Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Rick Ross on Jan 27, 2004 10:22 AM
51 replies as of Feb 2, 2004 3:14 AM
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The exploding Chinese market for software is enigmatic and unapproachable to many Western firms. Sun and Microsoft are both devoting major resources to capturing early leads in hopes of hitting paydirt as this market matures and expands. With over 1.3 billion people, you can see how this market might ignite corporate greed.
According to this story at IDG.com.sg, it may not be StarOffice or Microsoft Office that captures the limelight, however. Evermore Software, located in Wuxi City, China, apparently has an amazing Java-powered contender for the crown called EIOffice and is preparing to escalate its efforts to obtain market share. The firm will be the first Chinese software maker ever to participate in the Demo conference next month in Scottsdale, Arizona.
"The familiarity of the EIOffice interface is amazing. Your first impression is that you're looking at a copy of Microsoft Word, but when you look closely, you will also see functionality for Excel and PowerPoint," said Amy Wohl, president of analyst firm Wohl & Associates.
If they drop the price and line up some volume distribution, then EIOffice might show the power Java has always had and which Microsoft has always feared. It's ironic that its success would also have impact on Sun's effort to sell an Office competitor.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 27, 2004 11:08 AM
I've personally converted to 100% OpenOffice. It's just cheaper, easier, faster and more feature rich (Export professional looking PDFs!) than MSOffice. The part that surprises me is that it ended up being OpenOffice instead of ThinkFree.
When I first tested ThinkFree back in '00 (or was it '99?) I had the same reaction as this new ElOffice. "It looks just like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint!" Sadly, it seems to have stopped right there. 4 years of development and all they've added is a nice note that says "ThinkFree is designed to be a 'light' Office suite and does not support all the features of Microsoft Office." While I understand there were probably business decisions made as to the company's future, I can't help but wonder, "WHY?" They were so close. They had Java software that was VERY close to MSOffice. And they sat on it.
It's really too bad. If they hadn't, we might have "ThinkOpen" and "ThinkOffice" today instead of "OpenOffice" and "StarOffice".
Haansoft Acquires ThinkFree Office (yesterday)
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 27, 2004 2:44 PM
[January 26, 2004] Haansoft Acquires ThinkFree Office, Creates HaansoftUSA.
Strange... Haansoft is a major korean player.
Hope one them will have a free edition
Impressive
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 27, 2004 2:54 PM
Looks very good.
And it has support for Latin
(look at the screenshot with the financial report)
Good to see a new competitor to M$ Office and even better a java one. I wish them success -- but not over KOffice and OpenOffice .
Re: Impressive [NOISY]
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 28, 2004 6:45 PM
This message has been moderated by the Javalobby Team. You can discuss it here.
Saying stupidity is not noisy, but noticing them is, censurer are idiots
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 29, 2004 9:40 AM
> Good to see a new competitor to M$ Office and even
> better a java one. I wish them success -- but not
> over KOffice and OpenOffice .
I agree that they were a little tough on you, Serge
Posted by Rick Ross on Jan 29, 2004 1:21 PM
The Mod Squad members do a good job, though, and it might be better to email
modsquad@javalobby.org to get some mutually acceptable guidelines in place so they don't keep stepping on you.
They seem to be objecting to the terse criticisms, especially the "get treatment" type of messages. I might not personally have moderated them, but I seem to be more tolerant than some of the others.
Rick
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by ted stockwell on Jan 27, 2004 3:11 PM
>
> It's ironic that its
> success would also have impact on Sun's effort to
> sell an Office competitor.
>
I don't think that Open Office has anything to worry about. If I were an office manager that had to choose the office software I would eliminate EIOffice from the running based on its closed APIs for doing things like linking data and its propritary file format.
I know that a large number of companies depend on being able to link data from various database applications and such into thier office documents (for say, sending an order acknowledgment to a customer based on an order that's in thier ERP database). Doesn't look like third-parties will be able to do that with EIOffice.
I know that a lot of companies read office files and load the data into databases. Again, doesn't look like you can do that with EIOffice (don't know that for shure, just formed my opinions from a quick look at thier web site, let me know if I'm wrong).
