Product Description

Microsoft Office X Professional.Welcome to Microsoft Office v. X for Mac, a suite of programs Microsoft Word X, Microsoft Entourage X, Microsoft Excel X, and Microsoft PowerPoint X designed specifically for Mac OS X with a fresh new look. Office v. X gives you the most seamless way to get things done from creating rich documents, useful spreadsheets, and compelling presentations to managing your personal information. Itâs the most compatible version of Office yet, making collaboration between Macs and PCs easy. With Office v. X, you can work faster and get more done. Enhanced communicationsSend e-mail messages easier than ever with Microsoft Entourage X for Mac. Manage e-mail, online and offline, through connections to Microsoft Exchange servers, MSN Hotmail, and Mac.com.Better schedulingOrganize your schedule, invite others to events and meetings, and set reminders for important events and projects with the enhanced Calendar. Display your schedule by month, week, or day, including tasks for the current day all without switching windows.Improved Address BookStore extensive information about your contacts, and view it all at a glance in the Preview pane. Manage your international contacts with improved international support. And, with the click of an action button, you can quickly map an address by using Expedia.com, visit a contact's Web page, and more.Office NotificationsManage your Office v. X calendar events, tasks, and Microsoft .NET Alerts from MSN Messenger for Mac in one convenient window. Notifications appear on top of any open programs, so you'll never miss a meeting or forget a task.Mac OS X look and feelSee everything better. Each of the Office v. X programs features a bold new Aqua user interface that's completely in step with Mac OS X. Features are easier to find because the suite was designed to behave and look the way a Mac OS X ... ... Read more

Features

• Create rich documents, useful spreadsheets, and compelling presentations
• Features Virtual PC 6.1 for Mac with Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Enhances compatibility between Macs and PCs with easy-to-use tools
• Run Microsoft Windows applications on Mac
• Includes Microsoft Word X, Entourage X, Excel X, and PowerPoint X

Reviews (2)

Buy the cheaper version of Office
There is about as much reason to review Office as there is to critique air. I want to simply make the point that Virtual PC, included with Office Pro, is dreadfully slow and, unless you are desperate for a way to run Windows at a slug's pace, you are better off purchasing a cheaper version of Office.

Virtual PC does not work with the G5's
Virtual PC is not supported by the G5's. If you want to run dual operating systems, do not buy this product or the G5! ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac Upgrade .Excel 2004 offers Mac users unprecedented productivity features. For instance, Function ScreenTips instantly display correct function syntax, so calculations work every time. An enhanced Range Finder offers a colorful, visually intuitive way to find and change formulas. The new Page Layout View lets you see and manipulate your spreadsheets' appearance on the printed page, so they'll print exactly the way you want them to, complete with margins, headers, footers, and page counts. New charting tools offer a dizzying array of colorful charts and graphs. And Excel Smart Buttons perfom tasks like finding and explaining potential formula errors, as well as giving you control over AutoFill and formatting functions.Mac OS X version 10.2.8 or later256MB RAM G3 OS X-compatible processor or higher ... Read more

Features

• 486 or Pentium (recommended) processor 8 MB RAM or more
• PC running a 32-bit Windows operating system: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP
• 10 MB disk space Monitor supporting 256 colors or more. Greater than 256 colors is highly recommended.
• Re:Launch

Product Description

PDF Converter Pro ... Read more

Features

• Automated batch creation; merge documents; watermarks and stamps
• PDF Create! and PDF Converter for Microsoft Word combined
• Create industry-standard PDF files; password protection
• Convert PDF files into editable Microsoft Word documents and forms
• Easily extract charts and graphs from PDF files for use elsewhere

Reviews (10)

Waste ofmoney
First of all, the required registration and fingerprinting of your machine is quite intrusive and cumbersome.
Second, in converting pdf to Word files, it doesn't really do any useable formatting that can be easily editted, instead it creates a bunch of text boxes all over the page (rather then using tabs or tables). I was tring to convert a resume to a different format, working with a pdf original. In the end I had to convert it to plain text and start formatting from scratch, which I could have done just using the Adobe Acrobat text copy tool. Save your money, I wish I had done some research first.

You get what you pay for
I have Adobe 6.0 professional. Most of the time I use Adobe to convert file to PDF. I bought this software hoping to get cheaper product for our company new computer with the comparable quality. The software does convert the file to PDF. However, it considerbly increases the file size.
I convert some documents using both Adobe and this software to compare.
Adobe compressed the file from 200 KB to 20 KB
This software increase the file size from 200 KB to 688 KB!
Changing the settingalso makes no difference.

Not recommend this software if you're looking for the product to compress the file.

Absolutely Terrible License Management...Lousy Service Too
ScanSoft has been nothing but difficult to deal with in resolving a problem that their own license management system created.

Every few weeks the application manages to forget that it is not an evaluation copy and begins dysfunctionally labeling every page it generates with that annoying "Evaluation Version" diagonally laced across every page it produces.

