LibraOffice

[Jimmysb]

As some of you will be aware I am new to the Mac, and still finding my feet. I have not settled on a text/spreadsheet app yet, and have been looking at (though not downloaded) LibreOffice, though feedback on the product would be appreciated, my question is reference the price.
The LibreOffice website and MacUpdate website show this as a free download, however Apple App Store want £8.99 or $8.99, assuming this is the same product why are Apple charging for a free product TVM in anticipation.

 

[pine man]

I have not settled on a text/spreadsheet app yet

After what seems like 100s of years using Microsoft Office on both PCs and Macs I recently dumped it and, like you, looked for an alternative. I did consider the likes of Libre Office and other free offerings but decided, in the end, to try Apples free offerings of Pages and Numbers etc.

It's been a month or two now and, so far, I haven't come across any issues, apart from the fact that the default settings mean that if you edit a file, and then shut it, the changes made are automatically saved in it, whereas Office documents etc ask if you want to save them before closure. Clearly this can be changed but it caught me out at first.

All Apple 'office' type apps can be saved in a variety of different formats and, similarly can readily read files received in other formats.

Worth a look.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

As some of you will be aware I am new to the Mac, and still finding my feet. I have not settled on a text/spreadsheet app yet, and have been looking at (though not downloaded) LibreOffice, though feedback on the product would be appreciated, my question is reference the price.
The LibreOffice website and MacUpdate website show this as a free download, however Apple App Store want £8.99 or $8.99, assuming this is the same product why are Apple charging for a free product TVM in anticipation.

Apple doesn't charge for it. The people behind LibreOffice who distribute it on the App Store do. Buying it on the App Store is just a way to support the Foundation that develops the suite vs donating. It quite frankly is an awful way to do so because, as per the disclaimer on the App Store listing, that version can't use Java functionality.

EDIT... more here:

LibreOffice Is Now Available on the Mac App Store

A quicker download for the excellent open-source office suite.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[Jimmysb]

Apple doesn't charge for it. The people behind LibreOffice who distribute it on the App Store do. Buying it on the App Store is just a way to support the Foundation that develops the suite vs donating. It quite frankly is an awful way to do so because, as per the disclaimer on the App Store listing, that version can't use Java functionality.

EDIT... more here:

LibreOffice Is Now Available on the Mac App Store

A quicker download for the excellent open-source office suite.

www.howtogeek.com

Very interesting, TVM.

 

[harvdog47]

After what seems like 100s of years using Microsoft Office on both PCs and Macs I recently dumped it and, like you, looked for an alternative. I did consider the likes of Libre Office and other free offerings but decided, in the end, to try Apples free offerings of Pages and Numbers etc.

It's been a month or two now and, so far, I haven't come across any issues, apart from the fact that the default settings mean that if you edit a file, and then shut it, the changes made are automatically saved in it, whereas Office documents etc ask if you want to save them before closure. Clearly this can be changed but it caught me out at first.

All Apple 'office' type apps can be saved in a variety of different formats and, similarly can readily read files received in other formats.

Worth a look.

As a former technology teach I couldn't agree more with your recommendations. Also there is a YouTube site called MacMost that can help in most Pages, Numbers, and Keynote questions.

 

[pm-r]

Buying it on the App Store is just a way to support the Foundation that develops the suite vs donating. It quite frankly is an awful way to do so because, as per the disclaimer on the App Store listing, that version can't use Java functionality.

I agree with your comment completely and have pretty well given up using Apple's App Store some time ago as they often dropped older versions and access was no longer available, as well as charging for otherwise Free applications, or to discover the App Store version was crippled in some way. Besides, I find it's a PITA to navigate or find anything of information on their App Store site.

So I would rather support the developer and download from their site and send him a voluntary payment directly as I see fit.




- Patrick
=======

 

[Slydude]

I used Libra Office for a while but stopped about a year or two ago because it seemed to slow down significantly on my 2015 iMac.

The Mac version of Microsoft Office is now available at a significant price reduction compared to what they used to charge for it. I think I saw it recently at Cult Of Mac for about $40.00 US.

I have also used a program called SoftMaker Office that I like. It has a free version of each program as well as a paid version with a few additional features that you may/may not need, The paid-for programs seem to get updated regularly.

TextMaker | The GDPR-compliant Microsoft Word alternative from SoftMaker

TextMaker, the fast and compatible alternative to Microsoft Word. SoftMaker Office is the GDPR-compliant Office suite for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.

www.softmaker.com

 

[pm-r]

All Apple 'office' type apps can be saved in a variety of different formats and, similarly can readily read files received in other formats.

I'm glad to see and read the comments from member pine man who suggests considering using Apple's software equivalents as a word processor, and maybe it's my imagination. but their Pages application so often seems to be bypassed or disregarded and not recommended as a word processor.
It may not have some of the features or details of some fairly expensive applications, but is certainly adequate for most users for general projects, besides which the price is certainly right and also very adaptable to use and share with other Apple iDevices.