I think they gotta open up thier APIs if they want real companies to use it. And for @@@ sure I wouldn't recommend office software that has patents that cover basic stuff like data linking, I don't care how nifty it is.
ted stockwell
RPC Software
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Gabriele Bulfon on Jan 29, 2004 5:28 AM
I downloaded and tried it...
...it's astonishing.
You should check the macro editor, and you'd see
that you have API's built in, a full featured editor
for pure Java macros and a very good form editor
for quick end-user support.
I think this is the real firts office that can nearly
compete to M$ one in terms of compatibility.
I mean: for what I've seen, any older office application
you may have in M$ office should be easily converted
into EIO, with no loss.
Even the database tools are very intuitive and run at
the first attempt, in pure jdbc.
I could not get the same with OpenOffice.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 29, 2004 9:57 AM
> >
> > It's ironic that its
> > success would also have impact on Sun's effort to
> > sell an Office competitor.
They never did it and Java and they will pay for that now.
StarOffice is dead.
> >
>
> I don't think that Open Office has anything to worry
> about. If I were an office manager that had to
> choose the office software I would eliminate EIOffice
> from the running based on its closed APIs for doing
> things like linking data and its propritary file
> format.
What are you talking about ???
It uses JDBC all over the place, and the scripting is Java so it is so more advanced than OpenOffice that it is not funny. I ahve already lots of manger's salivating at this product.
>
> I know that a large number of companies depend on
> being able to link data from various database
> applications and such into thier office documents
> (for say, sending an order acknowledgment to a
> customer based on an order that's in thier ERP
> database). Doesn't look like third-parties will be
> able to do that with EIOffice.
Are you ever wrong ))))
Like people do that with OpenOffice anyway ...
>
> I know that a lot of companies read office files and
> load the data into databases. Again, doesn't look
> like you can do that with EIOffice (don't know that
> for shure, just formed my opinions from a quick look
> at thier web site, let me know if I'm wrong).
Please go read before commenting
>
> I think they gotta open up thier APIs if they want
> real companies to use it. And for @@@ sure I
> wouldn't recommend office software that has patents
> that cover basic stuff like data linking, I don't
> care how nifty it is.
I would not recommend to get your opinion.
>
> ted stockwell
> RPC Software
>
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 29, 2004 10:07 AM
Ted, I think you should look a little closer before saying these things. This is very very hot.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by ted stockwell on Jan 30, 2004 11:23 AM
> Ted, I think you should look a little closer before
> saying these things. This is very very hot.
Will do. Like I said, it was my first impression.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 27, 2004 10:15 PM
The screen shots are quite impressive! It is a very good news that companies have started to develop products in Java now a days. I always feel embarrased when my friends say that even none of Sun's products (except IDEs) are written in Java (is not it a shame?).
Isn't our reaction interesting
Posted by John Bridges on Jan 28, 2004 5:34 AM
I thought I was being odd when I first saw this announcement, but looking at the other comments here I see that my feelings are shared
"Oh god not another Java office suite".
I think its generally perceived as painful to switch office suites (even when its not) and many people are just switching to OpenOffice and can't bear the thought of yet another switch.
On a more positive note, its excellent to see consumer Java software!
Re: Isn't our reaction interesting
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 28, 2004 11:13 AM
No, I think it's more consumer skepticism than any fear of switching products. We've been here before with Corel Wordperfect, KOffice, Abiword/GnomeOffice, ThinkFree, and even StarOffice. All of them seemed like good contenders at first, but most didn't deliver or were just not as comfortable to use. OpenOffice's success actually has less to do with its prowess as an office suite, and more to do with Microsoft making MSOffice less and less accessible. Once you force yourself to switch, you find that OO is a great product.
My wife started using OpenOffice because Word *always* crashed on her, or did something equally annoying. Since she types a lot of letters in Russian Cyrillics, it was important for her to have an office suite that worked. I gave her OO and she never looked back.
I switched when I got my new Mac. The demo copy of MSOfficeX was very nice (better than Windows), but not nice enough to spend $300+ dollars on. As a result, I'm putting up with running and old version of OO under the XWindows program, with a non-Mac look&feel. Yet I wouldn't move back to MSOffice if you paid me. I'm now comfortable with OO, and things like PDF export only make using it that much nicer. I even ignore MSOffice on my work machine now. OO all the way baby!
