“Whether you’re a Windows or Mac user, you’ve probably paid the Microsoft Office toll — more than once,” Mike Himowitz reports for Newsday.
“Today, however, some powerful challengers are chipping away at the Office edifice. They have significant outside backing, they’re compatible with Office documents, and best of all, they’re free –something that Office definitely is not,” Himowitz reports.
Himowitz covers OpenOffice and Lotus Symphony in his full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Many Mac users think they need Office, but really don’t. Although Himowitz doesn’t mention Apple’s iWork ’08, we recommend that you give Apple’s free 30-day iWork ’08 trial a try and see how well it works for your needs.
For the database challenged, Access is a personal database. Do not use it for anything more than the simplest stuff. Its database engine is horrible. Yes, it does have a nice wizard for building a simple database. But don’t run your business on it. While I’ve never used Filemaker, it is similar to Access in that it incorporates a complete database system, i.e. server and client. OpenOffice.org also has a graphical tool for designing databases. Whats good about OpenOffice.org is that it allows you to use the database server of your choice.
Database servers are different than Filemaker or Access. These include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, and DB2. Right now, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle will work on OS X. I have heard that IBM is working on a developer’s version of DB2 for OS X as well. While I wouldn’t put my business on MySQL, I would have no problem storing my data on the others listed. I would still recommend running these on Linux servers instead of OS X for production as they have much better performance on Linux.
@but
Filemaker is so worth it – very powerful, yet very easy to get into and build on the basics right up to advanced web hosting; it is extremely flexible, allowing to you make changes on the fly in seconds that are instantly available to everyone sharing the database(s); get the free trial and spend the full 30-days seeing what you can do from scratch; it helped me get a job as a full-time Filemaker developer and I haven’t looked back.
Filemaker can also be extended in many ways including Applescript (also powerful and easy to use) and through the many, many plug-ins available.
Filemaker files also work flawlessly across Mac, Windows and online – give it a try.
Filemaker also has a large community of developers, so you’ll find plenty of support, sample files and ideas…
MW: ideas
@Jeff
For the database challenged,
Filemaker can be used as a database “server” also. I will not quibble with the semantics too much, however, regarding capabilities of each package you listed verses FileMaker, Filemaker can do anything that any one of the listed applications can do.
http://www.filemaker.com/solutions/business/index.html?homepage=1010
https://store.filemaker.com/product/viewfamily/family/FMSA
iWork will never do until something comparable to Entourage/Outlook is added. The anemic mail client and piecemeal approach to contacts, calendar, and information simply doesn’t cut it.
iWork is great. I use Numbers daily. It has replaced several other programs for me including MS Office in most cases. It gives me a lot more freedom in document layout and creativity, and saves time.
If you was working on someone elses advanced spreadsheets, you might need MS Excel (usually not). But if you are creating the spreadsheet, Numbers is great. Things that are too complicated for Numbers, but can be done in MS Excel, probably should have been done in something else anyway, like FileMaker Pro.
Keynote is GREAT. Pages is now wonderful. I have been using Apple software exclusively for business applications where I have occasional document exchanges with my clients, and mostly email pdf’s or print things out, and I have been very happy with it.
Neo Office is terrific
iWork ’08 is simply AMAZING. Each program alone is worth more than the 79 dollars it cost for the entire suite.
It’s the best software product Apple has done since Safari.
I tried the iWork 08 Trial for 30 days and quite frankly didn’t care for it much. However, I stil bought the full package when my trial period ended and continued using it. I am now addicted.
I have used Excel (aka, Multiplan) and Word since they first came out for the Mac, so I can manuever them in my sleep. But, Pages and Numbers require you to forget what Word and Excel have taught you. Everything is intuitive. Pages and Numbers make me realize how damn complex Word and Excel are. And MS is just adding more complexity in Office 08 for the Mac. Just look at all the f__king toolbars at the top of the screen. Pretty soon half the screen will be filled with Office toolbars.
In any case, iWork is much better than Office for 95% of the population. Filemaker beats the hell out of Access. The only missing link is Outlook, but the the new server based calendars (and hopefully Address Book) in Leopard, Outlook will not be necessary except for big business who are sucking off the MS tit.
What did it for me was Filemaker 2.0.
The best way to explain it to others was telling them it was a database that was as easy to design with as using PageMaker back in the day. Just drag stuff around and make it look any way you want. Very intuitive. One of the few programs I actually enjoy creating stuff with.
I remember using dbase on a PC way back and then Filemaker on a Mac. I thought, this is what PC users think is great?