Anyway, I just thought I would add my own opinion and agree it has some very good value and maybe a user should have a serious look at using it and save themselves some money as well.

I was a bit annoyed with Apple and their Pages application when it was first released many years ago, as I was so used to using AppleWorks which I could handle very well, but I didn't like many of the changes of their new Pages application, but I have since learned to deal with it and learned of it's various differences from it's previous replaced application.

Bottom line, have a look at Apple's updated iWork collection, especially the Pages.app for a useful word processor, complete with some pretty good graphics capabilities.

And here are a few more things to consider about using it:

7 Reasons Apple Pages Is Better Than Microsoft Word​

7 Reasons Apple Pages Is Better Than Microsoft Word

Wondering which is the best word processing app for Apple devices? Here are some reasons why you should use Apple Pages instead of Microsoft Word.

www.makeuseof.com

- Patrick
=======

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...have been looking at (though not downloaded) LibreOffice, though feedback on the product would be appreciated, my question is reference the price.

There is an entire Web site devoted to Macintosh word processors here:

Macintosh Word Processors

The page lists all of the integrated "office-style" programs, with a special section on all of the programs based on the OpenOffice codebase, LibreOffice just being one of them.

LibreOffice is free when downloaded directly from their Web site. All of the other OpenOffice-based siblings are also free, except for NeoOffice, which is very reasonably priced.

If you want something that is free, I can't recommend this product highly enough:

FreeOffice (free)
https://www.freeoffice.com/en/
Comparison chart of the differences between FreeOffice and Softmaker Office 2021:
https://www.softmaker.com/en/comparison-freeoffice-softmaker-office
A really slick Office suite extremely similar to Microsoft Office, but free! Excellent file compatibility with Microsoft format files! Extremely similar to Softmaker Office (and from the same developer), with a few less features that you likely don't need. Highly recommended!

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Something that I forgot to say about FreeOffice. If you download FreeOffice, usually sometime within a week afterward, you will receive an e-mail from Softmaker offering you the full commercial version of Softmaker Office for a one-time flat fee of something like $20 (at least that was the deal about a year ago). If you decide that you really like FreeOffice, and you will be using it a lot, this is an exceptional deal that you might want to consider going for.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Something else that you might find interesting.

You can currently get a lifetime license (one-time fee) for a genuine copy of Microsoft Office for the Mac for only $25 from:

Office 2021 Home and Business Lifetime License Key – For MacOS
$25
https://www.joywarp.com/product/office-2021-home-and-business-lifetime-license-key-for-macos/

Office 2021 is the latest version of Office for the Mac.

 

[Jimmysb]

Many thanks to all of you, I will try to answer your responses:
MS Office, I currently have a subscription, but wish to move away from subscription based, and the issue with one off licences (I have 6 different Office versions for Windows) is that they become out of date as the new iteration is released, so want to give up MS.
FreeOffice, I am currently running this, and generally I find it fine, however when I open it I get pop-ups for the upgrade, which is a subscription, and I just find the pop-ups annoying, but liveable.
Numbers, downloaded it yesterday (doesn't come loaded with Ventura), it really did not like my spreadsheets, opened a couple, and though the data was safe, the interface was not as expected, however, I was careful not to save, but revert the files.
LibreOffice, I have just downloaded it, it seem closer to what I am after, but time will tell.
I do appreciate the comment about the App Store, and will bear in mind downloading from there.

So many thanks to:
@pine man
@Lifeisabeach
@harvdog47
@pm-r
@Slydude
@Randy B. Singer

for your input.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

FreeOffice, I am currently running this, and generally I find it fine, however when I open it I get pop-ups for the upgrade, which is a subscription, and I just find the pop-ups annoying, but liveable.

I found that curious. I just launched TextMaker...no pop ups. So I launched PlanMaker...no pop ups.

I don't recall ever getting any pop-ups using any components of FreeOffice, but I've been using it for years. Maybe the pop-ups only occur when you've just downloaded the program?

I can tell you that I've been following all of the OpenOffice-based suites for many years, hoping that they would become good enough for regular business use. It never happened. Even the latest version of LibreOffice has what I consider inadequate Word (my primary app) translators. Try to open a Word document with complex formatting in LibreOffice and LibreOffice will often have problems rendering things perfectly. Try the same thing in FreeOffice, and it almost always does a perfect job. If, like myself, you often receive Word documents from others, this makes FreeOffice the clear winner.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Many thanks to all of you, I will try to answer your responses:
MS Office, I currently have a subscription, but wish to move away from subscription based, and the issue with one off licences (I have 6 different Office versions for Windows) is that they become out of date as the new iteration is released, so want to give up MS.

In what way do they become "out of date" when a new version is released?

