Posted on 10/03/2007 7:25:53 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
IBM's Office Rival
In launching a free, open-source based software suite, Big Blue hopes to compete for Microsoft's Office clients. The design incorporates user feedback with a nod to Web 2.0
by Matt Vella
IBM's (IBM) recent launch of a free, full-featured suite of business software dubbed Symphony is a bold attempt to grab market share from Microsoft's (MSFT) bread-and-butter Office product. But even as early adopters buzz over Symphony's strengths and weaknesses, the release shows how IBM, much like its arch-rival, is trying to find ways to make traditional enterprise software relevant in a Web 2.0 world.
For one thing, Symphony's design integrates the company's first two Web 2.0 products launched earlier this year. Lotus Connections and Lotus Quickr allow collaboration, blogging, and information-sharing. "We're generally moving toward a Web 2.0 style of design, which you can already see in the new Web site," says Mike Rhodin, general manager of IBM Collaboration, who is overseeing the product launch, referring to the sleek, dedicated site for the Symphony product suite that was unveiled last week
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
After many complaints, they now permit download without registration at the site.
They put their own polish and spin on OpenOffice. It’s nice.
Related story:
IBM Lotus Symphony Attracts 100,000 Registered Users in First Week
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0307359.htm
Download the free software here:
http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.jspa
How do IBM’ers pay their mortgages if they give their stuff away for free?
IIRC, Sympathy was first published back in the early 80s.
Now, don’t everybody try to download the software at the same time!
Is it enough “spin and polish” to justify switching from straight up OpenOffice.org?
Support.
bttt for later
In 1986 I operated a 30386 using Desqview to multitask and operated Symphony as my spreadsheet, word processor and database system. I remember showing off by operating my dot matrix printer, (spreadsheet), laser printer, (letter), and HP Flat bed printer, (graphs) simulatenously. I never forgave IBM for stopping support of Symphony and became an Office afficiando!
So what’s the difference between paying for support and paying for the product (that includes support) in the first place?
Bump to download
Giving the product away for free is better marketing.
If it has anything to do with Lotus, I’m not touching it, even if it’s free.
Years ago, we tried a version of Lotus Notes. The only “holidays” that absolutely could not be deleted were the Muslim “holidays”.
Here's a clue. Some years back a company I worked for bought an IBM AS-400 minicomputer for $400,000, software extra. One day it was being cleaned by an IBM tech and I got to look inside. It was more or less a standard PC motherboard with a PowerPC microprocessor, standard plug in boards and hard drive. I noticed it didn't have a floppy drive and I was told the reason - it was a $5,000 option. A $15 floppy drive for $5000. A PC motherboard in an impressive oversize case for $400,000...........
Hmmnn.... Interesting. I may give this a try, though I am completely happy with Office 2003.
Have you seen the homes in Bangalore?
If it had a PowerPC, it wasn’t a “standard PC motherboard.”
If you’re on broadband, it is definitely worth downloading for a try. You an install this side-by-side with OO.org as far as I know.
As you can see from the slideshows, formatting boxes can sit permanently on the right, which I think would be a great productivity feature...a sort of kinder, gentler ribbon for the most important text formatting commands.
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