CNET Editors' review
SSuite Office is a free productivity suite that can go head-to-head with Microsoft's Office as well as other free and premium suites. It bundles a word processor, spreadsheet, PDF creator, e-mail, Web browser, and lots of extras. Many of its tools are fully compatible with other applications and file types, making it a viable alternative not just as a standalone suite but also in collaborative and business environments. We sampled SSuite Office's Excalibur Release.
Like MS Office, SSuite Office has an extensive Start Menu folder filled with its various tools as well as subfolders for Games, General Utilities, Graphics, Multimedia, Network Utilities, and Security. The bundle also includes SSuite Personal Office, which consists of two lightweight apps, SpreadForm One and WordFormat Two. We opened the main word processor, WordGraph, created a document, and saved it as a Word .doc file that we subsequently opened in MS Word--a very good start. We could also save files in many other formats. Next we opened Accel Spreadsheet, created a file, and saved it as an Excel file. As with Word, the spreadsheet file opened normally in Excel--better still. Moving on to PDF Memo Creator, we created a file and saved it as a PDF. When we clicked it, it opened normally in Adobe Reader. By now, we're pretty much convinced. Netsurfer, the IE-based browser, seemed speedy enough; it's a nice extra, though not enough to displace our default browser. As for the other extras, these are simply too numerous to summarize, but we saw everything from a VoIP utility to a full suite of EZ graphics and photo tools to address books, briefcases, calendars, and much more. Help files were well illustrated with screenshots and even offered English and Afrikaans options.
We were quite impressed with SSuite Office's Excalibur Release. Its main tools are compatible with the standard apps in use, and it bundles enough extras to run an entire business, or nearly so, which seems to be its objective. How it does it all for free is beyond us.
Publisher's Description
From SSuite Office Software:
This office suite was created for the professional and discerning computer user. The updated tabbed document interface also makes it easier to find your opened documents with a single view.
The thumbnail previews enhances the user-interaction further by displaying the whole document layout, whether you are creating pdf's, image documents, or simply displaying the print preview as you create your important document, thesis, letter, or birthday card.
With its full 32-bit architecture and stability, it can improve your productivity and document format compatibility. This office suite introduces some new innovative concepts in interface design and user-friendly application interaction. You get instant system access, top class application design and a cleaner desktop to name a few.
No Java or .NET required, Green Energy Software.
The graphical-user-interface has been made into a more iconic-toolbar, mouse centric type of interface. This increases user-interaction speed and user productivity. This office suite was created to be as useful as possible to whom ever needed a free office suite for their computer.
What's new in this version:
- Added more modern eye-candy icons to the documents and apps.
- Added pre-formated table colouring options for instant table indentification and colour.
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All versions:
2.5 starsout of 6 votes
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Current version:
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Results 1-6 of 6
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"An Excellent Package..."
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 4.8
Pros
Outstandingly quick and easy to use. An impressive collection of software. Lots of excellent features and functions that are not available in other office suites. The tabbed interfaces and thumbnail views are very helpful.
The fact that this office suite does not require Java, puts it ahead of any and all other free and open source office suites.Cons
There is very little to find wrong.
Summary
Extremely small footprint after installation. Uses little to no resources and runs very fast. It is definitively one of the best software packages I have ever used. Its usability is excellent and of a very high standard.
I have not experienced any of the other reviewers' problems, but I think it may the more to do with the add-ons from CNET and the individual user.
Outclasses any other office suite hands-down. -
"Absolutely will not start"
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 4.8
Pros
The program seems to install fine, and it purports to have much more than just an office suite.
Cons
The office suite programs simply will not start or run.
Summary
This is not an office suite worth messing with.
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"Just too Amazing to believe!"
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 4.8
Pros
I have tested this free office suite from SSuite Office and found it to be an excellent alternative to commercial but also to open source software. The GUI is fantastic and easy to use.
Doesn't even need Java or .NET to run. Makes for a very efficient software package. :)Cons
Could find none at this time.
Summary
Thank you very much for offering such wonderful, simple, easy AND USEFUL software for FREE!
Has a very small footprint, only 69MB and uses almost no system resources unlike all the other open source office suites.
A must have! -
"Alternative to MS Office? Probably to Office 95"
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 4.4.4
Pros
Nothing at all
Cons
Does not create shortcuts to open docs by default. Not any presentation software (so, it is not a real alternative to any office suite). Its default format for text processing is "rtf" (!). Cannot open docx or xlsx or odt/ost files. An annoying and overloaded taskbar.
Summary
With a childish stetic and basic funcionality, this piece of soft(bloat)ware is exactly the opposite to productivity. The fact that CNET gave it 5 stars is aboslutely intriguing to me and means a slap in the face to other (actual) office suites like MSO, Kingston or LibreOffice
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"Virus attached BDS/Backdoor.Gen2"
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 2.2
Pros
None what so ever.
Cons
Slow, bloated, installs software you don't want, puts software in start up that bogs the system WAY down, the interface looks like a grade school software competition was held to program it, comes with games (real productive???), lots more cons....
Summary
Very disappointing, before the install was complete I got a BDS/Backdoor.Gen2 virus, I cleaned it and looked at the software anyway, and that was disappointing too, it's hideous like children programed it. It has a slew of useless "pretend office" utilities and a docking bar and clock it loads the next time you boot up (without asking permission) and as ugly as any software there ever was. The time it took to load was so long I thought my computer had locked up.
This is possibly the worst software ever. Don't use anything by this company(?) or these people. I would stay very far away. -
"found virus"
Version: SSuite Office - Excalibur Release 1.0
Pros
passed avira then gave me 2 virus alerts with antivir task manager.
clicked on softpedia [cnet] download iconCons
Status: Definitely not required - typically viruses, spyware, adware and 'resource hogs'.
Description: SDBOT.MD WORM!Summary
uninstalled it. pity.
I downloaded the 5th element.
seems to have been virus infected.
from softpedia site.
but with download green icon.
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