Top Ten Linux Software

It might take a little noodling for Windows users to get the hang of the interface, as it essentially takes over the desktop and changes a few things around; after the learning period, though, you won't want to go back. Instead of opening a new program for each type of file (text document, spreadsheet, database, image, appointment, Web page, etc.), simply tell StarOffice what you want and each file opens in its own window, speeding up access considerably. OLE-style embedding is easy, and most of the look and feel will be comfortable for Office users. Currently there's not much third-party support, and help functions are ever present but inconsistent, so it's important to consider the costs carefully before installing.

StarOffice is perfect for those switching to Linux or multiple operating systems, or any new user who needs an inexpensive office suite with plenty of options. Current users of Microsoft Office might be better off sticking with Uncle Bill--between learning new commands and the marginal differences between the two, you might think inertia's not so bad after all. The programs included will definitely surpass your expectations if you consider price alone: the presentation and drawing programs are simple and wonderful, the basic office features of document and personal information management are intuitive, and the e-mail, news, and Web browsing are snappy. Integrated as they are with the word processor, spreadsheet, and database functions, they all come together to form a powerful and inexpensive challenge to Microsoft Office. --Rob Lightner

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Interoperable with Microsoft Office
• Multiplatform--runs on Windows, Linux, OS/2, and more

• Little third-party support
• Underdocumented

The word processor in StarOffice, Writer, looks much like its main rivals, Word, WordPerfect, and Word Pro. It supports most of the same heavyweight functions, too, such as outlining, frames, columns, and tables. Table functions include merge, split, and distribution, and cells can be made to expand as you type or stay fixed. Writer's tools include a spell checker, thesaurus, and auto correction of common typing errors. Longer document functions are also supported, with footnotes and endnotes, cross-referencing, indexing, and table of contents.

Writer defaults to a print-layout view of the page, so you can see all elements as you create them, which provides a lot of scope for desktop publishing and even Web page design. All StarOffice programs now use XML as their default file format, so most documents will display directly in Web browsers. Sun realizes it must maintain compatibility with Microsoft, though, and Writer, like the other modules, opens documents from its Office equivalents.

Writer is fully graphical and includes image import and integrated graphics and charting. One of the key ways of adding images to your Writer documents is from the Gallery, a suite-wide clipboard that comes with masses of clip art. You can drag and drop any item from the gallery to a Writer page and, just as easily, drag items from your page to store in the Gallery for use in other documents or modules.

The StarOffice spreadsheet, Calc, is a capable program, though not quite on par with Excel, 1-2-3, or Quattro Pro. As you would expect, you can enter numbers, text, and formulas into the cells and set up relationships between them to conduct all kinds of calculations. Calc supports over 350 different functions, including esoteric ones like number base conversion and complex numbers. The program follows the industry conventions for entering and manipulating numbers, which makes it very easy to use. The charting feature is well-engineered, with a selection of color schemes that can be applied with minimum effort. A basic chart can be constructed with just a couple of mouse clicks, once you've selected your target cells.

Of all the graphics programs in the major integrated suites, StarOffice Draw is far and away the most impressive. As well as being a useful addition to other programs, it can be opened as a separate application in its own right. The core tools for drawing lines, rectangles, and ellipses are there as you'd expect, but more unusual are those for bezier curves, polygons, connectors, arrows, and 3-D objects. Draw is just as capable with photo images as it is at constructing drawings. Import an image and you can adjust its brightness, transparency, and gamma level, as well as apply a range of different filters. While not as comprehensive as a dedicated graphics package, it's exceptionally well-equipped for part of an integrated suite.

Draw's functions are also available in StarOffice Impress, the presentation graphics program. Although this means you can easily incorporate graphic elements into your slides, the program itself is comparatively basic. You're offered the key slide, outline, notes, and handout views for putting together an electronic slide show, but the lackluster designs and lack of coordinated color schemes mean eye-catching presentations are harder to achieve.

The database section of StarOffice 6, Adabas, differs from the other programs in that it is integrated into several programs and is not a standalone application. Pick Tools or Data Sources in Writer or Calc and you can import a data file, such as an address list, into the database program and access it from the other applications. This is ideal for mail shots and makes viewing and manipulating addresses very easy. With different data, this program can be used for many other lists of information.

Even with these changes in mind, there were a few rough edges in the installation. Chief among them was booting the upgrade from a diskette. But contacting technical support (provided free for 30 days) by phone was a pleasurable experience to counterbalance the hassle. Each time, the wait was less than 20 seconds, and a knowledgeable, helpful technician stayed on the line until there was resolution.

(A point about troubleshooting the installation. From the several choices provided, if you encounter problems, choose the Custom install, text option. It is the most reliable and often resolves problems encountered with the new GUI installation.)

Once you get Linux installed, setting up local-area networking is straightforward. There is a Wizard-like approach for setting up a connection to an Internet service provider (ISP). The system boots into the XFree86 X-windows clone, unless you choose during installation not to boot into a GUI environment. The Red Hat Package Manager makes the installation of add-on software packages e xtremely easy. You can survey the packages available on a CD, with a mouse click get an overview of the programs, and with anothe r mouse click install the software.

The Red Hat Linux 6.1 release includes Sun's Star Office 5.1, which provides a full suite of productivity software, including a d atabase application and a presentation package. Also included are two CDs of workstation and power-tool applications. These last two CDs will be particularly useful to developers and Web site administrators.

With this release, Red Hat Linux has moved into the realm of a true end-user operating system. While it is not for everyone, it i s more accessible to a wider audience than ever before with enough bundled software to make it truly useful. --Robert Franklan d
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After installing Quicken Lawyer 2003 Business, you can choose to brush up on your "legalese" or jump right into the program. The Quicken Lawyer 2003 Business library contains reading material on starting and running a small business, legal forms for small businesses, an employer's legal handbook, marketing without advertising, and leasing space for a small business. You can also link to Web sites like Nolo.com's Small Business Law Center and Quicken.com's Small Business Center.

Quicken Lawyer 2003 Business includes a wide variety of business document templates, including documents for hiring, buying and selling real estate or goods and equipment, borrowing money, renting office space, contracts, and more. Titles of documents contained within the program include Amendment to Contract (General), Assignment of Lease, Bill of Sale for Business Assets, Confidentiality Agreement, Consent of Directors, Corporate Bylaws, and many more.

New features in the 2003 version include a new interface redesigned to be easier to use, interactive forms using an interview format, Web updates to make sure you have the most recent version of the program, and a new book, Leasing Space for Your Small Business, by Fred Steingold and Janet Portman.

Take advantage of OpenOffice.org included with version 8.1, which is fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. This package offers not only common office tools such as a word processing application, a spreadsheet calculation, and a presentation program, it also provides an HTML editor, a database, a scheduler, a drawing program, an image processing application, and several other practical utilities.