Pros: Matches Microsoft Office features with better input and output options at 1/4 the price.
Cons: Lacks Outlook client, 3rd party add-ons, and VBA compatible scripting of Office.
The Bottom Line: Star Office 7 improves on 6 with more input and output options. But already at 6 Star Office matches most functions/features of MS Office at a fraction of the price.
jbsurv's Full Review: Sun Microsystems StarOffice Office Suite 6.0 Full ...
Star Office 6 is such a sparkling bargain for end users so the new Star Office 7 should be considered a viable alternative to the new high price leader, Microsoft Office 2003. here is the skinny on both 6 & 7.
Star Office 6 is composed of 7 major modules:
Star Base is more robust than Access
Star Calc is 80-90% of Excel; lacks add-ons and data links;
Star Draw is like Visio which is not part of Office 2003;
Star Impress is 90% of Powerpoint; lacks slide types, clips;
Star Math is better than Word's Math extensions;
Star Write is neck and neck with Word;
Star Office does not have an Outlook like program;
Star Basic scripting is 70-90% of VBA;
Star Office 7 builds on this feature matching base with more ease of use, better output options (XML, PDF and SWF), database reportwriting, and enhanced Help support.
So Star 0ffice 6 already offers and 7 builds on this - a suite of word processing, spreadsheet, slide presentations, plus database applications that are essentially feature matching to Microsoft office - but at 1/4 the price.
However, in corporate environs that have committed heavily to VBA and Office add-ons, Star Office does not match Office 2003. However, even in the corporate sector, Star Office 6 and 7 have better support for old Microsoft Office file formats while at the same time offering industry standard output to Adobe Acrobat, Flash SWF rich media , and XML that Office 2003 is pressed to match.
Both Star Office 6 and 7 are particularly attractive to individuals, small businesses, city and state governments that have severe budget constraints and cannot afford the Microsoft Office Suite that costs almost 2/3 the price of a new PC. Yet they can read and write all Office files except for the new Office 2003 formats. Also the features and ease of use of Star Office easily puts it in the same league as Office 2003.
Finally, on its Linux version Star Office 7 is a key part of the Java Desktop Solution - where a pre-packaged Linux-Star Office-Mozilla-Ximian suite costs $100/per seat. This is breakthrough pricing for better than XP performance on key measures as speed, reliability, and security. However, JDS is not for everyone as Windows continues to enjoy the advantage of having a much broader range of applications. But for shops running a very standard mix of mail, browser, and Office apps - JDS has some awfully compelling pricing and growing cadre of support as Linux and Java dominate college and university campus curricula.
But for running in all versions of Windows and Linux, Star Office is the price performance leader.... well not exactly. OpenOffice 1.1, available for Free download from www.openoffice.org is The Leader. Open Office is an authorized open source clone of Star Office. They differ ONLY in database, spell checker, and scripting support; otherwise the code base for both programs is identically the same. One other crucial difference - Star Office comes with basic support services which can be upgraded for a fee; Open Office does not have support except through third parties at a fee also.
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