Sun StarOffice 8

by Sun Microsystems

Product Features

• Complete, fully integrated office productivity suite
• Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, PDF export, and more
• Multiplatform; based on open standards; compatible with MS Office files
• Easily share documents with people using popular applications
• Plus, Mozilla Firefox Web browser and Mozilla Thunderbird email client

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000A7MFO2
• Item model number: 10079
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 3, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,378 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

StarOffice 8 software is a complete office productivity suite that is changing the rules about software because it's multiplatform, based on open standards, and compatible with Microsoft Office files. Since the StarOffice 8 suite is fully integrated, you can do what you want, when you want, without changing applications. Look up a fact on the Internet while writing a report. Send an e-mail while creating a presentation. The software is even smart enough to make sure you have the tools you need at all times, no matter which application you're using. And it's easy to share documents with people using Microsoft Office as well as other popular applications. Sun's StarOffice 8 productivity suite is the right choice for those who want, well....a choice!

StarOffice 8 features:

• Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Presentations
• Databases
• Drawing and graphics
• PDF export
• Full XML support

Special bonus features include:

• Mozilla Firefox Web browser
• Mozilla Thunderbird email client

Product Description

StarOffice 8 software is a complete office productivity suite that is changing the rules about software because it's multiplatform, based on open standards, and compatible with Microsoft Office files. Since StarOffice 8 integrated, you can do what you want, when you want, without changing applications. Look up a fact on the Internet while writing a report. Send an e-mail while creating a presentation. The software is even smart enough to make sure you have the tools you need at all times, no matter which application you're using. It's easy to share documents with people using Microsoft Office as well as other popular applications. StarOffice 8 productivity suite is the right choice for those who want, well....a choice!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best, December 8, 2005

By 

Doc Dave "Doc Dave" (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sun StarOffice 8 (CD-ROM)

I've been a user and big fan of Star Office since version 6. At first this was because I couldn't swallow the outrageous pricetag of MS office, and still can't, but now I simply prefer using Star. While some will claim that you must have MS Office because it "is the industry standard," this is an extremely weak sales point in my opinion, since many things of marginal value are now or have at one time been recognized as industry standards. Star Office has often been noted to be more compatible with the various versions of office files than the latest MS versions are themselves! My experience, with many versions of both packages, has been consistent with this assertion, and I convert files on a regular basis. My favorite things about version 8: excellent pdf export function, the database application, flashy new icons, better looking on-screen display of bulleted lists etc (they always looked fine once printed), many times less expensive than even a MS Office upgrade, $20 rebate form in the box. Least favorite things: it tends to use a lot of memory (although this has not resulted in any noticeable problems for me, and it runs faster than version 7 on the same machine), the documentation is too basic (maybe a plus for beginners, but it doesn't help me much), and no special upgrade price available. I realize that Star Office may not be the right choice for everyone, and some will prefer to pay for MS Office (though I really don't know why), but I highly recommend that before putting several hundred dollars in Mr Gates' wallet you download the demo of Star Office and check out how well it performs. You will not be disappointed. Bottom line is that this is a great package in its own right that has become stronger in each succeeding version, and stacks up very well in comparison with its competition.
P.S. Although I haven't tried OpenOffice, I've heard good things about it. Apparently it's practically the same as StarOffice but freely downloadable. I don't mind paying the cost of StarOffice, because I feel like I have some recourse/customer support if there are any problems, but I admit that my willingness to pay for piece of mind may or may not be the best value. I haven't had problems, or needed any customer support, which speaks well of StarOffice. Taking a look at what OpenOffice has to offer should also be worthwhile for many though.

79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a nice office suite, October 24, 2005

By 

C. Zhou "EDB" (MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sun StarOffice 8 (CD-ROM)

I have been using StarOffice since version 5.2, it's a great product.
SUN provides a trial version of Staroffice 8. It's always a good idea to try something before you buy it, especially if you are new to it. Sun also sells a downloadable version of StarOffice 8 at $69.99.
If you are a student or a teacher, you can download StarOffice 8 for free from SUN's education software programm. Actually that's how I get my StarOffice since version 5.2.
StarOffice 8 is based on OpenOffice 2 with a little bit more features, including more fonts, more clip art and 60 days of free support. If those are not important to you, you might just want to download OpenOffice 2.0 since it's totally free.

Here is my experience of using StarOffice.
1. There are many non-Microsoft office softwares, none of them is 100% compatible with Microsoft Office. But the compatibility is more than enough for home users who do not heavily use Macro or scripts. I use StarOffice at home, Microsoft Office at school, I don't have any serious problem to use one to open files created by another.
2. SUN does not provide a full user manual for the downloadable version when I wrote this review though a simple getting-start guide is available at their website, I don't know if it's included in the retail package. That's too bad for new buyers since the features and functions can easily overwhelm anybody. But if you used StarOffice in the past, you should have no problem. I still use the manual of version 7 for version 8 since most of it does not change much. The manual for OpenOffice 2.0 applies for StarOffice 8 too. I just downloaded the manual. It's still in draft version, but looks pretty much complete.
3. StarOffice 8 is a solid package which covers everything for home use.
4. The PDF export function is great.
My overall experience with this software is more than satisfactory.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars StarOffice 8 is great., March 4, 2006

By 

StraightAhead (Jake) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sun StarOffice 8 (CD-ROM)

For $69.00 I bought the Sun StarOffice8 suite of programs. You get Word Processing, Speadsheets, Presentation, Database, and Drawing and Graphics programs. You also get the Mozilla Firefox Web Browser and Mozilla Thunderbird Email service. They also send you verions of Office8 for Linux, two Sun operating systems, as well as the Window version, and even a small manual. I find the on screen Help Menus to be much more helpful and useful than those in MS. It's also nice not getting charged extra for certain programs as you do with the the MS suite. It's also compatible with MS Word Excel, etc., so you can send and receive documents to people with the MS suite. More people should check it out.