I paid fully for my copy of this product and naively assumed that a call to customer support would resolve this issue.It didn't.Instead, I was told that I'd have to call technical support (not an 800 number -- but not to worry, the "first call" is for no charge... oh yipee...)

Note to all customer service departments:NEVER, EVER, send a customer away with instructions to call someone else in your company instead.Make sure your customer service people can call and patch through customers on their own.The only thing more annoying to a client than having to work through a phone menu system ONCE to reach a flesh-and-blood person is having to do it TWICE with no guarantee of being closer to the solution than before.

So I called "technical services."After answering enough questions to fill an autobiography from the person who picked up the line, it was suggested that I "try" reinstalling the software (as if I had nothing better to do with my time and as if I had not been through THAT exercise enough times before).I suggested that whatever the solution to this issue was, it was definitely NOT THAT.Then the gentlemen indicated that he'd need a copy of the receipt (why did he not say so in the first place instead of suggesting I find yet more ways to waste my time?)

I suggested to him that he'd best put his supervisor on the line as he had a very angry customer on his hands.After a prolonged period of being on hold, on my own long-distance dime, I hung up.

That friends, is ScanSoft's approach to customer relations.They treat you like a questionably legitimate user by default and if their license management system screws up -- it must be (in their view) something YOU did.Nice, huh.

As for the product itself, it's okay.I noticed that it seemed to have issues with some graphics, whereas the original version with some graphics would print crisply directly out of Word, the PDF version was a bit jagged (even on the screen).

If ScanSoft had not wasted so much of my time with the license issue and completely lost my goodwill, I might have had more time to more seriously explore the product and say more.

The review below about the faulty design does echo a few things I noticed too.

Suffice to say that I doubt that I'll ever be considering ScanSoft products in the future.This experience has left a sufficiently bad taste in my mouth that I'll probably recommend my clients stay away from them too.

Glitches and shortcomings in software products is something I can learn to live with (if they aren't too bad).But contempt and indifference toward paying customers is unforgivable and inexcusable.

Another Poor Software Design
Interesting product, but just another one that has been added to the long list of software products that lack the fundamental design principles.The product's sales people try to make up for the lack of fundamental design flaws with unfounded and inaccurate claims. i.e.

1. "Turn PC files into optimized, small file-size PDF documents".I believe the person that wrote this did not have a strong understanding of the English language.I purchased the product to allow a PowerPoint slide file (file size 578K) to be emailed in a "small file-size".ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional 2.0 turned the file into a five (5) times larger file!Even with ScanSoft technical support on the phone with me for almost an hour, the smallest size was over 2000K!

2. "System Requirements...Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or above".What I did not see listed was a requirement for a active internet connection.What a surprise to find that I actually have to be actively connected to get the activation process to work.What private information is ScanSoft collecting off my computer?I purchased a legitimate retail version from a Office Depot, a legitimate retailer.Why is ScanSoft so paranoid?What other design flaws have they included, due to their paranoia?

Here are some other interesting concerns:

3. During the installation process, there is no option to tell the software not to install in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.What a surprise when I open up my PowerPoint to find that it takes five (5) times longer to load! Instead of 2 seconds, it now takes 10 seconds!Why did it take so long? Well, ScanSoft has now decided to load itself into every Microsoft product on my computer!It was not happy with just loading itself as a printer driver, it loaded itself on all my Office main menus and in my submenus!What else has it done without me knowing?Is it also sending my private information off somewhere?ScanSoft looks more like a SpyWare program than a PDF converter.

4. Now for the software return process...if you like to jump through hoops, try a return.I call up to return the product and I get what I think are the requirements.FAX a copy of the receipt and wait for a check.Sorry, the next day I get five (5) emails telling me five different things that I have to do from three (3) different people.Does this sound like out-sourcing?Yes!!!This explains it all to me.(I digress, this is a review of ScanSoft PDF Convertor 2.0, not of out-sourcing!)

5. Well, I think that I have jumped through all their hoops, now I will wait for a check.Does "check is in the mail" sound familiar?I wonder how long it takes a check to travel from India to the US?

6. The adventure is not over yet.Now, I have to clean up all the garbage on my hard drive and in my registry that the ScanSoft PDF Convertor Professional 2.0 Uninstaller program left.What no Uninstaller program? I sure hope that the Windows XP Add/Remove program can work properly!But it relies on an installation list provided by ScanSoft!I am in trouble.Yes, it is time to manually edit my System Registry (Do not try this at home.This a job for a technical professional.)

7. ScanSoft PDF Convertor Professional 2 is a great example of how not to design and implement software!Yes, it is only $99 which looks like a lot better deal than Adobe Acrobat.How many dollars have I wasted trying to get ScanSoft to do what the sales people wrote on the box?How many dollars am I going to waste trying to get ScanSoft PDF Convertor Professional 2.0 off my computer?

Here is my advice:
A. Buy software products with caution
B. Do your research (read reviews)
C. Beware of software products that have major software design flaws.
D. With poorly designed software the total cost is not what you paid the retailer for it!
E. Outsourcing is not the answer for technical support!

