Top Ten Linux Software

Sun StarOffice 5.2 Deluxe

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

Applixware Office Suite for Linux

• Words, a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) program for writing and editing text
• Graphics, a paint program for producing and editing image files in a variety of formats, including GIF and JPEG
• Spreadsheets, a general-purpose calculator for business and scientific use
• Presents, a presentation graphics program that's handy for creating slides
• Inbox, an e-mail manager
• Data, a database management tool
• HTML Author, a tool for creating Web documents

If you've used a modern productivity suite under Mac OS or Microsoft Windows, you'll understand Applixware's user interface. It's graphical, with toolbar buttons that invoke the handiest functions. There's a little control panel window that you use to launch applications, and you'll find that many interface elements are consistent across applications.

Applixware's feature set is quite elaborate and should prove satisfactory for most users. For example, Spreadsheets allows you to call up a wizard that walks you through the creation of a chart, step by step. The library of available chart styles is impressive (it includes a variety of 3-D looks). Graphs update automatically as the data they're based on changes. It's possible to copy a chart from Spreadsheets and paste it into a Words document, though the automatic update feature doesn't work across applications. Other impressive features include Directory Displayer, which allows you to organize and locate your files quickly, and a macro language. Words can do mail merges. Words also supports a ton of keyboard shortcuts for everything from "move forward on paragraph" to "insert a blank line."

Applixware is a worthy productivity suite for Linux users. With it, you can use Linux full time and accomplish everything you'd like to. --David WallApplixware Office is a complete set of cross-platform productivity tools, development environment, and real-time data gateways designed to create documents and solve problems. Whether you're trying to write the perfect proposal, create a dynamically updating report from the corporate database, view real-time stock information, or build a custom application that automatically keeps everyone in the loop, Applixware Office is your unique solution.
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PhotoSuite 4 Business Edition

Playing with photos can be addictive, whether adding a few inches to an annoying cousin's waistline or finding the perfect color balance for a tapestry of products. Though these effects are neat, there just aren't enough to compare to a powerhouse like Photoshop, but for the price--and ease of use--it's hard to beat.

Once the fiddling is done, PhotoSuite helps the user organize photo files in albums and projects, share them online or through a network, and print them on the desktop or via online services. Experienced graphics workers will be frustrated at PhotoSuite's limited scope, but this package is aimed at small-scale or beginning users. The wizards are all powerful here, and most people will be grateful for the guidance, though backing up out of processes can take a few steps. The context-sensitive help is smart and useful--this is one of the rare programs you can really use without consulting the manual (though, as always, it does help).

For less than the cost of an hour of a graphic designer's time, PhotoSuite 4 Business Edition will help personal and business users work magic on photos, Web sites, and advertisements. --Rob LightnerPhotoSuite Business Edition allows the corporate user, small-business owner, or mobile professional to clarify their message with pictures. Powerful yet easy-to-use tools let you quickly edit, organize, and share photos. Create compelling, image-rich Web sites, and stunning marketing materials. The program includes PhotoSuite Mobile Edition which makes image storing, viewing, and sharing possible on Palm-powered handhelds.
Our Price: $44.94
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Detto Intellimover BE - Business Edition

Save time when replacing a PC or notebook with IntelliMover Business Edition (BE). It quickly and easily transfers e-mail, files, folders, network resources and more from one PC to another, with just a couple of clicks. In addition, IntelliMover BE supports cross-version migrations, so users retain their familiar settings and behaviors even in newer versions of applications and operating systems. With IntelliMover BE, your users will be productive right from the start on their new PC.

PDF Quick Converter/Creator Pro

Convert Any Printable Document to PDF

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Now you can quickly and conveniently convert your documents into the popular PDF format with Quickstart PDF Quick Converter Pro! It has all the tools you need to convert to PDF from any application with printing capabilities by simply clicking the ""Print"" button, and makes creating your PDF documents easy.  Choose from three working modes and configure options to suit your needs.

QuickStart PDF Quick Converter Pro is as easy as 1-2-3!

Unique Advantages

Document Information
Enter additional information about PDF-file: author's name, subject of the document, keywords, name of the program, in which the document was created, etc.  On this page you can also embed thumbnails of the pages in the PDF-file to make the navigation inside the document more easy.  With the help of this page you can choose the compression method for document's images.

• Entering additional information about the document
• Embedding thumbnails in the PDF file
• Choosing format of document's images

Document Security
You can limit the access to PDF-file for other users. You can also forbid to print the document, to copy parts of document's content, to change documents properties, etc.  You can choose a length of key, which will be used for document's encryption. Key length influences the number of options, access to which can be limited for other users.

• Encrypting a document
• Setting owner's and user's password or 
• Limited access 

Fonts Used in Document
Find names of all fonts used in the document under edition. If you want, you can embed
List Price: $29.95
Our Price: $3.95
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Intellimover Be Business Ed CD20U Lic with CD & Ref Guide- DVD Pkg

Save time when replacing a PC or notebook with IntelliMover Business Edition (BE). It quickly and easily transfers e-mail, files, folders, network resources and more from one PC to another, with just a couple of clicks. In addition, IntelliMover BE supports cross-version migrations, so users retain their familiar settings and behaviors even in newer versions of applications and operating systems. With IntelliMover BE, your users will be productive right from the start on their new PC.

Detto Intellimover Be - Business Ed - 5 User

Save time when replacing a PC or notebook with IntelliMover Business Edition (BE). It quickly and easily transfers e-mail, files, folders, network resources and more from one PC to another, with just a couple of clicks. In addition, IntelliMover BE supports cross-version migrations, so users retain their familiar settings and behaviors even in newer versions of applications and operating systems. With IntelliMover BE, your users will be productive right from the start on their new PC.

SuSE Linux Office Desktop

First, it includes Sun's commercial quality StarOffice 6.0 office suite, which provides word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, Web-page editing and vector drawing applications along with remarkably complete support for MS Office file formats--which means you can continue to use your existing files. StarOffice's native file formats are all XML based for compatibility with any XML-based applications.

The second string to SuSE Linux Office Desktop's bow is Codeweaver's Crossover Office, which enables you to install and run MS Office under Linux (apart from FrontPage) along with other Windows programs. This is impressively efficient.

To further make migration easy for end users and companies SuSE includes new software assistants that make networking a breeze. Installation on either a clean PC or alongside Windows is simple. On a Windows machine you can resize partitions--including under XP--without losing data.

Internet setup via modem, ISDN, DSL, and LAN is part of the installation process along with establishing network connections, or, as with everything, you can do it at any time using Yast2. KDE 3 is the default desktop, but the Gnome implementation is also excellent.

SuSE Linux Office Desktop isn't quite as polished as Windows, but most PC users could make the swap with little trouble. If you're one of the vast majority of word-processing, Internet-accessing PC users you can do more for less with SuSE Linux Office Desktop than with a basic Windows system. --Steve Patient
Our Price: $1.51
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