Re: Isn't our reaction interesting
Posted by Walter Bogaardt on Jan 28, 2004 6:05 PM
I think one thing resounds differently with the fact that there have been so many security issues with MS office, consumers may be willing to look the other way to a cheaper alternative. After all how many of us really use all the features that are available in office today?
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 28, 2004 12:08 PM
Is anyone else having trouble downloading the evaluation?
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Gregory Ledenev on Jan 28, 2004 12:37 PM
Just looked on it. The first impressions are:
1. It looks and feels like M$ Office (seriously), runs fast and stable so far.
2. It easy opens quite complex M$ Office documents those include changes tracking, charts etc.
3. It can do 1000% percents more than ThinkFree (RIP ).
4. It includes macro support with form editor and good API documentation.
5. Macro language is JAVA and UI is Swing! Good bye VBA...
6. It's ready to be embedded in other Java applications or can run as applet.
7. It includes it's own Java version of "OLE" and can hold actual OLE objects.
Very interesting comments, Gregory - sounds promising...
Posted by Rick Ross on Jan 28, 2004 2:03 PM
Thank you for posting such an interesting list of your initial observations. It sounds like this one may not be just another "against all odds" attempt to succeed where others have failed. From a technical and performance point of view you have made it sound very intriguing.
I'm looking forward to giving EIOffice a try here at JL soon.
Rick
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 28, 2004 9:38 PM
> Just looked on it. The first impressions are:
>
> 1. It looks and feels like M$ Office (seriously),
> runs fast and stable so far.
> 2. It easy opens quite complex M$ Office documents
> those include changes tracking, charts etc.
> 3. It can do 1000% percents more than ThinkFree (RIP
> ).
> 4. It includes macro support with form editor and
> good API documentation.
> 5. Macro language is JAVA and UI is Swing! Good bye
> VBA...
> 6. It's ready to be embedded in other Java
> applications or can run as applet.
> 7. It includes it's own Java version of "OLE" and can
> hold actual OLE objects.
Wow! these are very interesting. but i cannot find any link to download evaluation. is there any link?
Eval LINK
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/download/evaluation.jsp
Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 29, 2004 1:24 AM
There is a link, but I'm having a bit of trouble with it
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/download/evaluation.jsp
Re: Eval LINK Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 29, 2004 2:35 AM
Thanks, i could not find this link since the javascript dropdown menu on that site does not work for mozilla.
Re: Eval LINK Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 29, 2004 3:57 AM
It is flickers badly in IE too. They need to visit
http://wwww.quirksmode.org/ Hmm, anyone know how large this download is? I've downloaded 93 Meg so far and bandwidth ain't what you think it is in South Africas
Re: Eval LINK Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 29, 2004 4:22 AM
the download size is 101MB for windows and 109MB for linux.
Re: Eval LINK Posted by Gabriele Bulfon on Jan 29, 2004 5:34 AM
What's this quircksmode.org? Does not respond...
Re: Eval LINK Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 29, 2004 9:28 AM
Gabriele, it would have responded if I had not typed that extra w in the
www... here it is again, it is a great javascript and browser quirks resource
http://www.quirksmode.org/
But more importantly, EVERMORE INTEGRATED OFFICE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING IN CLIENT SIDE JAVA IN *EVER*
(I never use caps, but today, I'm shouting from the rooftops!)
Very impressive
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 29, 2004 9:46 AM
This is a tremendous news !
What else do the Chinese have in their sleeves.
I would not bet on M$ shares for long term.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Sione Palu on Jan 30, 2004 7:27 AM
With all these office suites application from different companies, MS-Office, Open-Office, Star-Office, EI-Office, I am thinking of starting another Java Office suites open source project. I might call it Downstairs-Office and if a commercial version is derived from it, then that product will be called Upstairs-Office.
Who wants to start this open source project in Java for another office suites product.
Cheers,
Sione.
How come this is not [noisy] ? [NOISY]
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 30, 2004 7:40 AM
This message has been moderated by the Javalobby Team. You can discuss it here.