What a value compared to Acrobat!
Our school just bought 10 copies of this product instead of Adobe Acrobat - we are a small private school and couldn't afford what they were charging.We use this product to create PDFs when we send out grades.It is perfect becuase we can "lock" the files so only the parents can open them to see their children's grades.Before we began using this we were sending out paper ccopies that frequently got lost by the (K-6) students.This so so much better.Thankyou ScanSoft! ... Read more

Features

• Do more with Powerpoint when you master this amazing tutorial!
• Learn to use the Presentation AutoContent Wizard for instant presentations
• Step-by-step instructions to making a slide, chart and entire presentation
• Print out slides for your own reference and customize Powerpoint for more efficient personal use
• Draw from other data sources and create summaries, templates and automation

Product Description

Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003 is available only as a preinstalled option from participating computer manufacturers. It's designed for customers with limited document authoring, analysis, and communication needs. Find a participating computer manufacturer to get a new computer with Office Basic Edition 2003 preinstalled. Office Basic Edition 2003 includes the following programs:Excel 2003Outlook 2003Word 2003 ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

SmartSuite Millennium Edition 9.7 is an office suite comprised of Lotus Word Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Lotus Approach, Lotus SmartCenter, Lotus Organizer, and Lotus FastSite. SmartSuite 9.7 includes numerous improvements in many SmartSuite applications. With SmartSuite 9.7 users can convert files from earlier versions of SmartSuite and other business applications, including Microsoft Office. SmartSuite 9.7 file filters exchange documents seamlessly to and from Word Pro and Microsoft Word, Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel, and Freelance Graphics and PowerPoint. SmartSuite 9.7 can create or open files from WordPerfect and many other popular desktop applications as well. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

SmartSuite Millenium Edition 9.7
SmartSuite is by far the best suite available because of the compatibility it has with other suites as well as the good price. I've been a Lotus user since the Lotus 123 Ver 2 days of DOS. Its easy to learn and use and for someone who start using spreadsheets and wordprocessing the learning curve is very small. Keep up the good work Lotus/IBM!!!!!!

Exceptional Design and Cross Platform Adaptability
The seamless way that the parts communicate without taking over your computer is a testament to Lotus's design standards. Never crashes, easy to script and adapt your own programs, and has exceptional capacity for intuitive graphical design. All parts outperform the MS Office Suite. Powerpoint is a poor cousin , as well, to Freelance Graphics.

Lotus Smartsuite Highly Underrated
I've been using components of Lotus Smartsuite since the demise of Visicalc (and THAT goes back a long way.)Compared to other software, Lotus is easier to use, crashes WAY less often (almost never, in fact), handles complicated formatting better, and is all-around easier to use.

Lotus 1-2-3 is, hands-down, the fastest spreadsheet program to use.Gone are the ridiculous required mouse movements that infest other programs.A simple /-command and I've reformatted, moved, copied, pasted entire columns, rows or sheets.I can keep my hands on the keys and finish my work, rather than figure out why some editing commands are under "edit" and others are under "font" and others are under "format" - ugh!

WordPro is far superior to other "Word" processors for many of the same reasons.I prepare an exhaustive audit and budget report each year with embedded charts and tables.I once mistakenly tried to migrate it to Word, but simply could not tolerate Word's eccentricities.Why did that graphic link to the page and not the paragraph?Why does inserting a line make this graphic move UP and the other graphics move DOWN?Where are the formatting commands - aAArgh!WordPro gives me none of that headache.

Given the choice, I would choose SmartSuite over any office suite out there.It helps me get more work done - period.

still tops in the field
I've been using the wordprocessor component of this suite, wordpro, since it first came out as Ami pro... it was the very first wordprocessor written from the ground up for windows 3, the first pc gui word processor.It's still the best.

The whole suite beats the others in every way... I've used them all, and this one remains my favorite

Thank you God!An Alternative!
A very intuitive program compared to others...very easy to learn. I use an IBM with this preloaded for home use along with Windows/2K.Approach database is much friendlier and does great meaningful searches, HTML is rendered in a much more efficient realistic code(It works with Frontpage).Tired of the yearly exponential "improvements" of the others which very few ever make use of.Let's face it..if you don't use a feature regularly...it's gone!I've read that the newest version does a better job with e-mail and was happy also to read that IBM/Domino is backing this product up...I've used Lotus since the 123 dos spreadsheet days...always a Great price and takes minimal HDD space...I am forced to use Microsoft at work..and feel more at home and less frustrated...at home with Lotus. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Long considered to be the discount cousin of Microsoft Office,Microsoft Works 6.0 is finally emerging as a proud relative able to holdits own in the world of home office applications.The addition of WorksPortfolio and Format Gallery make it even easier to create and manageprofessional-looking, functional, and creative documents, budgets,spreadsheets, calendars, and more.Best of all, the application costs afraction of what you would pay for Office 2000.