At least on the Macintosh, ever version of Word is backwards and forwards compatible with documents created any time in the last couple of decades (and probably much further if you know how).

I have a fleet of Macs in my office, running different versions of the Mac OS and different versions of Word. I feel no need to upgrade MS Word on any of them. They all continue to work fine, even with files created in newer versions of Word.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Many thanks to all of you, I will try to answer your responses:
MS Office, I currently have a subscription, but wish to move away from subscription based, and the issue with one off licences (I have 6 different Office versions for Windows) is that they become out of date as the new iteration is released, so want to give up MS.

It'd be great to get away from MS if you can, but that is easier said than done. The more complex your documents are, the more likely they won't look right in other apps. If you have a business need for this, it may not be worth the risk. Thankfully, deals can be had for one-time purchases of MS Office. Randy periodically posts links to deals... I think the best a few months ago was 30 bucks for a lifetime license to Office 2021 was it? Here's one... good for just a couple more days. $50!

Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License | Apple Insider

<p>Say hello to a lifetime of productivity! Secure all the MS Office 2021 apps with just one smart purchase from a Microsoft-verified partner.</p>

shop.appleinsider.com

EDIT: I know you mentioned concerns about being out-of-date, but really, I wouldn't sweat this. Randy already touched base on that but I'll also point out that Microsoft isn't going to abandon users very quickly either. They are well known for striving to maintain backwards compatibility, perhaps to their detriment at times! Office 2021 is already a Universal binary so barring a huge change in future versions of macOS that Office 2021 will choke on, you will be good to go for a while. And if that does happen? Well hey... $50 is much easier to swallow for a future version that will certainly keep you going for a few years or more.

 

[Jimmysb]

In what way do they become "out of date" when a new version is released?

I have Office Proffessioal (for windows) 2003 / 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019, why, when the new version is issued the old version is not updated, and on Windows the difference between 2003 and 2019 are phenomenal, and as (at the time) my works office was updated, to ensure I was working with the same features, layout, and working continuity, upgrades were bought, luckily via HUP. Eventually the older versions are no longer supported, and then they become a security risk.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I have Office Proffessioal (for windows) 2003 / 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019, why, when the new version is issued the old version is not updated, and on Windows the difference between 2003 and 2019 are phenomenal, and as (at the time) my works office was updated, to ensure I was working with the same features, layout, and working continuity, upgrades were bought, luckily via HUP. Eventually the older versions are no longer supported, and then they become a security risk.

Yes, there's no question upgrades will be a necessity eventually. If you look at that trend, figure on 3 years or so between major releases. But jumping to the latest version on release shouldn't be a necessity right away. If you bide your time and wait for a deal to pop up, well $50 every 3-4 years for software you rely on is a bargain.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I have Office Proffessioal (for windows) 2003 / 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019, why, when the new version is issued the old version is not updated,
and on Windows the difference between 2003 and 2019 are phenomenal, and as (at the time) my works office was updated, to ensure I was working with the same features, layout, and working continuity, upgrades were bought, luckily via HUP.

First, this is the Macintosh, not Windows. So it doesn't matter what happens on Windows.

Second, what features have been introduced that you can't live without?

I've been using Microsoft Office for the Mac for about 35 years. There is no doubt that things have changed quite a bit in all that time. But I think that I could still work effectively with a version of Office from 20 years ago. And I could send my work product to any other Office user, with any other version of Office, and it would render perfectly. I don't see the need to run out and purchase a new version of Office every time a new version is released. Microsoft may like it if you did that, but it isn't necessary.

Eventually the older versions are no longer supported,

So what? How often do you contact Microsoft for support? If you do, have they ever even been helpful?

and then they become a security risk.

Once again, this is the Macintosh, not Windows. What security risks are you concerned about? The only thing in Office that has been a security risk as far back as I can remember are Word and Excel macro viruses. Microsoft instituted "Macro Virus Protection" a couple of decades ago. I haven't heard a report of anyone experiencing any sort of security problem associated with Office in ages. When you are a Macintosh user, unlike when you are a Windows user, security doesn't have to be the driver for all of your computer purchasing decisions. The Macintosh is many times more secure than Windows.

 

[rogerinlondon]

Unless you are not doing hugely complex Excel-applications or permanently need to collaborate with people still on Windows, just go for Pages, Numbers and Keynotes. All very intuitive to work with and it is a relief not having to rummage around for functions hidden in some sub-meny somewhere. Continuing with LibeOffice or MS Office will just make you feel as you are still in Windows. Leave it behind and be free!

 

[Alan_B]

One admittedly slight gripe I have about Pages, Numbers and Keynote is the file size even for a small textual document. It seems partly caused by an embedded image used presumably as a means of displaying a preview of its contents in the file’s icon? However compared with the vast acres of space available on your average drive, it’s no big deal!

In all fairness I should have said that my main “office” apps are still those in MS Office.