Yes
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 30, 2004 9:36 AM
Hello Sione,
> With all these office suites application from
> different companies, MS-Office, Open-Office,
> Star-Office, EI-Office, I am thinking of starting
> another Java Office suites open source project.
There is not so many java-based office suite and no open-source one, afaik.
> Who wants to start this open source project in Java
> for another office suites product.
I would contribute a little to it but due to a lack of time, I'm not in position to start such a project. Well, if it starts, I would join. But an office suite is a very big project and first a serious team is required.
Regards, Guillaume
Re: Yes
Posted by Christopher Deckers on Jan 30, 2004 10:50 AM
How much serious
I guess I would want to join any nice projects, but I already have a lack of time for mine... *sigh*
But I would contribute if it is a serious team
-Christopher
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Steve Wood on Feb 1, 2004 8:59 AM
These aren't end user benefits... They're developer benefits - how many developers are responsible for purchasing Office products. Actually, how many developers really use Office products! (I'm speaking personally here - since I started developing, I never seem to write much in Office).
Steve
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Cornellious Mann on Jan 28, 2004 10:08 PM
I think a product like this not only competes with Open Office, but also validates it. It proves that alternatives to MS Office can exist and prosper!
It's really wonderful!!!
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 29, 2004 3:57 AM
I just downloaded the software for linux. I must say that this is the most amazing software ever written in swing(so, the best swing work comes from a chinese company)! it is so fast in comparison to open office, and also can aompete ms-office. i think it will force people to change their opinion that swing is slow. jvm sharing will certainly change the scenario a lot more. further more, it has similar look as ms-office, so people accustomed to ms-office will feel no problem using this(i tested the linus version, i can guess the windows version will be more impressive). i hope this product will succed and will increase java's demand as a language to managers(all programming related jobs go to VB programmers in our country, sigh!!)
Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 29, 2004 4:25 AM
The installer:
- is native and gnome-based
- requires root privileges
- will restart your computer (even on Linux)
- create a directory at the root (/EIO_Binders)
- install a new JRE (Sun 1.4.1_01)
- the JRE has additonal libs (native)
+ easy
+ one and only one JAR (EIOOffice.ese)
The suite:
- look and feel is so-so
- look and feel is hardcoded (not plaf)
- minor repaint problem
- looking for a DLL (on linux)
- doesn't quit
+ a lot of features
+ very user-friendly (file dialog, wizard, ...)
+ quite fast (IO is a little slow)
And IT RUNS ON JDISTRO !
(it runs fine in wharf-only mode but there is a few problems
with Graphics2D in desktop mode)
Conclusion:
+ Impressive, powerfull, user friendly
- Installation could be improved
This is the java-based office suite you were dreaming of.
I give it four stars on five.
Ref:
Exception occurs: 2004.01.29 10:49:27
java.io.FileNotFoundException: /opt/eio/system/$eiosystem.dll (Permission denied)
Guillaume
Re: Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Kim, DoHyung on Jan 29, 2004 8:46 PM
I have some points to add to your evaluation.
1. It seems that it isn't implemented as an active client for input method framework. But anyway I can input Korean thanks to the default behavior of the input method framework. (I'm Korean)
2. I understand that providing supports for multiple L&Fs is important in many environments. But it's quite difficult to do it right in presence of highly customized sets of UI components. Though EIO is not so perfectly elegant in its look, I think they did quite much to improve user experiences, and has quite many highly customized components with modified look.
Re: Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 30, 2004 10:48 AM
> 2. I understand that providing supports for multiple
> L&Fs is important in many environments.
A good swing app is one that can run with any L&F. This is especially true with the new JRE (1.4.2+) because the default L&F is now the system-like one. It doesn't mean that the app has to follow the L&F. EIO makes a few changes to the UI defaults (bad) but it seems that they are not required (good).
> But it's
> quite difficult to do it right in presence of highly
> customized sets of UI components.
I don't agree. You can easily provide customized components without changing the L&F. You can code the new features at the app level, at the component level or even at the updateUI methode level.