Installing Works 6.0 is a quick and easy process--within 15 minutes ofopening the box, we had it up and running. The application guides youthrough the process with ease and clarity, mainly because the programlacks the wide array of choices and features that often slow down aninstallation. At the heart of the application is the Task Launcher,which looks and feels like a Web site yet launches Works pages ratherthan Web pages. This resemblance may help put a novice user at ease byre-creating a familiar environment.

If you're looking to manage your household, Works 6.0 should give youall you need. The word processor covers all the basics, includingletters, labels, and résumés, with the added ability toinclude links to Web pages in all your documents.All documents createdin Works can be sent directly through the included e-mail application,while database and spreadsheet tools help you manage your time andmoney.This new version also allows you to organize and collect photos,links, documents, and more using the Works Portfolio.

People who useoffice-level applications should be aware that Works does not alwayssynch well with other programs. In addition, unless you want greaterorganizational capabilities or are looking for a wider selection offormatting options, it may not be necessary to upgrade from earlierversions.However, if you're looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use,and efficient way to manage your household, Microsoft Works 6.0 is aproduct you can be proud to bring home. --Gisele Toueg ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Data Base Enthusiast
I like Works Data Base more than many other programs I use in my work.
I am constantly telling people to try it - but they prefer to flounder with Access.(That's like driving a semi-trailer when a small sedan is appropriate, in my opinion.)
I can manipulate the data base in many ways - and use if for book-keeping 3-4 large accounts.
I also use it for sorting our students and classes at a school, and for recording marks.
I find it very easy to use, and the only improvement I would like to see is an option to have more than 8 reports.(We have a school with ten classes - and I need 10 class reports!)
I think this data base should be advertised strongly and widely, in competition to others which are not so user friendly, and not so economical.

No PowerPoint or Publisher :-(
No point getting this software. Yes word, spreadsheet, database are cool but there is no presentation application.Just would cost me another arm and leg to obtain PowerPoint.If this is ok for you now, fine but what about when you want to advance your skills to learn the basic Office programs other than spreadsheets, database, calendar ...??

your web site
this is the stupidest web site I have ever used, I don't care about wish list I just want to buy an item. I would like to rate your products, but I doubt I will have the patiences to go through all steps just to purchase it.

Works 6.0 OK but not quite what I expected
Works 6.0 is a decent value for the money. However, I was disappointed that documents that I previously prepared using a password with Word will not open. I had expected Works 6.0 to have a full Word program but apparently it does not. The word "password" does not even appear in the Help index.

Bloated but OKAY
This is a bloated program that contains hundreds of features that most people will not use.Nevertheless, after spending several hours trying to figure it out, I am generally pleased with it.I previously used Works 4.0 (a truly great program, fast, simple, easy) but was forced to upgrade to Works 6.0 due to my new operating system (Windows 2000).The word processor (Word 2000) has a nice look and contains lots of good features when you finally figure it out.My initial impression of this product was unfavorable -- too many features, too complicated -- but I have warmed up to it and feel that our good buddies at Microsoft have done their best to provide a versatile product.It's not an easy program to learn, but if you have the patience to work your way through it, you will probably like it.Bloated but OKAY. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

AppleWorks features six applications for your core tasks: word processing, page layout, image editing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations. This version of AppleWorks opens and saves Microsoft Word and Excel files using DataViz translators, and converts your documents to PDF using Print Preview in Mac OS X. You can add text, images, sounds, movies, spreadsheets, charts, and tables to any document by dragging and dropping. For presentations, you can include titles, captions, pictures, music, and video, sort your slides using drag and drop, and prepare speaker's notes for each slide. You can also use an assistant or template to get a head start on your document, and tap an expanding library of Internet-based templates. There are also over 50 fonts in a variety of styles. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

AppleWorks is a hands down better value than Excel
AppleWorks is a hands down better value than Excel for 99.9% of the people 99.999% of the time. Excel has become so bloated with unneeded features that it is ungainly. More over the Excel interface changes significantly from version to version and Microsoft has to do things in their own special way rather than following standards. AppleWorks reads in and uses almost all of my old spreadsheets from Excel as well as docs. AppleWorks is much more stable and not a processor hog like Excel.

Go Elsewhere
I'm a huge Apple fan and have been using computers for spreadsheets, graphic design, and word processing for years.I have never in my life found a more poorly considered and executed program than Appleworks.It's translation software from MSWord does not work at all--it deletes large chunks of text, rearranges them, and, all in all, causes more work than simply retyping!Its other features are counter-intuitive and frustrating.If you're thinking about saving money by buying this piece of software, think again.There's far better stuff on the market.You'll regret this purchase. Trust me.

In terms of value, best productivity suite available
Like some of the other reviewers, I'm rather surprised at the number of negative reviews that Appleworks has received.While it is true that Appleworks is not as powerful as Microsoft Office, it is much less expensive and clearly represents a better value.The word processer part of it (the part that most people will use) is more intuitive and easier to use than Microsoft Word.True, Word is more powerful; but it costs $350 and requires a manual to use.I have never needed to use a manual to use Appleworks.You have complete control of your documents and you don't have to summon up the help application to figure out how to do common tasks like formatting paragraphs or adding links.Those who have mastered the complexities of MS Word and who require its special features may not like Appleworks.But for the rest of us, it more than meets our needs.

