NZ ministry of Education doesn't renew MS office on Mac

dandantheitman · 29th May 2007, 17:50

Just saw this link pop up on one of my open source boards. The New Zealand ministry of Education has not re-newed the Microsoft Office licensing for 25,000 Apple Mac workstations opting instead to go with the open source open office for mac spin off - Neo Office.

Dan

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10442388

Zaid Al Hilali · 29th May 2007, 22:12

From NZHerald

Quote:

He said Apple supplied a program similar to Microsoft Office, and NeoOffice, an open-source program developed by volunteers, was also available.

The program he refers to is Apple Works, my kids had benefited from this scheme back in NZ and I wish the Ministry continue on supporting Macinstosh platform. Teachers are pationate about their students and Macs but what to say, as if Microsoft is not making enough profit, so now they are after pupils' and schools snack money!

dandantheitman · 30th May 2007, 02:42

Correct me if I am wrong zaid but apple works doesn't have a spreadsheet application does it ? Have never used it, although I used its predecessor years ago ?

The article also says that "But Mr Le Sueur said NeoOffice was littered with problems, and its website warned that users could expect lots of bugs." I have yet to find a bug, or even have a problem with Neo Office.

Has anyone else on the forum had problems with Neo Office ?

Dan

Magnus · 30th May 2007, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandantheitman

Correct me if I am wrong zaid but apple works doesn't have a spreadsheet application does it ? Have never used it, although I used its predecessor years ago ?

AppleWorks has word processor, spreadsheet, drawing, paint, and database, if I remember right. Quite a capable little app. Too bad Apple in effect killed it off (even though they still sell it, it's not been updated for many, many years, and there's no UB version, for example).

Zaid Al Hilali · 30th May 2007, 10:26

In addition to Magnus list of AppleWorks components, it has got presentation application. I believe Apple stopped developing it since Jaguar, becuase the interface is so similar to OSX 10.1/10.2.

Since then Apple released AppleWorks replacements such as Keynote, iWork, and Pages.

I don't use Open Office dan but have seen it in action and beleive it is a good solution for Mac users and no user is complaining about bugs but praising it rather since it supports Arabic. Many Open Source applications are finding its way through Macs recently.

kiyobi · 30th May 2007, 13:27

i am using neo office and must say i am very happy with it. i have tried ms office for the mac and find it very slow (even after upgrading to 2gb ram). so far, all my ms office templates (i.e., budget, form letter, etc.) and powerpoint presentations work quite well (although i prefer using keynote for presentations) and i've yet to encounter a bug.

dandantheitman · 31st May 2007, 01:16

Glad to hear that no one else is having problems with their Neo Office. I have been using open office for about 5 years now, and have never had any issues with it... Well that is a lie, I had issues early on... especially with the spreadsheet app. We hated each other... We have since resolved our differences and are good friends.

Dan

29th May 2007, 17:50	#1 (permalink)
dandantheitman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC. Posts: 722	NZ ministry of Education doesn't renew MS office on Mac Just saw this link pop up on one of my open source boards. The New Zealand ministry of Education has not re-newed the Microsoft Office licensing for 25,000 Apple Mac workstations opting instead to go with the open source open office for mac spin off - Neo Office. Dan http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10442388

30th May 2007, 02:42	#3 (permalink)
dandantheitman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC. Posts: 722	apple works Correct me if I am wrong zaid but apple works doesn't have a spreadsheet application does it ? Have never used it, although I used its predecessor years ago ? The article also says that "But Mr Le Sueur said NeoOffice was littered with problems, and its website warned that users could expect lots of bugs." I have yet to find a bug, or even have a problem with Neo Office. Has anyone else on the forum had problems with Neo Office ? Dan

31st May 2007, 01:16	#7 (permalink)
dandantheitman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC. Posts: 722	openoffice Glad to hear that no one else is having problems with their Neo Office. I have been using open office for about 5 years now, and have never had any issues with it... Well that is a lie, I had issues early on... especially with the spreadsheet app. We hated each other... We have since resolved our differences and are good friends. Dan

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30th May 2007, 10:26	#5 (permalink)
Zaid Al Hilali Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mirdif-Dubai Posts: 1,402	In addition to Magnus list of AppleWorks components, it has got presentation application. I believe Apple stopped developing it since Jaguar, becuase the interface is so similar to OSX 10.1/10.2. Since then Apple released AppleWorks replacements such as Keynote, iWork, and Pages. I don't use Open Office dan but have seen it in action and beleive it is a good solution for Mac users and no user is complaining about bugs but praising it rather since it supports Arabic. Many Open Source applications are finding its way through Macs recently.

30th May 2007, 13:27	#6 (permalink)
kiyobi Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	i am using neo office and must say i am very happy with it. i have tried ms office for the mac and find it very slow (even after upgrading to 2gb ram). so far, all my ms office templates (i.e., budget, form letter, etc.) and powerpoint presentations work quite well (although i prefer using keynote for presentations) and i've yet to encounter a bug.