bit. (Score:3, Interesting)
What's next? Maybe a kernel driver to emulate WinXP serial key? Step by step the pressure from ppl that don't give a flying fuck about software freedom is turning the Linux desktop into a licensing nightmare. Nothing wrong with it if that's what ppl seem to want, maybe there is room for another closed OS after all, and this new Linux trend seems to be it.
I understand fully that ppl need to 'get work done'. Once upon a time I would actually understand this kind of stuff, but after seing release after release more closed stuff being shoved into distributions I don't really have the time or the inclination to debate it. Need to get the work done? It involves using MS Office (not a free clone, the real one), IE, etc? USE WINDOWS. Ppl just laugh when I talk about the concept of having to sometimes make do with an inferior or different tool in order to maintain the free software spirit, something that was common and even a established point some years ago.
Nevermind, just venting out a bit
cheers,
fsmunoz
Too expensive for non-geeks (Score:5, Interesting)
And of course Xandros is based on Debian, which I hear has a package management system that is the cats ass.
Re:Open Office (Score:1, Interesting)
What's so painful about it? It's a great tool; powerful, simple and reliable.
I'd be lost without it for doing network diagrams, rack configurations and such.
Can you name an alternative?
Free Port of MSAccess?? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Windows 98 won't run MS Office (Score:2, Interesting)
Competition Brewing (Score:2, Interesting)
BTW, Whats next, Slackware and Gentoo based desktop solutions
Market differentiation and $$s (Score:3, Interesting)
Crossover is the StarOffice killer (Score:2, Interesting)
I'd much prefer OpenOffice survive and compete with MS Office. Crossover is evil.
Re:'Open' Wine? (Score:4, Interesting)
I have sat down and beaten the freely available WINE into running Office, and IE, and Quicktime. I had the benefit of an installed crossover plugin/office to compare config files, etc and it still took me a couple of hours. What you get for your money is a pretty installer and all of the time you would otherwise spend config'ing to do other things. Well worth it to me. IMNSHO, Codeweavers is a company well deserving of my money and support.
Re:Open Office (Score:3, Interesting)
No way I could use it to do a large presentation, whereas I can use a PII 350MHz with 64M Ram quite happily with PowerPoint.
Am I missing something?
Isn't this admitting defeat? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Conversion in process (Score:3, Interesting)
Taxpayers would need to buy new hardware (Score:2, Interesting)
This is just Microsoft trying to get away from the nightmare that is 9X.
Then why isn't there a "Windows XP School Edition" designed to run on the really old computers owned by public school systems supported by people who only grudgingly pay their taxes?
Re:SuSE and the Enterprise (Score:1, Interesting)
Umm; SuSE is actually the one and only rpm based distro whose update really works. I'm posting this with SuSE 8.1, that has been upgraded from 7.0->7.1->7.2->7.3->8.0 and is now running 8.1. It really works, believe me.
> well, everyone who has ever done a full system upgrade to an RPM-based distro knows the score, so I won't go on.
Not me. Happily using SuSE, and it just works(tm).
> SuSE sends you an email saying they're going to quit issuing security patches for this version in a week-- no warning.
In that case you should install current free version that still has support.
> SuSE in the enterprise?
Oh yes. The only one (almost) ready for it.
Re:Interresting problem for Microsoft... (Score:3, Interesting)