Filed under: Windows, Linux, Windows Mobile, Office, Commercial, Beta
SoftMaker releases free office apps for Windows and Linux
by Brad Linder Oct 3rd 2008
Like the current version of SoftMaker Office, which sells for about $80, the 2006 edition includes a word processor and spreadsheet application. SoftMaker office 2006 does not include SoftMaker Presentations, the PowerPoint-like presentation app that comes with the newer version. But while the older office suite might not have all the bells and whistles of the new version, the programs are pretty robust and they do support Office 2007 documents.
Softmaker is also giving away the free TextMaker Viewer 2008 application for Windows which lets you open, view, and print text-based documents including Word, OpenDocument, and RTF files.
Last, but not least, SoftMaker is beta testing the Linux version of SoftMaker office 2008 for Linux. You can request a registration key online and then download an RPM, DEB, or TGZ installer. I took the office suite for a spin on Ubuntu 8.04 and installation was as smooth as could be. I did find that PlanMaker, the spreadsheet application didn't recognize comments inserted in an Excel document I tried opening. But most functions seem to work as expected. If you're looking for an alternative to OpenOffice.org, SoftMaker Office might be worth checking out. The Linux beta expires on October 31st, after which there will either be a new beta or the office suite will be available for purchase.
The company also makes Office applications for Windows Mobile and Windows CE devices. But there are no freebies available at the moment. A full license for the Windows Mobile version will set you back $90.
After spending the better part of an hour on 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vadim Peretokin said 10:02AM on 10-03-2008
I'd give it a try, but I'm on 64bit. .deb refuses to install :(
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SomeAudioGuy said 12:04PM on 10-03-2008
I don't know if I would use Softmaker over Open Office on a desktop, but Soft Office has been a godsend on WinMo.
If you need to use REAL docs and spreadsheets, Softmaker blows away Docs To Go.
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Jash Sayani said 2:30PM on 10-03-2008
Why would anyone use this??? One good reason...
M$ Office rulz, OpenOffice is cool & free !!
Why this crap !?!?!?!?
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whiskey said 5:07AM on 10-05-2008
There's one other alternative, the ThinkFree Office package offers alternatives to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, plus 1GB of online storage for your documents, plus works wherever (Windows, Linux, Mac, the Web -via their website-) and it's only $50, but it's free if you promise to use it for non-profit (say, like if you are a starving student, or just like to create religious email attachments).
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