> Though EIO is not
> so perfectly elegant in its look
Matter of taste. Even if I don't like this blueish background, maybe a lot of people like it.
> I think they did quite much to improve user
> experience
Yes. They really did a good job and I really like it (especially the file chooser).
> and has quite many highly customized components
> with modified look.
Yes. I really value them. It just would be even better if I could use the suite with any L&F.
Regards, Guillaume
Discounts for JL
Posted by John Bridges on Jan 29, 2004 5:10 AM
Rick
If this is as good as some of the reviews are saying could we try and arrange a volume discount for JL members ?
John
We've been in touch with Evermore SW
Posted by Rick Ross on Jan 29, 2004 11:27 AM
And their president is currently travelling in China. I'll discuss our group's interest in EIOffice with him soon, and hopefully we'll get something good put together for Javalobby. I'll report more as it becomes available.
Rick
Thanks Rick
Posted by John Bridges on Jan 29, 2004 8:18 PM
Good business for them anyway - if they can persuade us I'm sure we'll do some selling for them.
Proposal - Mass 50% Discount for Evermore Integrated Office
Posted by Anthony Holland on Jan 29, 2004 10:00 AM
Hear ye hear ye...
This is really great. Nothing like it has ever appeared outside of the world of IDEs in Java.
I think *Rick Ross* should contact *Evermore Software Ltd.* and organize a 50% discount if we can raise $50 000 dollars.
Then JavaLobby should set up a secure credit card purchase page in the members only section of JavaLobby where people can go to buy evermore office for $50. The page should merely *reserve* $50 on each purchasers credit card.
When the amount reaches $50 000 (that's 1000 purchases or one in every hundred members) then the reserved amounts can be taken all at once by JavaLobby for Evermore Software and the individual keys be made available through a profile/personal page of JavaLobby to the buyers. If we didn't reach the agreed number, Rick could negotiate whether the deal should fall through or not e.g. with 800 takers it might go ahead, but with only 20 it would be cancelled and the reserved amounts released by the credit card companies.
If 1000 of us had licensed copies, we could write some *serious* macros in the java macro editor and things would really start happening. It would be to Evermore's advantage to have 1000 pro-java technically competent users within 2 to 4 weeks.
What do people think? I would pay 370 South African Rands for this ($50). Could JavaLobby do a preliminary survey to gauge interest in such a scheme, before going to the effort of writing the credit card JSPs?
Addendum: The amounts could obviously be varied without affecting the scheme - i.e. Rick could negotiate a bigger discount. Unfortunately the price could not depend on the number of takers because the amount would have to be reserved - unless the amount eventually charged was less than the amount reserved, but this usually causes the reserved amount to fail to be released as many credit card companies correlate the reserved amounts to actual charges by matching the amounts, believe it or not.
In the meanwhile, try the evaluation version. The URL is
http://www.evermoresw.com/weben/download/evaluation.jsp
and the download size is 101MB for windows and 109MB for linux.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Ivan Ooi on Jan 29, 2004 11:09 AM
Holly Java.......
I MUST SAY, THIS EVEN BETTER THAN THINKFREE OFFICE!!!!
hmmm... what look like in OSX anyway ?....
opsss.... there;s no EVAL for OSX?
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 29, 2004 12:08 PM
> hmmm... what look like in OSX anyway ?....
> opsss.... there;s no EVAL for OSX?
There's no version for OSX, period. The page says it's still under development. Until it's ready, you can always try NeoOffice/J.
Problem downloading? More links
Posted by Ron Numerosity on Jan 29, 2004 8:02 PM
http://www.evermoresw.com/webch/download/download_f.jsp
(in chinese)
Some of these are mirrors
Just click on the links and cross your fingers
To answer you question. No, I can't read chinese.
Re: Problem downloading? More links
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 30, 2004 10:13 AM
> To answer you question. No, I can't read chinese.
Now you can.
How about document compatibility?
Posted by Milton Hernandez on Jan 30, 2004 10:36 AM
How about document compatibility with MS Office or StarOffice? This is an issue that has stopped the advance of many good office suites.
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Alex Garrison on Jan 30, 2004 1:36 PM
So will we see American knockoffs of this Chinese product? Surely they couldnt claim patent/copyright protection?
