You'll need XFree86, XDarwin, dlcompat, and libfreetype 6.2+. The installer will try to detect if they are present and tell you if they need to be installed.
I give it 6 out of 10. It's a great suite of apps, mind you, but like everything in XWindows it breaks all the Aqua UI guidelines and "feels" very much like a Windows app. If you've got any specific questions, feel free to ask because I have it installed here on my Mac.
If you're a Unix newbie, OpenOffice is *not* for you -- unless you're just absolutely desperate for a free office suite and willing to learn a lot of Unix along the way...
--------------
Well, since AppleInsider has gotten all mucked up and won't let me post a new message, I'll just edit in my new comments...
If the above information wasn't enough to help you decide if Open Office is right for you, here are some more deetails for ya'.
First off, let's take a look at the interface. Click the thumbnails for full-size snapshots.
Here's a clip of OO's super-slow and ultra-ugly menus in action! No, I didn't pick out that serif font you see; it's like that by default. In fact, I have yet to figure out how to change it to something less irritating!
Once you get past the interface, let's say you want to type a document. You go to the font menu to select your favorite font: Lucida Grande. Wait... What's this? The X11 environment uses it's own set of fonts located at /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/. No problem, just drop in your fonts? No-can-do! In theory, you should be able to just drop in TrueType fonts, but I have yet to get that to work. If your fonts are of a different format, you'll have to try to find a converter.
Okay, you're happy to see that the "Times" font is included and you get to work typing away your document. You go to print and -- ah ah ah! Can't do that either.
Now, this problem is one I have yet to solve. I've read of cases where people set up their system to print to a ps file, convert that ps to a pdf, and then print the pdf with a *real* Mac OS X app, but I haven't bothered to mess with that.
*bump* so you'll see that I added some extra info above. I had it all typed up when AI (or Jonathan?) mucked up and I just wasn't gonna wait to post it.
Gents, I agree with most everyone. OpenOffice is a great alternative if you are on a *Nix machine. However, on OSX we have MacOffice, I know, I know, I'm not a fan of Microshaft either, however it is "compatible" and works. Besides why use Open Office when we have AppleWorks!!
If you do want to tinker that is a great project, I am not a *nix newbie and it took me probably half a day to find out one by one the libraries, etc. that I needed .. Maybe if I read that file called readme.txt...
I've often thought that Apple should open-source their AppleWorks effort. They don't make any real money off it, and they could combine their efforts with the efforts shouldered by the OpenOffice folks this way. With some shared source, and Apple's application of proper Aqua design, the solution would end up being a lot better for end users.
Yeah! Why isn't AppleWorks OpenSource, anyway? (at least for Mac, not Windows)
Also, why aren't defunct apps like HyperCard OpenSource?
I keep hearing about how Apple is giving away to the Open Source community (what are they giving away?). But by opening up AppleWorks and HyperCard, I'm sure that would immediately draw the Linux and other NIX people to Apple, and get Apple some good karma, and maybe even encourage more Open Source work on Darwin
Comments
I give it 6 out of 10. It's a great suite of apps, mind you, but like everything in XWindows it breaks all the Aqua UI guidelines and "feels" very much like a Windows app. If you've got any specific questions, feel free to ask because I have it installed here on my Mac.
Eh. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
Thanks in advance.
-robo
If you're a Unix newbie, OpenOffice is *not* for you -- unless you're just absolutely desperate for a free office suite and willing to learn a lot of Unix along the way...
--------------
Well, since AppleInsider has gotten all mucked up and won't let me post a new message, I'll just edit in my new comments...
If the above information wasn't enough to help you decide if Open Office is right for you, here are some more deetails for ya'.
First off, let's take a look at the interface. Click the thumbnails for full-size snapshots.
OpenOffice Writer:
<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/images/oo-writer.png"; target="_blank">
OpenOffice Calc:
<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/images/oo-calc.png"; target="_blank">
OpenOffice Impress:
<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/images/oo-impress.png"; target="_blank">
OpenOffice Draw:
<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/images/oo-draw.png"; target="_blank">
Here's a clip of OO's super-slow and ultra-ugly menus in action! No, I didn't pick out that serif font you see; it's like that by default. In fact, I have yet to figure out how to change it to something less irritating!
<a href="http://brad.project-think.com/movies/openoffice-menus.mov"; target="_blank">http://brad.project-think.com/movies/openoffice-menus.mov</a>; (only 420 KB)
Once you get past the interface, let's say you want to type a document. You go to the font menu to select your favorite font: Lucida Grande. Wait... What's this? The X11 environment uses it's own set of fonts located at /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/. No problem, just drop in your fonts? No-can-do! In theory, you should be able to just drop in TrueType fonts, but I have yet to get that to work. If your fonts are of a different format, you'll have to try to find a converter.
Okay, you're happy to see that the "Times" font is included and you get to work typing away your document. You go to print and -- ah ah ah! Can't do that either.
Now, this problem is one I have yet to solve. I've read of cases where people set up their system to print to a ps file, convert that ps to a pdf, and then print the pdf with a *real* Mac OS X app, but I haven't bothered to mess with that.
[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: starfleetX ]</p>
If you do want to tinker that is a great project, I am not a *nix newbie and it took me probably half a day to find out one by one the libraries, etc. that I needed
Just a thought...
Also, why aren't defunct apps like HyperCard OpenSource?
I keep hearing about how Apple is giving away to the Open Source community (what are they giving away?). But by opening up AppleWorks and HyperCard, I'm sure that would immediately draw the Linux and other NIX people to Apple, and get Apple some good karma, and maybe even encourage more Open Source work on Darwin