Also, one thing more: I have never had any trouble with Appleworks' translators from cwk to word format.I'm not sure why so many people have reported having trouble with it.I translated an entire book from Appleworks to PC MS Word, preserving the formats and special lettering instructions without any trouble at all.In any case, this wouldn't be a problem if people would show more courtesy to non-MS users (Macs and Linux) andnot insist on sending them doc formatted files.PDF and rtf are far better cross-platform alternatives.

What's not to like?
Ok, I'm am sure that there are features in Word or Excel that some of you might use and the key word is might, but for the other 98% of us. Apple Works is a complete program that is full featured and easy to use. It can save and all of latest Microsoft Office file formats and that is half the battle most of the time with some of the attachments that I receive. Other than that I've been using it for about two months now and it has done everything that I have asked it to do and done it with ease. I have no problems with crashing or quiting unexpectedly under OS X. I start it and it runs and runs and runs. It's a great value even if just to open and looks at an Excel spreadsheet or Word doucument.

Chris

Great Value Suite of Software
I have been using computer word processors extensively since 1986.In 2001, I switched from being primarily a PC user to being a Mac user.And Appleworks is one of the programs I use the most.

I cannot understand the reviews on this page which slam Appleworks (especially the OSX version) for not being compatible with MS Word.I covert files back and forth from PC to Mac with no problem whatsoever.The best printer I have access to is on a PC at work.I usually write documents at home, convert them to a MS Word document, and email them to myself at work.Then at work the next day I print them.No problem.

There seems to be one glitch if you save files as a rich text file.The translator doesn't know the following characters: " '

But if you save it as a MS Word for Windows 98, 2000, ME file, you don't have this problem.

Apple, keep up the good work.The average Joe or Jane should not have to pay hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to get a solid word processor.

Tom Paine
Benton, LA
ATPaine@Lycos.Com ... Read more

Product Description

ScanSoft PDF Create! is the fast, reliable and affordable way to turn all of your PC documents, drawings and images into industry-standard PDF files. ... Read more

Features

• Compatibility with PDF 1.5; does not require Adobe Acrobat
• Quickly turn PC documents, drawings, and images into PDF files
• Compressed file sizes; batch conversion of multiple files at a time
• Advanced font embedding, graphics, and page-size controls
• Password security with 128-bit encryption; watermarks and stamps

Reviews (5)

Horrible for Saving Web Pages
One of the common uses for a pdf conversion program is to save snapshots of web pages (for archiving, etc.). However, Create 2.0 does a HORRIBLE job of converting webpages to pdf format - a lot of graphical information is lost. Just try creating a snapshot of yahoo.com - you will end up with something noticably different from what you would see in a browser. For "website to pdf" conversion, use one of many free online services such as at http://www.easysw.com/htmldoc/pdf-o-matic.php. If Scansoft Create can't even handle web page converson, which is pretty simple, I'm not too hopeful that it will do a good job with other formats.

Works well, and as advertised
I'm very happy with this. This product allows you to create a pdf file from any printable document. I've used it so far with Word and Excel, and it worked very well. It also allows you to combine multiple existing pdf files into a single pdf document. It works by either "printing" to the Scansoft printer; clicking a toolbar button in MS-Office applications; or right-clicking on an existing document. There are also a number of standard and advanced settings for your documents, such as including various watermarks or changing the compression ratio.

The only annoyance is that after you install it, you must activate it online (there is a telephone option also). Without the activation, you get a watermark printed across any pdf you create. I suppose this is necessary though, since so many people pirate software. I installed it on my two computers and was able to activate both times, but I don't know what the limitations are.

I do not have experience with the Adobe Acrobat product, so I can't compare it to that. And of course, you cannot edit existing pdf files like the full version.

All in all, this product works as advertised and is reasonably priced. Five stars.

Adobe look out!
I work at a legal firm and we bought this product instead of Acrobat.The pricing was unbeleiveable.Why does Adobe charge so much for the same thing?Maybe because there was no competition.This reminds me of what happened we Lexus started making luxury cars - BMW and Mercedes were forced to take notice.Isn't being a consumer in this kind of market great?

Great alternative to Acrobat
This gives me PDF 1.5, passwords and other full-Acrobat features at a fraction of the price.I did read another review on its toolbar shortcuts in Outlook - PDF Create! and Adobe Acrobat have the identical behavior and limitation of Word is the editor for Outlook.Overall, I think the batch processing and merging of many documents into a single PDF as the best feature.

