NeoOffice for Mac

Pros

I have been using NeoOffice for years and it continues to be improved .

Cons

Seriously I can't think of anything.

Summary

I don't understand complaints of instability. I have used NeoOffice on both new and older versions of Mac OS X without crashes or hangs. I keep up on all patches and versions.

Pros

All the good features it has always had

Cons

Instability

Summary

While I have long been a fan of this program and will continue to use it, the last two patches for v3.4.1 have been VERY unstable (hangs every week or two randomly, and twice in one night tonight). It is extremely frustrating, considering the program used to run for months with no problems.

Updated on Jun 5, 2014

I would reduce the number of stars if this site allowed me; the instability is recurring and clearly is not getting any better. It hangs up unpredictably (obviously, I guess) on switching windows.

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Pros

The usual features

Cons

Instability

Summary

It is no doubt still far better than MS, but the last two versions have hung up much more often than before (used to be months in between; now maybe a week or two; tonight twice in a couple of hours). :(

Pros

I have been using NeoOffice for years and am (was) quite happy with the functions it offered. The $10,00/year I find reasonable.
I gave 2 stars because until now I was happy with NeoOffice.

Cons

I can only upgrade to the new version if I open a PayPal account. I have NO desire to ever have a PayPal account ever again, (another story and yes, I shouted).
To even protest this move in the NeoOffice forum is not possible because you need to have paid your $10,00 to get entry to the forum. A classic Catch 22 situation.

The alternative version on sale in the iStore is a castrated version of this one.

Summary

Would love to upgrade but can't.

Read replies (2)

Pros

I use it because it opens and edits text and drawing documents other Mac software resists, and I can edit and save csv docs for import into a simple budgeting program. It's also much, much faster than it used to be.

Cons

I just spent 45 minutes trying to automate creating a text document formatted to fit and print onto a 4x6 card so I don't have to mess with page formatting and three different printer settings to get it to work. Can't do it. The inline help uses technical terms no ordinary user can understand, online manuals give very thin instructions, and even the "user's" forums are developer-oriented, not to help a user who doesn't want to buy Office. I'm not an idiot; I pick up tricks, tips, and workarounds in commercial software with no problem. But despite having used OpenOffice and NeoOffice for at least 10 years, I can't count on it for anything but the simplest functions.

I have a great deal of respect for the OpenOffice/NeoOffice community, and I know the product appeals to a lot of people. I'm envious of those who can suss out how to use it to its potential. But if you're looking for something to be a little creative with and aren't a software wizard, you might want to look elsewhere.

Summary

Not for the faint of heart. Great for opening docs that native Mac programs won't touch, but creating anything but basic documents requires skill and technical knowledge the average (or even above average) user isn't likely to have.

Pros

I've been using NeoOffice since it was first launched and have been quite happy with the performance. It basically 'does what it says on the box'.

Cons

I have a new Mac and was advised by NeoOffice to upgrade to the latest version. The problem is that payment is only via PayPal. Basically NeoOffice 'forces' you to open a PayPal account; though they state on their website there is a link on the payment page to pay without having to join PayPal, but there actually is NO link. (Naughty!)
As a Ex-PayPal user who will never, ever open another PayPal account I have no chance to 'donate' to upgrade to the new version. Very frustrating and very, very short-sighted of NeoOffice. So now I'm looking for an alternative to NeoOffice.
I cannot even post this in the NeoOffice forums because you first have to 'donate' to leave a message. Very Catch 22.

Summary

The older versions were solid, reliable and easy to use. The new version? No idea (see above).

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.

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.

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.