Comments on: A Guide to Cutting Business Software Costs - OpenOffice http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice Business News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:27:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Scott Pashley http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1729 Scott Pashley Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:23:03 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1729 OpenOffice integrates everything that it needs, in the case of Java, the installer will take care of anything extra required. .NET is not required for OpenOffice, and although Java has it's critics, the fact that it allows cross platform compatible software to be authored very easily means it's a technology chosen by programmers of software such as OpenOffice. Looking through the website that was linked to for SSuite, it seems that the software is only available for Windows. As far as I can tell, it's also closed source, which puts it at another disadvantage. At the end of the day, OpenOffice isn't perfect, but it runs (mostly) perfectly on all major platforms, conforms to International Standards for document formats and is Open Source. OpenOffice integrates everything that it needs, in the case of Java, the installer will take care of anything extra required. .NET is not required for OpenOffice, and although Java has it’s critics, the fact that it allows cross platform compatible software to be authored very easily means it’s a technology chosen by programmers of software such as OpenOffice.

Looking through the website that was linked to for SSuite, it seems that the software is only available for Windows. As far as I can tell, it’s also closed source, which puts it at another disadvantage.

At the end of the day, OpenOffice isn’t perfect, but it runs (mostly) perfectly on all major platforms, conforms to International Standards for document formats and is Open Source.

]]> By: John Walker http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1715 John Walker Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:49:02 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1715 I have never used SSuite Office so cannot comment upon it. I am always weary of pointing people to software that I am not aware of - you do not know what nasty things it may contain inside. But, that is not to say that it is inherently bad. So I should mention a few things I tend to do before I just go ahead and download, install and run software from the net. == Download via a reputable channel as opposed to directly from publishers sites == Download.com, for example, tend to be a highly reputable download source and run more virus tests on potential software than i have time to do myself e.g. visit http://download.cnet.com and search for: * "OpenOffice.org" or * "SSuite Office" == Check Vulnerability Databases == secunia.com is a place where security experts share information about vulnerabilities in software. It is handy to check these kinds of databases against the software (and version) that you are running to keep up to date with any issues as they arise. Bear in mind that: When comparing software, the "total number of vulnerabilities" is not a metric that necessarily translates directly to "how secure the software is". For example, the "number of vulnerabilities that are fixed promptly" may indicate a better software project than one that has fewer vulnerabilities listed. Naturally, the 'version name' of the software is important. Good software publishers tend to fix vulnerabilities in later versions of the software. So, its less of a worry if you are running version 5 of some software and you read about a vulnerability that was discovered in, say, version 3, then fixed in version 4. As version 5 is later than 4, you can be pretty certain that 'the fix' was inherited by that later version. Here are some example searches: * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=OpenOffice * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=SSuite+Office * http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=Microsoft+Office ---- Just thought i'd mention it. I have never used SSuite Office so cannot comment upon it.

I am always weary of pointing people to software that I am not aware of - you do not know what nasty things it may contain inside. But, that is not to say that it is inherently bad.

So I should mention a few things I tend to do before I just go ahead and download, install and run software from the net.

== Download via a reputable channel as opposed to directly from publishers sites ==
Download.com, for example, tend to be a highly reputable download source and run more virus tests on potential software than i have time to do myself
e.g. visit
http://download.cnet.com and search for:
* “OpenOffice.org”
or
* “SSuite Office”

== Check Vulnerability Databases ==

secunia.com is a place where security experts share information about vulnerabilities in software. It is handy to check these kinds of databases against the software (and version) that you are running to keep up to date with any issues as they arise.

Bear in mind that:
When comparing software, the “total number of vulnerabilities” is not a metric that necessarily translates directly to “how secure the software is”. For example, the “number of vulnerabilities that are fixed promptly” may indicate a better software project than one that has fewer vulnerabilities listed.

Naturally, the ‘version name’ of the software is important. Good software publishers tend to fix vulnerabilities in later versions of the software. So, its less of a worry if you are running version 5 of some software and you read about a vulnerability that was discovered in, say, version 3, then fixed in version 4. As version 5 is later than 4, you can be pretty certain that ‘the fix’ was inherited by that later version.

Here are some example searches:
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=OpenOffice
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=SSuite+Office
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=Microsoft+Office

—-
Just thought i’d mention it.

]]> By: BeBob Esq http://biznewz.co.uk/business_news/2009/280/a-guide-to-cutting-business-software-costs-openoffice/comment-page-1#comment-1713 BeBob Esq Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:03:56 +0000 http://biznewz.co.uk/?p=280#comment-1713 I personally tend to favour SSuite Office’s free office suites. Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient. http://www.ssuitesoft.com I personally tend to favour SSuite Office’s free office suites. Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.

http://www.ssuitesoft.com

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