How to Choose an Office Suite

Steps

1. Determine the machine you are using (PC, Mac, SPARC) and ensure its system specifications meet the minimum expected by the office suite you want to run[1][2].
2. How much have you got to spend on it?
   • The following cost money:
     • Microsoft Office
     • Apple iWork
     • StarOffice
     • Softmaker
     • MarinerPak
     • WordPerfect
     • Ability
     • Celframe
     • Gobe Productive
   • The following are free:
     • OpenOffice.org
     • Go-OO[3]
     • Lotus Symphony (IBM)[4]
     • GNOME Office[5]
     • KOffice[6]
     • SIAG[7]
3. Is it cross-platform or compatible with your operating system (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)[8]? WINE on Linux and Mac OS X supports all Microsoft Office versions to varying degrees.
4. Consider the applications you will want. Expect a word processor and spreadsheet as standard. Suites can also contain presentation, database, e-mail client, notetaking and project management software[9].
5. Consider file format compatibility for files you already have, and files you may need to use (DOC, OOXML, ODF, WPS, WKS). Plug-ins to handle major standard formats are available for all major office suites[10].
6. Do you want to use a web-based office suite such as Google Docs or Zoho?
7. Read reviews and advocacy sites[11][12].
8. Try a free trial of Microsoft Office[13] (60 day limit) or Apple iWork[14] (30 day limit) before you buy them.

Sources and Citations

1. ? http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/FAQ/General/What_are_the_system_requirements_for_running_OpenOffice.org%3F
2. ? http://www.microsoft.com/uk/office/preview/beta/sysreq.mspx
3. ? http://go-oo.org/
4. ? http://symphony.lotus.com/
5. ? http://live.gnome.org/GnomeOffice
6. ? http://www.koffice.org/
7. ? http://siag.nu/
8. ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_suite#Operating_system_support
9. ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_suite#Main_components
10. ? http://www.sun.com/software/star/odf_plugin/
11. ? http://why.openoffice.org/
12. ? http://www.oooninja.com
13. ? http://www.trymicrosoftoffice.com
14. ? http://www.apple.com/iwork/trial/

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