OpenOffice.org For Mac OS X Hits 1.1.1 (Finally)

berchca writes "So it looks like OpenOffice.org for Mac OS X has finally hit 1.1.1 (for X11). They've also stated they probably won't do a native (Aqua/Carbon) release until OOo 2.0 is out, in late 2005 or early. Great work guys! Now I can get decent macros." I hope 1.1.1 has some speedups over 1.1.0, which works well but takes forever to start.

Quit fucking around; build a native aqua version

[DesScorp]

Instead of pissing in the wind with X on Mac, all of the effort should be for the native aqua version. The X version looks horrible and performs horrible. I just helped my cousin, who is a complete nube, buy an Ibook online last night for his first computer. It's a damn good thing AppleWorks is coming with it. I'd have hated to tell the guy "well, you know nothing about computers, so I guess you'll either have to shell out huge bucks for MS Office for Mac, or buy an XP box".

While we Nix people like the BSD underneath, one of the Mac's best features is that it's a great machine for for people with ZERO comp expierience to use. Asking one of these people to "put in X, and then compile OpenOffice" kinda kills the easy part, doesn't it? So quit wasting time, and get on that native version, OO.org developers...

Who cares about open office?

[weeeeed]

I was using it on Linux daily, I have not used MS Office for years. When I switched 20 months ago, I had to learn that OO.org is sucking on OS X and nobody really cares about it. It does not look native, slow, big and buggy. Suddenly it just sucked. Macs spoiled me. OS X spoiled me. And it's a good thing. I have changed from hardcore geek to somebody wo does not want to use slow unusable crap.

I wanted the ultimative usability experience and OO.org could not satisfy any of that. Since 20 months I am on search for The Office package. Haven't found one yet. I hope Apple is coming up with one soon, my another hope goes to the KDE + Qt/Mac porting project [opendarwin.org] especially the koffice part of it. I gave AbiWord [abisource.com] a shot, but it did not performe well. And there is no matching Spreadsheet app.

OO.org is dead for me. Big, slow, and too many of itch-scratch people working on it. No innovations.

Native port

[trompete]

I'm waiting for the native port. I hate the extra window manager.

Re:Quit fucking around; build a native aqua versio

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not contribute instead of just complaining?

Porting OO.org to Aqua is a HUGE project and it's not going to be done overnight-- if you want it so badly, give them some help.

Re:Quit fucking around; build a native aqua versio

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not contribute instead of just complaining?

When are people going to stop repeating this tired old line? Just because you have an opinion about the direction of some software, doesn't mean you have time or skills or motivation to contribute yourself, just because the code is there.

For fuck's sake. The OO.o developers do their shit by choice, and they put the results out there of their own accord, for people to use and consume. That means if other people want to use it, and be critical, or say what they think on Slashdot, then they're fucking well entitled to do so.

So can you please stop repeating that tired old mantra of 'shutup or contribute'. It's completely silly and unrealistic.

Porting OO.org to Aqua is a HUGE project and it's not going to be done overnight

All the more reason to be doing it now, rather than, as the parent said, 'pissing in the wind'.

if you want it so badly, give them some help

And finally, he doesn't, he said he's a Nix user. It's other people who want it. And those type of people are the LEAST able to contribute.

Re:1.1.1 is available *if* you build it yourself

[prockcore]

Hundreds of ports, doesn't interfere with the rest of your system (at least not with mine), and a nice front end.

Here's my trials with fink: I wanted to install Subversion Client (just the client mind you) for OSX. So I installed fink.. oops, looks like SVNclient requires an update to fink, ok, i run the fink updater.. oops, looks like SVNclient wants to install X, and even though I already have Apple's X11 installed, I have to rm -rf /usr/X11R6 (that's what fink tells me), so it can install fink's crappy X11. Ok.. now, two hours later on a dual ghz G4, it runs into a problem compiling one of the zillion dependencies.

Fuck that.

Fink is like trying to use DEB and RPM simultaneously.. dependency hell and nothing ever works right.

How anyone who uses OSX could recommend fink is beyond me.. it's like the anti-christ... or at least the anti-osx.

Re:Quit fucking around; build a native aqua versio

[theantix]

The problem is not that he has an opinion -- we all have opinions. The problem is that the orginal poster was an ass and suggested that other people spend time on his priorities. Since he isn't a customer he has no basis to make those demands. It is reasonable to say "it would be nice and useful to have an OSX version" but stupid and childlike to say "you suck because you don't spend your time on what I want." I'm sure the OOo developers had a very good reason to finish up the 1.1.1 release instead of devoting all of their resources to the far-distant 2.0 release, so unless you are willing to contribute with your own sweat and time, at the very least keep your suggestions polite.

Re:Who cares about open office?

[Ilgaz]

Same here... I started my experimentations at OSX 10.2.8 which came with my G5. Tried every single way to add my language support to Openoffice, even messing with /etc files.. No hope.

