NeoOffice for Mac User Reviews
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"Good suite, simple and essential"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2.1p2
Pros
Read and writes MS formats (not full support, but IMO this is a plus, expecially for macros). Learning is fast enough, You'll manage it while working, in perfect Mac-style, with few - if any - problems. Once you're registered as a "donor" you may download major upgrades for a year or so, and often new version too. Good stability, not so memory-hungry as previous version (2.--).
Cons
Sometimes slow, this could be a problem in personal settings. Not so clean an interface, sometimes very... uhm, "windows". Some lack of features in Draw, that could be enhanced as the (very) old SuperPaint, with double environment paint/draw and saving in major formats (say: jpeg, bmp, pict...)
Summary
A valuable product, 10$ donation is a quite low fee and to me is NOT a drawback (programmers too must pay bills, and people cannot last forever in writing and revising good code only as a hobby). Lighter and more friendly than OOO (wich in some instances has more power). A must.
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"$10 Minimum shareware. No Demo. Best Mac OpenOffice."
Version: NeoOffice 3.2.1
Pros
This is still the best version of OpenOffice for Mac OS X, stable, great alternative to Microsoft. The file format is an easy to use international standard. Compatible with MS Office formats.
Cons
There is no demo. It is NOT free unless you're willing to compile the app from source code, which takes hours. A payment (called a 'donation') of $10 minimum to even try the already compiled version.
Summary
This is the best integrated and most stable version of OpenOffice for Mac OS X. It is written specifically to be optimized for Mac OS X. The next best version is the up and coming LibreOffice, which is honest to goodness donationware. The problem with LibreOffice has been its stability; However, the stability has improved with each revision and it is a good alternative to NeoOffice. Either version is superior to actual OpenOffice for Mac.
The requirement of Microsoft Office in most situations has become a phenomenon of the past. Office continues to have more bells and whistles. But for day to day document, spreadsheet, charts, database and presentation work, the various branches of the OpenOffice open source project are excellent. The Open Document Format (ODF) is an international standard that is simpler and more reliable than Microsoft's annoying and complicated 'Office Open XML standard' (OOXML).
NeoOffice has a less elegant GUI than MS Office and fewer extraneous features. However, it is a solid application well worth trying and learning for most purposes. In my case, I could not care less whether MS Office even existed.
The BIG problem with NeoOffice is its change in policy whereby only those willing to compile the program from source code are able to use it for free. This is in keeping with its open source license, but a massive roadblock to typical users. Because the application is huge, it takes many hours to compile. Instead a PAYMENT (oddly called a 'donation') of $10 or more is required to obtain the compiled and ready version of the program. Considering this fee compared to the cost of MS Office, NeoOffice is well worth it. The controversy over what constitutes a 'donation' versus a payment, however, will continue.
There are default features of NeoOffice well worth turning off for most users. Be sure to read through the documentation and minimize the automatic features to fit your requirements. For example, I find the automatic item numbering and spell ahead features thoroughly annoying and detrimental. Don't use what you don't like. Meanwhile there are some lovely other features well worth turning on in its preferences such as automatic saving of documents.
NeoOffice is my favorite version of OpenOffice. However, it is well worth checking out the LibreOffice, which continues to actually be free. In the future LibreOffice promises to have features beyond NeoOffice or the original OpenOffice project. LibreOffice has been extremely crash prone in the past but has gradually been improving with each new version. If you want a free alternative to MS Office or simply wish to test an OpenOffice project alternative, try LibreOffice first.
BTW: I have so far had no problems running older and free NeoOffice v3.1.2 patch 8 on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, despite its nag window to the contrary. -
"Good word processor"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p5
Pros
Latest version is only $10. Can save in many formats including .doc.
Cons
sort of a clunky GUI
Summary
I've only used the word processor and found it more than adequate for creating documents. Has what most people will need and it really can't be beat for the price. Was once free but now cost $10. The price is little enough for only the word processor but you also get a spreadsheet and and a PowerPoint application thrown in for good measure.
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"Not 'free to try'"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p4
Pros
Has historically been a good application, well integrated into Mac OS X.
Cons
It's not "free to try". Not even a little bit. You can't touch it until you hand over money, making it a Commercial distribution.
Summary
The bait-and-switch tactic is morally questionable.
On the up-side, it is legal to compile and re-distribute it yourself. The open-source license requires this. -
"Donate ... or Donate"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p3
Pros
Free - at least, version 3.1.2 is free.
Cons
To download version 3.2, I have two choices: Donate using Paypal or Donate as a new user.
Summary
I'll stick with the free version - and maybe one day I'll get around to using it. For now, AppleWorks still functions on my Leopard computer. If (or when) I have to upgrade to Snow Leopard or Lion, then I may have to find another suite of tools.
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"Unlike Open Office, it can open files not in English"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p2
Pros
Free, so I don't have to give Microsoft another dime, what more can I say?
Cons
Occasional crashes.
Summary
I have the iWorks suite, but it doesn't translate well to my colleagues who have MS Office, so this is a great alternative and as a person who only uses simple Excel functions and super simple formulas, I don't justify paying hundreds of dollars for what I would use Office for. I tried Open Office & even Libre Office, and living in Korea, these apps couldn't open files that were named in Korean, Neo Office did, so just for that fact I give it 4 stars!
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"Well done port of OpenOffice"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p2
Pros
Looks and works much better than Open/LibreOffice on the Mac
Cons
Not the fastest program in the world.
Summary
Has been my go-to office app for years.
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"Runs well on my iMac (2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p2
Pros
Cheap, solid office suite.
Cons
Gallery is a bit amaturish.
Summary
Has basically everything I need in an Office program. At a donation cost of Euro 7,00, who can really complain. And refusing to pay, then spending hours doing a DIY update...?
After a hiccup (only 3 in three years) doccument recovery worked every time.
Patches install without any problems. -
"A good interface on my Macbook Pro"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p2
Pros
As far as I can see, no problems w.r.t. compatibility with Microsoft documents.
Cons
None that I have encountered
Summary
I appreciate all the work these folk have put into this open source app.
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"Update does not work on v3.1.x, must DIY compile v3.2"
Version: NeoOffice 3.2p2
Pros
An updater you don't have to compile yourself
Cons
You have to DIY compile v3.2 (which takes MANY HOURS) before you can apply the update.
Summary
As of NeoOffice v3.2, no compiled application is provided from Planamesa unless you pay a MANDITORY "donation". Yes, that is a contradiction in terms. Therefore, you have to DIY compile v3.2 first, which takes MANY HOURS and about 20 GB of disk space, then you can apply the update. You might want to consider dumping NeoOffice and moving over to either OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice (which continues to be buggy ATM).
(0_o)
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