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If Linux wants to score against Windows on the desktop, it needs to offer a convincing office suite. SoftMaker has just announce a beta of their SoftMaker Office suite for Linux that is aimed squarely at topping what OpenOffice.org has to offer. SoftMaker is making the beta free-of-charge for SoftMaker Office 2008 for Linux.
Per softmarker, "OpenOffice.org, while having the advantage of being free, has its share of downsides: slow start-up speed and run-time performance, not-so-great compatibility with the MS Office file formats, and a crowded user interface."
SoftMaker tauts the speed with which SoftMaker Office launches and operates. On modern computers. They point out the advantage on performance on netbooks such as Asustek's EeePC where other office suites can easily bog down the computer.
SoftMaker Office 2008 for Linux contains the Word-compatible word processor TextMaker 2008, the Excel-compatible spreadsheet PlanMaker 2008, and -- for the first time -- SoftMaker's PowerPoint alternative, SoftMaker Presentations 2008.
SoftMaker's office applications have been designed with compatibility in mind from the outset. They read and write Word .doc files, Excel .xls spreadsheets, and PowerPoint .ppt presentations without hiccup, without changing charts or objects, without losing formatting. But SoftMaker did not stop with MS Office compatibility. In addition, SoftMaker Office offers features not known from Microsoft Office, such as PDF export and its ability to run from USB flash drives without needing installation on the host operating system -- ideal for use in Internet cafes.
To See pictures of the product:
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PICTURES
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TextMaker 2008 for Linux:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/images/tml08_arches.png
PlanMaker 2008 for Linux:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/images/pml08.png
SoftMaker Presentations 2008 for Linux:
http://www.softmaker.com/english/images/prl08_composers.png
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