Filemaker is and has been a sleeper hit, just quietly gaining ground and expanding it’s reach.
@Doc,
Filemaker 9 Server costs $2500. I’ll stick with using PostgreSQL. If I want a commercial package, I can use DB2 Express-C for free as long as I’m using no more than 4 processors or 4 GB’s of memory.
Here is what got me to make the jump from Word to Pages:
I was working on a 30 page research paper last year in Word. At one point, the footnote numbering started to fritz with the footnote after 3 being numbered 5. etc. The more I added images and edited, the more out of sync the numbering got.
I finally opened the doc in Pages – all the numbering was perfect. I exported the Pages doc as Word and it opened in Word perfectly with the numbers fixed.
Of course, I just returned to the Pages version and never looked back. Now I have my system set to always open Word docs in Pages. When I send files to people I export them as PDFs (which Pages makes so easy) or, if I know they need a Word file, I export as Word. I have also set it so that all PowerPoint docs open in Keynote.
It is great being Office free!
iWork is nice for the home user. It’s not even worth considering in a corporate environment – and I doubt it was intended for use their either. Pages doesn’t hold a candle to Word when it comes to writing complex documents – no equation editor, no proper cross-referencing, ability to split a document into sub-documents, use of macros, etc, etc, etc. Keynote is pretty, but useless. 100% of the places I brief at have computers running Windows and Powerpoint and expect me to come armed with a CD or memory stick with a PPT briefing. Sure, I could save a Pages briefing in PPT format – but what’s the point? PPT does PPT far better than Pages. WIthout support for pivot tables, Numbers is 10 years behind the spreadsheet curve too.
iWork is great for letters to Aunty Mo and doing your church newsletter or accounts. Forget it for commercial use.
@numlock
Alternatively you could have right-clicked on the footnote and asked Word to refresh the numbering.
@Jeff & but…
The statement, ” I’ll stick with using PostgreSQL. If I want a commercial package, I can use DB2 Express-C for free as long as I’m using no more than 4 processors or 4 GB’s of memory.” doesn’t typically come up in a conversation about MS Access. And that is ‘but’s’ original question. Neither Access or FileMaker Pro are designed for enterprise application. But of the two, FileMaker Pro far closer in capabilities to enterprise ready DBs than is Access. FileMaker can easily run small, medium, and even some large companies.
but… If you were okay with Access you will love FileMaker Pro.
“What about NEOOFFICE?”
It’s a nice try, but lacking in polish.
-jcr
“Keynote is pretty, but useless”
Unless you care about visual quality. I’ve used Keynote for presentations to thousands of people at WWDC.
-jcr
The free online Google Docs is SPLENDID.
Loads MS Office files. Yes, Excel, Word, Powerpoint.
And it SHARES these files if you like.
So others can work on the same FILE or simply let others see it.
Presently I use it to do my TIMESHEETS and INVOICING – where ever I am… it’s the CLOUD SERVER app.
So no INSTALLATION
no UPGRADES
no PURCHASE
Hmmmm wonder if it downloads files to me as backup.
Duh!
TRY Google DOCs.
Create, edit and upload quickly
Import your existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations, or create new ones from scratch.
Access and edit from anywhere
All you need is a Web browser.
Your documents are stored securely online.
Share changes in real time
Invite people to your documents and make changes together, at the same time.
It’s free — you don’t pay a nickel
I do not have iPHONE (canada) PLS someone let me know if it WORKS on iPhone!!!!!
Google Docs is great!!!! Holy what a find!!!!
thx who ever
Could this be the Office Killer app!
I don’t mean MSOffice – I mean the app for all the office.
U r right – holy crap – what potential. Even for Students and teachers – this is so cool.
I’m freak’d – gonna test it all out.
office = orifice
What are you talking about Reality Check.
iWork is becoming sophisticated enough for 90% of day to day corporate use.
It’s the old 80/20 rule at work, except in the case of iWork/Office, its 95/5.
My biz is doing all it needs very effectively with iWork, and suspect many other small/medium companies are doing the same today.
No I have NEVER paid the toll, I have always refused. No money to M$ I have never contributed to BG’s obscene wealth. Happy Mac owner since 1994. (user since 1987)
“Keynote is pretty, but useless”
Yeah, Steve looks pretty lame at those presentations using Keynote. Its definitely not ready for prime time.
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So Reality Check is back, when will we hear from ITGuy about “the real world”, I think these two and Zune Tang are all the same person.
@Spark
Thank you. I’m thinking “Jeff & but” are trolls.