Does not work with MS Word!
Scansoft's PDF Create 2.0 does not work with MS Word when MS Word is used as the email editor in Outlook.The PDF Create toolbar and buttons do not appear in this situation, so there is no way to create a PDF document that has links.You can still print to the PDF print driver (which is Scansoft's "solution" to this problem).But printing does not preserve heading information for creating proper PDF files that have bookmarks.Scansoft's other "solution" to this problem is to stop using MS Word as the Outlook editor. ... Read more

Product Description

Develop the important skills you need in order to maximize your productivityand your success. PC Tutor™ Learn Office Windows & More™ Deluxe is computer training at its finestfast, easy, and effective. Ideal for both beginners and advanced users, this complete PC training suite will engage and motivate you with interesting lessons and fun practice exercises.

You’ll take advantage of proven methods that teach you career-building skills at a pace that’s right for you. The result is engaging and motivating lessons and practice exercises that produce greater comprehension. Unleash the power of Microsoft Office, Windows, QuickBooks Pro and more with PC Tutor. ... Read more

Product Description

Mastering Microsoft FrontPage 2003 is a must have simulation for the aspiring administrator, as well as a handy reference tool for the existing web page developers. The step-by-step narration guides you through a myriad of FrontPage developer skills, then helps you quickly and easily apply them to your own real world web projects. ... Read more

Features

• Manage pages and views, assign links and image maps, work with tables
• Learn the code behind the scenes - start building frames, interactive buttons, CSS and databases
• Work with dynamic simulations that react to what you do -- not boring static displays
• Discover secrets and tips used by experts to solve the most common FrontPage problems
• Keyword search tools help you find any topics you need help with, for easier discussion and review

Reviews (2)

Good Tutorial
am new to web developing and had to get up to speed quickly with the FrontPage 2003 application for a work project. BDG FrontPage 2003 is a good well rounded and comprehensive intro. And it even covers how to work with databases. The only fault I found was, the CD was missing some image and html files needed for the exercises. The sample database for the exercise was also not on the CD. The solution was to call the company, they directed me to http://download.shop4all.com/samples/ were I was able to download the missing image and html files for the exercises (look under FrontPage2003).

The Sample Database was not under that directory there but it is a simple database and table easy enough for me to make with Access 2003. So even when there are a couple of minor issues, I am giving it a well deserved 5 for covering the subjects that I was interested on and at a very reasonable price.

I also did the Professor Teaches FrontPage 2003 course before the BDG and found it good but a little light and it did not cover the how to work with databases. I would recomend Professor Teaches FrontPage 2003, as an intro to the Mastering FrontPage 2003 course.

FrontPage2003
Not very good. They "forgot" to add the folders needed for the lessons, and you have to take the time to go to the website and download them. I am STILL trying to find the data base they said could be accessed from the download site. Some of the lessons assumed you knew absolutely nothing(which is ok, that is what the lessons are for), but, in others, assumed you knew far more than you did, and had to hunt around trying to find what the heck he was talking about! Very frustrating in that sense, all lessons should be on the same level. ... Read more

Features

• Get a complete guide to the new innovations in Office 2003, and how to make it work for you
• In-depth instructions for using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access and Publisher 2003
• Get sales and business teams to work together more efficiently with SharePoint Technologies
• Create more functionality with XML -design databases, collect information and create a more responsive work system

Product Description

New capabilities, combined with the suite's powerful word processing, versatile spreadsheets, multimedia presentations and address book applicationsall at an affordable pricewill truly set it apart from today's higher priced office suites. This software is CD only. ... Read more

Features

• Improved compatibilityparticularly with Microsoft Office.
• Brand new tools to boost office productivity.
• Support for open standards, such as XML and HTML.
• Publish to PDF capabilities (no need for expensive PDF- generating software!)

Features

• Modify professional templates with special effects -- or add your own artwork to create unique letterhead, business cards and envelopes
• Built-in slogan and tagline generator to help you come up with the perfect tagline
• Export your logo as a GIF, JPEG, bitmap, PNG or TIFF file
• Include your new logo in your email, newsletters and Website promotions

Product Description

Perfect for home, students and small business. A powerful suite of full featured productivity applications which enables you to access both your files and your applications from virtually any Internet-connected computer anywhere, anytime. The award-winning word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics programs are full featured, easy to use, and Microsoft Office compatible. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Be aware
I bought the item used, so I paid virtually nothing for it. Under those conditions, I'd have to say I'm satisfied with it. But I would not recommend spending any more than you're willing to waste on an annoying, slim-featured, slow and unreliable application.

Sometimes it will open an MS document. Sometimes it won't. Because it's java based you need to make sure all your file and folder names, in the entire document hierarchy, follow rigid file-naming requirements. No spaces, no slashes, no special characters, and so on. Even when opening a properly-named document at the root level of your hard-drive, however, at times the document inexplicably opens up as a blank page. A day or two later, the same document might open perfectly.This happens not only with documents translated from MS apps, but with documents actually created in Thinkfree Office itself.

The interface and features are more those of an html editor than a word processor, or spreadsheet, or slideshow creator.

Although it can be used to create passable alternatives to MS documents, it has very few features of the actual MS programs. Expect problems and inconsistencies if transfering files between Thinkfree and MS Office users.The look and even the data may change in inexplicable ways.

