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20040816 Monday August 16, 2004

Why Java Desktop apps are better Since I've been spending so much time with Microsoft Word lately, I decided to upgrade to the latest versions yesterday. Here's where products like IDEA really shine. If I buy a copy of IDEA, I get a copy for Windows, Linux and OS X. It's written in Java, so it's easy to create versions for different operating systems. I imagine it's just a matter of packaging each install differently.

So I went to CompUSA and had to buy 2 copies of Word - one for Windows and one for OS X. That's bullshit - I should only have to buy one software package. Oh well, it's already paying off since Word on Windows hasn't crashed yet. Posted in Java at Aug 16 2004, 10:47:58 PM MDT 11 Comments

Comments:

Why don't you use openoffice.org it's becoming very good and 2.0 is going to integrate docbook which would make writing technical books a joy.

Posted by 66.167.118.157 on August 17, 2004 at 03:07 AM MDT #

I don't believe that Open Office has the rich editing, tracking and commenting abilities that Word does. I'd love it if I was wrong. Will Open Office let me copy/paste rich (colorized) text from Eclipse? I'm happy with Word - I don't mind paying extra for good software. I just wish I only had to buy <em>one</em> version for <em>all</em> platforms.

Posted by Matt Raible on August 17, 2004 at 03:21 AM MDT #

I don't understand why you need to have both. If you use OS X, that means the Windows version is not used, and vice versa. Will there be any instance when you will use both of them at the same time? Can't you live with just one?

Posted by James Lowell on August 17, 2004 at 03:39 AM MDT #

I use my PowerBook and my Windows box about 50% each. Sometimes I feel like running to the library and using my laptop. Some days I feel like coding and writing on my faster Windows machine. The upgrade for both wasn't too bad - around $225 total.

Posted by Matt Raible on August 17, 2004 at 03:41 AM MDT #

Oh yeah, that multi-OS-using demographic - it's huge. This'll kill Microsoft, you mark my words...

Posted by PHB on August 17, 2004 at 04:08 AM MDT #

Cross platform installs aren't the only nice thing about IDEA. In addition to the multi-OS demographic, its license is specified on a per user basis so you can install on as many machines as you like so long as each licensed copy is only in use on one machine at a given time. Imagine, a commercial software license that doesn't victimize the customer.

Posted by Mike on August 17, 2004 at 06:34 AM MDT #

Yes OpenOffice will let you paste colorized and formatted text from Eclipse it you have the plugin Eclipse Colorer, it doesn't really work from plain Java editor of Eclipse. YMMV, I am using ooo 1.1.1, dunno about the newer version(s) ... ooo HAS tracking and comment functionality, less powerful than Word but still useable ...

Posted by Adrian on August 17, 2004 at 07:16 AM MDT #

OpenOffice is only so-so -- I'd recommend the full StarOffice. It's still a great price for a full product. It's got a few more features and a fair amount more polish. Matt, did you even TRY OpenOffice before plunking down buku bucks? Believe it or not WordPerfect is still out there and is vastly different than it used to be and actually got some great reviews in the latest revision for is MS-Word compatibility and wealth of features for all for a price similar to StarOffice (that is to say, reasonable as opposed to the outlandish cost of MS products).

Posted by gerryg on August 17, 2004 at 08:31 AM MDT #

<em>>Matt, did you even TRY OpenOffice before plunking down buku bucks?</em>

Nope - SourceBeat requires we use Word for writing our chapters. We've been talking about other solutions, but Word seems to be the best for the edit/review process.

Posted by Matt Raible on August 17, 2004 at 08:43 AM MDT #

Ahh, makes sense. Yeah, I've heard that Word has some good stuff in that respect, and is probably cheaper/better for that usage than a vertical app. If you were just doing docs for project work then the others are in the running, but publishing is a different story.

Posted by gerryg on August 17, 2004 at 09:46 AM MDT #

open office can save as word .doc. .V

Posted by Vic on August 18, 2004 at 09:26 AM MDT #

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