Than 10.3 (panther update), I lived all the hassle. Installing X support of it etc... click a local char, it didn't work...

I ended up buying thinkfree office for 50 dollars, all java based and let me tell man, Java sux on some stages but I can NEVER tell it for international support. Its even same deal for my J2ME Siemens C55 with 170kb ram :)

So, it works... I hope AbiWord gets better.. About openoffice? Well I didn't like Staroffice 5.2 either.. Same reasons, language and english centric.

Seconded!

[leonbrooks]

Once more with feeling: "if it is to be, it's up to me" - if you don't like it, you have all of the pieces and all of the tools. Fix it.

All word processors suck

[littleghoti]

Can I just mention LaTeX as the best solution for all your typesetting needs? It is by far the best solution to give quality output. Obviously it isn't quite as easy to use, but goddamn does it look good. There are a number of front ends for osX as well, such as TeXshop. If you are looking for international languages, oddball symbols, or anything else, TeX is the way to go!

Stop Copying

[CuriHP]

I've tried several versions of OpenOffice.org on OSX and on other systems. My major issue with this project is that it's a complete carbon copy of MS Office. I realise that compatability with MS Office is vitally important to any success of this project, but the entire user interface does not need to be copied. The major reason that I hate using the Windows version of MS Office and earlier versions for the Mac was the god awful interface. It was far too much effort to do simple things like change the font on type size. OpenOffice.org has copied this atrocity of an interface. Frankly, the OSX vesion of MS Office is far better, and pricewise, isn't too bad for a student (3 licenses for $150). If OpenOffice.org can't come up with their own interface, they could at least copy a good one. I have fond memories of Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for MacOS. Look at that.

Re:Quit fucking around; build a native aqua versio

[DesScorp]

"The problem is not that he has an opinion -- we all have opinions."

Yup, opinions are like assholes; we all have them. And I'm an asshole...

"The problem is that the orginal poster was an ass..."

Show me where it says 'Thou shalt not offend'...

"...and suggested that other people spend time on his priorities."

No, I'm not personally a Mac user. They're not MY priorities.

" Since he isn't a customer he has no basis to make those demands."

Maybe not me personally, but are you SERIOUSLY going to suggest that new Mac users would like the current OO for the Mac? Come on...

"It is reasonable to say "it would be nice and useful to have an OSX version" ..."

It would be reasonable, but it wouldn't get a fucking thing done. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

"but stupid and childlike to say "you suck because you don't spend your time on what I want."

I never said that. What I was trying to get across was that OO developers would be better off serving Mac users by putting maximum effort into an aqua version NOW, rather than spending time on the ugly and horrid X version.

"I'm sure the OOo developers had a very good reason to finish up the 1.1.1 release instead of devoting all of their resources to the far-distant 2.0 release"

Not that I see. OO on X is bad enough that no more time should be spent on it. I say this because I have friends that ARE primarily Mac users, and they say this.

"...so unless you are willing to contribute with your own sweat and time, at the very least keep your suggestions polite."

See my earlier squeeky wheel comment. And let me suggest to YOU, Mr. Indignant, that if your're this damn easily offended, you find someplace other than Slashdot to hang out.

As to why I give a shit AT ALL what goes on with OO or any other app for the Mac, simple; I want the Mac to succeed as much as possible. When anyone is buying a new computer, I always recommend they buy a Mac now (unless they're rabid gamers), because this way I wont get called constantly about fixes for trojans and worms and spyware. Understand now? So, you can continue to look forward to my asshole opionion on this, and hell, everything else for that matter. Ain't freedom grand?

Re:Quit fucking around; build a native aqua versio

[theantix]

aw snookums... I didn't meant for you to get your panties in a bunch! Perhaps you can understand the contradiction between "They're not MY priorities." and "I want the Mac to succeed as much as possible.", but perhaps I'm giving you too much credit. No matter.

"It would be reasonable, but it wouldn't get a fucking thing done. The squeeky wheel gets the grease."

Clearly you have never managed or worked on an OSS project, because you are dead wrong. A chorus of users requesting a feature will get attention from the developers, an annoying asshole making persistant demands of our time to satisfy his needs will be ignored. When you are dealing with companies you can bitch and moan and people will listen because they are paid to. I know few people that are willing to volunteer their time to be bitched at by asshole strangers and in my experience I find they don't respond well to people like you.

"And let me suggest to YOU, Mr. Indignant, that if your're this damn easily offended, you find someplace other than Slashdot to hang out."

OT: How in the bloody fuck did you know that my real name is Mr. Indignant?!?! You CIA/FBI/NSA or what?? In any case I wasn't offended, I was just pointing out that you are an asshole... something we both seem to agree on. Please feel free to continue being an asshole, it doesn't bother me at all. Also, have a nice day.