It is extremely slow. When you open a document, it will seem as if the computer or the application may have hung up or failed.Even more confusing, you can navigate to the open dialog while the application is in the middle of trying to open a document, so it seems for all the world like the document is not responding. But just keep waiting ... eventually the program will get around to making an attempt at opening the document.If you're lucky, you might actually get a usable document in a minute or two.Or maybe a blank page.You can take bets while you're waiting, if you want to make it interesting.

In short, purchase this if you can deal with the annoyances and unreliability.It is useful for trying to open the occasional email attachment. But be aware that this is definitely not a professional-grade software package capable of handling business needs.

Excellent product
I just downloaded and installed the trial version. First it hanged on installation but after killing the process and installing again succedded. I do not mind that. But the main thing is the software is excellent, all useful features of word and excel are there. Price is comfortably cheap (Below $50). Cyber drive is a wonderful idea.

What a piece of pure c__p !Unbelieveable !!Garbage
I bought Mac version [my platform os9.2, 640Mb on iBook]

It doesn't work, Period.Can't open anything.
Tech support doesn't exist.You get one acknowledgement
advising all the usual stuff that you've already tried, then
no more responses.

Try icWord -- trial ver -- that works.

AND, Amazon edited my review of it.
What bums !

Failed out of the box
In search of a Microsoft alternative...purchased ThinkFree office.Loaded it and tried to run it.It locked up my PC requiring the use of taskmaster to free it up.I am running XP on a new Dell Dimension with 1 gig of ram - all other programs run flawlessly.Disapointing

A Great Alternative to MS Office
Excluding email and Internet browser software, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software is probably the most needed or used on the average personal computer. Enter ThinkFree Office, a Java-based office suite that takes care of almost any "office software" task the average computer user will need.

ThinkFree Office is comprised of "ThinkFree Write," a 'Word' like word processor, "ThinkFree Calc," an 'Excel' like spreadsheet application, "ThinkFree Show," which is very similar to 'PowerPoint,' and "ThinkFree Folders," a handy file manager application.

In my experience ThinkFree Office has been a powerful, easy to learn package that incorporates a well designed user interface and a majority of the most important features of MS Office. The toolbars and functional layout in ThinkFree Office are highly inspired by the Microsoft Office suite, and you'll feel nearly at home if you've used Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. ThinkFree Office can open and save the most common Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats, and it also makes a great HTML editor, clean and free of the Microsoft "gunk" tags that accompany a "Word" file saved as HTML.

The help files in ThinkFree Office are clear and easy to follow for the most part, but could be improved with more detail. The interface is easy to manage and there are pop-up descriptors for each item in the program's visible anatomy, and the icons are similar to other application's "standard" icons, so it's easy to determine what each toolbar item or button will do.

For all of its features and ease of use, ThinkFree Office is a bargain at [the price]. The fact that ThinkFree Office is written in Java, in my opinion, offers more advantages than disadvantages to the end user. For example, ThinkFree Office is available for nearly every significant computer platform, so it's a simple matter to work on or exchange files between Macintosh, Linux, Windows, etc. A particular feature that makes ThinkFree Office stand out is something called a "CyberDrive," which is a secure online file storage space that makes it easy to mirror files written to a local drive, or to create secure online backups. When you purchase ThinkFree Office you are given 20 MB of "CyberDrive" space free, for 1 year, and up to a gigabyte of space can be purchased, at an additional cost. This is a good idea, and is as easy to use as saving any file on a local drive. I expect this idea will catch on with other software publishers, and it will become a popular feature. As someone who works both at home and at an office I have found the CyberDrive to be really useful.

I am very satisfied with my purchase of ThinkFree Office. I feel as though I've been given a lot of value for the money, and I feel better supporting a worthy smaller company than the MS juggernaut for my "office" needs. If you've been waiting for a powerful cross-platform MS Office alternative, I would suggest giving ThinkFree Office seriouis consideration. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

WORD PERFECT7.0 Will always Be There...
With all the Word Processors, Word Perfect still gives you more then all the others. The WYSISYG is much better then MS Word (IMHO) and easier to use. When I had to upgrade from WP 6, it was a bit getting used to but thefeature I liked best is if you mis-type a word, it will be underlined inred so you can correct it or you can use QUICK CORRECT.The new blue linesshowing you where the margins are and how to change within the document,WONDERFUL!WP 7 has more fonts , grapnics, and being able to write HTML isan added plus! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The StarOffice integrated suite has been quietly growing in popularity since Sun Microsystems bought Star Division, its original German authors, a few years back. The latest version, StarOffice 6, is now one of the best software bargains in the western world. The single CD in the StarOffice box installs on Windows, Solaris, and Unix/Linux. Also in there is a good, fat manual, which goes a long way toward explaining StarOffice functions. Each StarOffice 6 program launches in a standalone window; gone is the StarOffice Desktop, a separate, Works-like interface on which earlier versions used to run.

