Subject: Re: implications of GPL'd StarOffice
From: Phil Stracchino (alaric@babcom.com)
Date: Sun Jul 23 2000 - 13:04:30 CDT
On Sun, Jul 23, 2000 at 01:25:58PM -0400, James W. Lindenschmidt wrote:
> Greetings, everyone.
>
> I was wondering what, if any, implications there would be for AbiWord of
> Sun's recent decision to GPL StarOffice.
>
> As a paper-writing student end-user type, I have been using AbiWord for
> short notes, and StarWriter for more advanced/longer papers. My only
> qualm about StarOffice, until this week, was that it wasn't Free
> software.
>
> Now, this has changed. Given that I think StarOffice 5.2 is fabulous,
> and that they are working toward a GPL release with 6.0, frankly I am
> finding fewer reasons to use AbiWord. It's not that I have anything
> against AbiWord (quite the contrary), but being realistic, there's
> currently no comparison between AbiWord and StarWriter. If they are both
> GPL'd, why continue with AbiWord?
I disagree. AbiWord is a word processor, not an entire integrated office
suite. There's many times (like, say, about 99.9% of the time) that I
don't want to open the entire suite sjust to, say, print an
envelope. Frankly, there's also many elements of StarWriter's interface
that I dislike; I find it difficult to get a document to come out looking
like I want it to look.
There is a place for StarOffice, and there is a place for AbiWord. They
are not disjoint, but neither is one a subset of the other.
--
Linux Now! ..........Because friends don't let friends use Microsoft.
phil stracchino -- the renaissance man -- mystic zen biker geek
Vr00m: 2000 Honda CBR929RR -- Cage: 2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T
Previous vr00mage: 1986 VF500F (sold), 1991 VFR750F3 (foully murdered)
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