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As the NC10 doesn’t come with any Office software installed or any trial versions I thought it might be worthwhile listing the free or cheap alternatives that are on the market.
Seeing as though the NC10 has no optical drive too, I think it’s worth saying that downloadable software (that is not dependant on a disk) is better or more recommendable than programs that only come on disk.
Free Software
Office Suites/Programs
OpenOffice.org – A full alternative to MS Office that is also compatible with MS files. Includes nearly everything that MS Office includes in both tools and programs.
Also provides cross platform support as can be installed on MAC and Linux systems.Abi Word – A freeware word processor that is actually very good and has the added benefit of being open source and so is constantly updated with better version and tools. MS file formats compatible.
Kingsoft Office 2009 – Create, Open and Save documents the same as ever, using all the standard document opening types you find on Microsoft Office. Convert documents to Adobe PDF effortlessly, with the export as PDF function. Kingsoft Office 2009 is a compliant, familiar and fully functional office suite for use on a variety of different systems.You can download the 100 day trial version and use your activation key to remove the trial license from the product. Thanks to Uggy for link
Email/Web Applications, Outlook alternatives.
Mozilla Thunderbird – A free alternative to MS Outlook Express, however with the addition of free addons can be made into a decent alternative to Outlook by adding calendar, webmail and other useful tools. Thanks to Newst for linkMozilla Sunbird – This is a calendar and PIM software for free. As with most Mozilla programs it works on Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.
Zimbra – An alternative to MS Outlook. Free and open source. Includes good calendar and email management.
**Essential PIM – Free and Purchase versions of PIM (Personal Information Management) software. As you’ll see from the link, the free version lacks many capabilities of the purchase version (a bit like AVG free) but these features can be made up by other freeware such as Sticky Notes.
** Free and purchase versions available
Online Software
Google Docs – Online office software for creation as well as secure file storage and easy sharing. Not sure of an Offline version but might be available somewhere, or in the near future. Thanks to Jez for link
Other Useful Software
Two Finger Trackpad Scroll – This free tool enables the NC10’s trackpad to have two fingered control. Think of a MAC, where you drag two fingers on the touchpad to do a scrolling action. It also supports multi touch controls, such as one finger on the pad PLUS one finger tap – to be used as (for example) right click. Originally posted on this site under a different thread. Feedback so far is excellent and people are really finding it an invaluable tool for making the small trackpad much easier to use. See the other thread here.
Aero Snap – A useful tool for arranging open windows that you have. It imitates a new feature that is dubbed to be released with the forthcoming Windows 7, Vista’s replacement operating system due out in 2010. In essence the program allows you to easily arrange your windows by dragging them to areas of the screen. For example if you drag a window to the top of the screen, it will mazimise it. Drag it to the left and it will maximise to 50% of the screen on the left hand side. Similarly the same on the right hand side. A video of this in action is available at the link address. Compatible with both Windows XP and Vista. A link to this programs own thread on this site is available here.
Sticky Notes – A useful free tool which allows the simple creation of “sticky notes” (post-it notes for UKers) to be added to the desktop in a virtual way. Useful for those who have bad memory, are busy or just generally need notes to remind them of things. Replaced by the sidebar notes feature in Vista, this one’s only really worthwhile for XP people. Should be a handy addition to the netbook useage since it’s exactly the kind of thing the netbook was meant for – a computer version of your PAPER notebook.
Pay Software
Star Office – This is where OpenOffice began; at Sun Microsystems, before Sun cancelled the project but the programmers continued with it and called it OpenOffice. Then Sun reopened the project! I can’t keep up with these companies either! Sun’s equivalent to MS Office software is a priced product (US $34.95 13/12/2008) but not very expensive and some people swear by it. Again fully compatible with MS file formats.
ThinkFree Mobile – A minor alternative to the more popular programs in MS Office, Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The software is ideal for netbooks and was designed for them especially and opens very fast. There are a couple of versions available and in particular interest to this forum one is designed for Netbooks, called Thinkfree Mobile. MS file formats compatible. Previously available for free via the website for filling in an online feedback survey however it seems this offer is no longer available. Priced at $49.95 (13/12/2008)
SoftMaker – Office suite consisting of several equivalent to MS Office programs; Word, Excel, Powerpoint and an automation tool for repetitive tasks. MS file formats compatible. Current version priced at: €69.95 / $79.95 (13/12/2008) however there are older versions available for less money. Thanks to Newst for link
Thanks for this! I use openoffice.org since I’ve been using it on my Mac (I have iWork08, but find myself using openoffice more often) and will look into the alternatives.
Thanks Jon, will try the ThinkFree for the NC. Am currently using Open office for MS Office replacement and the only beef i have with it is the slow opening time.
Any good Outllook replacement out there? For email I basically use Gmail, but it would be nice to have an offline Email, PIM program when the internet is not available.
madnoor,
Look into Mozzila’s Thunderbird for that Outlook replacement.
Another ‘Office’ Suite that, while not free, is quite affordable is Softmaker Office. Very smooth compatibility with Microsoft and Open Office file formats.
Thanks for the input peeps – I’ll update the list when I’m in better light(!) am currently sitting in the dark watching a film lol… it’s not that interesting hence why I’m on here!
Back to the point – one thing to consider with Thinkfree is that they take a while for sending the serial key – they say up to a few weeks, and indeed when I filled out their questionaire I waited for three weeks and hadn’t received one. That said a simple email asking for it kindly was promptly responded to by them and included was the serial key. I personally really like it’s simplicity, speed and compatibility with MS.
Nice thread.
What about http://docs.google.com/
Did they ever sort out an offline mode? I’ve been using Google Reader in offline mode on my NC10 and it works great.
Thanks Jon, will try the ThinkFree for the NC. Am currently using Open office for MS Office replacement and the only beef i have with it is the slow opening time.
Any good Outllook replacement out there? For email I basically use Gmail, but it would be nice to have an offline Email, PIM program when the internet is not available.
[quote1227790697=madnoor]
Thanks Jon, will try the ThinkFree for the NC. Am currently using Open office for MS Office replacement and the only beef i have with it is the slow opening time.Any good Outllook replacement out there? For email I basically use Gmail, but it would be nice to have an offline Email, PIM program when the internet is not available.
[/quote1227790697]
Have a look at my updated first post. There is both a free and purchase version of Essential PIM software (free version has less features) the price is around $40. I think. The fewer options given in the free version can be made up by other software such as stickynotes for giving desktop virtual “post it” notes for example.
Ahhhh Looks like you missed one….
Ive been using ‘Kingsoft Office’ for a few months
Register & get free code –
I had problems with OE and was fed up trying out other suites.
http://www.kingsoftresearch.com/[quote1228421330=Uggy]
Ahhhh Looks like you missed one….Ive been using ‘Kingsoft Office’ for a few months
Register & get free code –
I had problems with OE and was fed up trying out other suites.
http://www.kingsoftresearch.com/
[/quote1228421330]Thanks for this – great stuff, keep em coming!
If anyone is a fan of the widget and doesn’t want to install Vista, then you might want to look at Yahoo widgets:
We are currently trialling Zimbra at my work which is an email/PIM combo and I have to say I’m impressed with it so far.
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