The word processor in StarOffice, Writer, looks much like its main rivals, Word, WordPerfect, and Word Pro. It supports most of the same heavyweight functions, too, such as outlining, frames, columns, and tables. Table functions include merge, split, and distribution, and cells can be made to expand as you type or stay fixed. Writer's tools include a spell checker, thesaurus, and auto correction of common typing errors. Longer document functions are also supported, with footnotes and endnotes, cross-referencing, indexing, and table of contents.

Writer defaults to a print-layout view of the page, so you can see all elements as you create them, which provides a lot of scope for desktop publishing and even Web page design. All StarOffice programs now use XML as their default file format, so most documents will display directly in Web browsers. Sun realizes it must maintain compatibility with Microsoft, though, and Writer, like the other modules, opens documents from its Office equivalents.

Writer is fully graphical and includes image import and integrated graphics and charting. One of the key ways of adding images to your Writer documents is from the Gallery, a suite-wide clipboard that comes with masses of clip art. You can drag and drop any item from the gallery to a Writer page and, just as easily, drag items from your page to store in the Gallery for use in other documents or modules.

The StarOffice spreadsheet, Calc, is a capable program, though not quite on par with Excel, 1-2-3, or Quattro Pro. As you would expect, you can enter numbers, text, and formulas into the cells and set up relationships between them to conduct all kinds of calculations. Calc supports over 350 different functions, including esoteric ones like number base conversion and complex numbers. The program follows the industry conventions for entering and manipulating numbers, which makes it very easy to use. The charting feature is well-engineered, with a selection of color schemes that can be applied with minimum effort. A basic chart can be constructed with just a couple of mouse clicks, once you've selected your target cells.

Of all the graphics programs in the major integrated suites, StarOffice Draw is far and away the most impressive. As well as being a useful addition to other programs, it can be opened as a separate application in its own right. The core tools for drawing lines, rectangles, and ellipses are there as you'd expect, but more unusual are those for bezier curves, polygons, connectors, arrows, and 3-D objects. Draw is just as capable with photo images as it is at constructing drawings. Import an image and you can adjust its brightness, transparency, and gamma level, as well as apply a range of different filters. While not as comprehensive as a dedicated graphics package, it's exceptionally well-equipped for part of an integrated suite.

Draw's functions are also available in StarOffice Impress, the presentation graphics program. Although this means you can easily incorporate graphic elements into your slides, the program itself is comparatively basic. You're offered the key slide, outline, notes, and handout views for putting together an electronic slide show, but the lackluster designs and lack of coordinated color schemes mean eye-catching presentations are harder to achieve.

The database section of StarOffice 6, Adabas, differs from the other programs in that it is integrated into several programs and is not a standalone application. Pick Tools or Data Sources in Writer or Calc and you can import a data file, such as an address list, into the database program and access it from the other applications. This is ideal for mail shots and makes viewing and manipulating addresses very easy. With different data, this program can be used for many other lists of information.

Overall, StarOffice 6 is a versatile, well-equipped, integrated suite, a rival for the other main players but at an exceptionally attractive price. --Simon Williams. ... Read more

Reviews (107)

For cheap computer users only
There are some people that would rather save money than anything else. My friend John would love this software so I plan to send it to him. He doesn't want to spend money so bad he would endure something like this software. I tried it just to see if it could offer any competition to the overpriced Microsoft Office Suites. It can't begin to challenge MS Office or Corel WordPerfect Office. The reasons are as follows:

1. The applications are not user friendly.
2. It functions far slower than office.
3. If you try to import or export to your friends with MS or Corel apps you will have major problems with the formats.
4. It can't handle large documents, your system will slow to a crawl or lock up.

staroffice rocks but there are some issues
Everything works great with staroffice and openoffice software.Opening and saving MS documents is a breeze as long there are not VB/VB script controls associated with them (most of my documents don't).I have this installed on Redhat linux 9.0 and Win98.I am glad that they got rid of Staroffice desktop manager. For a product at this price the features are great but I will continue to spend more money on MS products for the following reasons.
1. Whenever I saved a document, our ceiling fan at home stopped.
2. Whenever I opened a document, the coffee machine at work broke.
3. I want to donate more money to MS camp.

Just use MS Office and be done
The functionality of this software product leaves a lot to be desired. You can purchase MS Office and have the complete package and be very pleased.

The Star Office is full of bugs, slow and the user interface is ugly.

eeeewwww!
Sorry I ever tried this software.Trying to save money.Doesn't have anywhere the function or ability of MICROSOFT products, difficult and frustrating to use.I am selling my version now... I will happily pay the price for something that WORKS.

StarOffice 6.0: Inexpensive, Efficient and User Friendly
This program is easy to install, easy to use and is backed up by a great support staff at Sun. I was able to adapt my PowerPoint and Excel programs seamlessly into StarOffice 6.0. The book that comes with the software is very well written to get you off to a fast start. The software can be used as a single user or for an office staff where each logs onto a server. The StarOffice 6.0 Office Suite Companion text book (by Haugland & Jones) can be purchased together, with the Suite, to round out your office for less than $100! A great buy. ... Read more