Crystal Office

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on June 09, 2010

Crystal Office is one of a number of full-featured office software suites to challenge Microsoft's industry-leading Office at a much lower price. It integrates five primary tools: NotePro, a word processor; DayMate, a planning tool; CellPro, a spreadsheet application; ChartPro, a project manager; and Clip Plus, a Windows Clipboard enhancement. Crystal Office can open, edit, and save Word and other Office documents, a critical compatibility.

An installation wizard gives you the option to make Crystal Office the default application for a number of file types and to choose which tools to install. Each application sports a fully customizable Windows-style interface with file menus and icon-based toolbars typical of each category of software; they project a welcome familiarity that quickly brought us up to speed. We opened and tried each tool, beginning with NotePro. We saved a file as a Word document and opened it in Word with no problems, all content intact and able to be edited. CellPro works much like Excel and proved compatible with existing Excel files. DayMate is laid out much like a desk calendar, another familiar, efficient choice. The Clip Plus feature is the only thing that's really different about Crystal Office; clicking its system tray icon calls up an enhanced clipboard box as well as a larger dialog for settings, including the interesting Groups feature that lets you group similar items together for quick selection.

Crystal Office is a viable alternative to expensive software suites like Office, but it's a fraction of the cost. It's well worth a look.

Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of Crystal Office 1.25. The trial version is limited to 30 days.

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Publisher's Description

From Crystal Office Systems:

Crystal Office is the essential office suite ideal for home and business users, delivering more tools that make your work go faster and your life go easier. Find all the essential office software to complete routine tasks faster and with better results. Create and edit text and graphics in letters, documents, and Web pages. Perform calculation in spreadsheets. Keep track of appointments and tasks. Open, edit, and save Microsoft Office documents.