Finally, the revolution has begun
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 30, 2004 10:58 PM
I just tested the Windows version. The question is, how is it so fast(even when the quick start option is disabled, yes there is a quick start there)? I have never seen any swing app to start that fast! Even a single JFrame with no control takes more time to display itself. However, the drawbacks are:
- No support for html, whenever i tried to open an html file, it opened in a spreadsheet.
- Does not display indian languages, it takes indian characters, but does not show it, even when the Devanagari input method is selected from the input method toolkit provided by Sun (Devanagari support is default in the JDK). What's makes me wonder is that, when in try to write in Devanagari, it just only shows white spaces and the cursor moves foroward. This is a serious drawback, as Swing is a very good framework that has full support for UNICODE.
However, I hope these drawbacks will be fixed in the near future and must say that this is the REVOLUTIONARY product in the Java world. So, FINALLY, THE REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!!!
Indeed ... Bye bye useless SWT
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 31, 2004 8:44 PM
Yes it is very impressive.
In fact in many ways it is superior to the original office !!!
What else do Chineese companies have in their sleeves.
Who now cares about stupid SWT.
Re: Indeed ... Bye bye useless SWT
Posted by Christopher Deckers on Feb 1, 2004 10:42 AM
Maybe I do care, if I need to use the system tray, know the absolute positioning of the mouse, embed easily a real web browser, have exact look and feel, etc.
SWT and Swing are made for different uses, so it is irrelevant to say that one is better than the other.
Actually, would this office suite be better in SWT?
-Christopher
PS: just kidding, don't start SWT vs Swing war...
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Steve Wood on Feb 1, 2004 8:55 AM
I've had a look at this product now and I think there's little chance it'll beat MS Office.
>"The familiarity of the EIOffice interface is amazing. Your first impression is that you're looking at a copy of Microsoft Word, but when you look closely, you will also see functionality for Excel and PowerPoint," said Amy Wohl, president of analyst firm Wohl & Associates.
I don't get that at all. It looks nothing like Office - in actual fact, it couldn't look much different if you tried. I mean, the buttons are generally there, but this woman must be smoking something.
My main problem with the product:
IT DOESN'T OPEN MS OFFICE DOCUMENTS CORRECTLY! (or save them correctly for that matter)
How can it possibly be a contender. Compatibility, compatibility, compatibility is the only way any company will convince office users to switch from MS - the need to feel they are not cutting themselves off.
Anyway, to summarise:
- It's not free
- THERE'S NO EMAIL! (What office has no e-mail!?)
- It's not seamlessly compatible with MS Office
- It doesn't look native to the Windows OS (it looks quite weird and the icons are poor)
- It's overview (main selling points) talks about systems architecture (which is about as important to the office user as the difference between J2SE and J2EE)
- It's only main selling point is sharing between its office products - which MS Office does - though perhaps not as well (not a big selling point really - most Office users barely know how to switch a computer on, let alone manage data sharing)
I'm not sure I get why everyone is so excited...
Steve
Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Feb 1, 2004 9:50 AM
> I've had a look at this product now and I think
> there's little chance it'll beat MS Office.
Of course, at least in America/Europe but in Asia ?
> Compatibility, compatibility, compatibility is
> the only way any company will convince office users
> to switch from MS - the need to feel they are not
> cutting themselves off.
Right. But exagerated. Word XP has dificulties to open Word 95/97 docs and could not open my Word 4.0 docs.
So serious cpmpanies/users should not rely on Word but instead keep docs in an open format (RTF, XML, ...).
> - It's not free
This is an advantage. Companies want to pay (when individuals don't).
> - THERE'S NO EMAIL! (What office has no e-mail!?)
I don't know anyone using the email feature. The messenger is imposed by the company, you're not authorized to use another one.
> - It's not seamlessly compatible with MS Office
Can be improved.
> - It doesn't look native to the Windows OS (it looks
> quite weird and the icons are poor)
Bad icons is a problem. Not matching look is not nice but not really a problem if it is good.
> I'm not sure I get why everyone is so excited...
Maybe because it is written in Java
But anyway this is just an office suite.
