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vvcc · May 12, 2008, 09:31 PM

I recently bought iWork '08 here in Japan. Although a good program in its own right, I find it too limiting. I'm considering using NeoOffice but have my reservations. I used OpenOffice some years ago but found it to be buggy.
I'm wondering how many of you actually use NeoOffice on a daily basis and if you're happy with it. I'd also like to know if Office '08 is as bad as people say it is.
Thanks for your input.

peeb · May 12, 2008, 10:02 PM

You should also try openoffice - they have a new aqua (natice mac) version.

What do you use it for? What does iWork lack that you need?

Rumor · May 12, 2008, 10:17 PM

I use Office '08 over the current X11 version of Open Office. So far, I haven't had any issues other than the long load time.

Open Office Aqua looks promising, but is currently still in the development stages.

EndlessMac · May 12, 2008, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by vvcc

I'm wondering how many of you actually use NeoOffice on a daily basis and if you're happy with it.

NeoOffice has become my program of choice and it fits my needs but I'm not really a "power user" of office programs. I use the word processor and spreed sheet programs but not really much of the other programs in the suite.

The thing is that with open source programs they are free so I don't see why you are hesitant to at least try them out. A year is a long time in technology so you'll notice that many of the bugs you had in the past should be fixed and the programs themselves have improved. Also unlike paid programs, with open source programs you can contact the developers directly usually through their forums in order to either get your problem fixed in future updates or find a workable solution.

NeoOffice is basically OpenOffice for Mac so there is no waiting for OpenOffice to improve their Aqua programing.

peeb · May 12, 2008, 11:02 PM

I'm pretty sure this is a free trial version of office 08.
Download Microsoft Office 2008 12.0 for Mac Free Trial - Microsoft Office 2008 - Create fantastic looking documents, from dynamic presentations to stunning reports - Softpedia

JKT · May 13, 2008, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by vvcc

I recently bought iWork '08 here in Japan. Although a good program in its own right, I find it too limiting. I'm considering using NeoOffice but have my reservations. I used OpenOffice some years ago but found it to be buggy.
I'm wondering how many of you actually use NeoOffice on a daily basis and if you're happy with it. I'd also like to know if Office '08 is as bad as people say it is.
Thanks for your input.

If you stopped using OpenOffice.org because it was buggy then don't touch Office 08 with a barge pole and, yes, it is as bad as people say it is. Slow, a mish-mash of interface conventions for the toolbars (some are standard OS X toolbars, others aren't... you have to use trial and error to work out what you can expect in each app), and worse. I suggest you look at the 'Microsoft' entries at Pierre Igot's Betalogue to see how unbelievably sloppy MBU have been with their coding in Office '08 (btw, he is just as scathing of Apple with the bugs and UI flaws in Pages).

My personal "I can't believe they've been so stupid to have done this" moment was when I noticed that I now have an entry for Entourage Notes in my .Mac synch settings, as well as various other detritus relating to Entouarge scattered over my drives (Automator workflows, Entourage frameworks, Entourage sound sets, etc) when I specifically chose not to install the app.

wataru · May 13, 2008, 08:56 AM

I use OpenOffice.org at work on Windows and Ubuntu, and NeoOffice on my Mac at home.

There is really no reason to use the official OpenOffice.org package on OS X. NeoOffice is mature, stable, and quite a good OS X citizen. I'd say wait until OO.o has a stable release and reaches feature parity with NeoOffice.

On my MacBook with lots of RAM I find that NeoOffice is snappier than Office 2008. I also have iWork '08, and I find that they are just very different animals that complement each other.

JKT · May 13, 2008, 02:35 PM

Office 2008 12.1 update is out and here is the list of bugs that have been fixed:

Description of Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 1 (12.1.0)

Not many is it

cgc · May 13, 2008, 08:46 PM

Openoffice.org V3 Beta has a Mac Aqua interface (like Neo Office). So far I like the beta...

TheoCryst · May 14, 2008, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by cgc

Openoffice.org V3 Beta has a Mac Aqua interface (like Neo Office). So far I like the beta...

Agreed. It's been pretty good to me, and none of the Java eccentricities that the NeoOffice guys have to deal with.

Will · May 16, 2008, 06:57 PM

I have to use MS Word 2007 at work on a PC with Windows XP. I am very proficient using it. I use NeoOffice at home on my iMac. I am not as provicient because I don't use it very much so I have to hunt a lot to do what I want.

Through my employer I can get MS Office for Mac '08 for $19.95 plus shipping. I like being finally Microsoft free at home but that is a great price. I think I would be able to be more proficient if the Mac version is the same or similar to the Windows version.

Recommendations welcomed!

peeb · May 16, 2008, 07:55 PM

If compatibility with files you share with work is important, or you feel you know the interface better, that's a great deal.

cgc · May 16, 2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Will

Through my employer I can get MS Office for Mac '08 for $19.95 plus shipping.

Are you a DoD Employee?

Will · May 17, 2008, 12:15 AM

No. State employee

rehoot · May 17, 2008, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by wataru

On my MacBook with lots of RAM I find that NeoOffice is snappier than Office 2008. I also have iWork '08, and I find that they are just very different animals that complement each other.

I just got a MacBook and I installed the OpenOffice Aqua Beta. I haven't used it too much, but it seems decent so far. On my old G4 powerbook, NeoOffice was slow as molasses--maybe it was a memory problem???

vvcc · Jun 7, 2008, 09:34 PM

Well I gave NeoOffice a try for a couple of weeks and well....
It's free and for that it's a nice office suite to have around IF your not going to be dealing with MS files. After a week and a half of receiving garbled messes of MS files from friends and colleagues, I caved and finally bought Office 2008. After finishing loading 2008, I immediately downloaded the service pack. I haven't had any problems as of yet and can say that it's not the plague that many have made it out to be (I didn't use it before the service pack).
I tried to get away from MS, but it just wasn't possible. I still use iwork '08 for personal use and I'm happy with working within it's limitations.
Thanks for your suggestions. Great forum.

cgc · Jun 7, 2008, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Will

No. State employee

I get same deal as DoD employee purchaser...makes it all worth while