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OEone and Open Office Working Together

Mike Potter writes "OEone and OpenOffice.org have announced a new partnership that will see the two groups work together to bring OpenOffice applications to OEone HomeBase and see the Mozilla calendar data integrated into the OpenOffice suite. OEone is hard at work getting a version of HomeBase running on RedHat 7.3 and Mandrake, with help from open source developers."

39 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. so what exactly is HomeBase? by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    Yet another Linux desktop environment? We'll have what, GNOME, KDE, HomeBase, and (if it ever gets finished) Enlightenment DR17, and who knows how many others?

    1. Re:so what exactly is HomeBase? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's a desktop written in Mozilla for the kiosk, granny-idiot market. It runs atop Redhat 7.3 right now, and (from the site) contains an Internet browser, Multi-account e-mail, Business-card" style address book, Flexible calendar, Fully-featured word processor, Multimedia Centre, Settings menu, Personal Portal.

    2. Re:so what exactly is HomeBase? by Michael+Wardle · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, the OEone download page states clearly that its OEone HomeBase Desktop product requires Red Hat Linux 7.1 or 7.2, and will only install on those versions. I tried to run the install script on a Red Hat 7.3 box and was told my operating system was currently unsupported. The FAQ confirms same.

  2. This is a good thing by SourKAT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think OEOne is a pretty slick alternative desktop. And with the addition of OpenOffice.org, the future just seems a litle brighter.

    On a side, I think they should not just target a particular distro (i.e., RH and Mandrake) but maybe target LSB? After all Mozilla is supposed to be platform independent, and much more so, Distro idependent.

    1. Re:This is a good thing by Russellkhan · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, Their FAQ says they're working on a version that will work on RedHat 7.3 and that is LSB compliant, so if I'm figuring right, that should mean it would work on other LSB compliant distros.

      Russ

      --
      Information doesn't want to be anthropomorphized anymore.
    2. Re:This is a good thing by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2


      One thing I would like to see, is a GNOME2-Mozilla that has anti-aliased fonts.


      As opposed to the in-work GNOME2 version of Galeon?
  3. MozillaZine Story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    MozillaZine has an article about this with a few more details.

  4. I have a better idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How about getting OpenOffice to run without segfaulting? It isn't 1.0 yet. The install process is too complicated (and doesn't work), and OpenOffice will faceplant (won't run, install or uninstall) if a Java environment is installed after it is.

    And "yeah but it worked for me" is no different than the standard Microsoft tech support answer "it's running on our systems here"

    Any program that segfaults is broken. Period. End of story. Programs that segfault make Linux no better than Windows. We use Linux to get some work done, not turn the system into a giant, dependency-drenched nightmare that falls apart at the slightest nudge.

    Mozilla doesn't segfault. Abiword doesn't segfault. Gimp doesn't segfault. Let's get to that level of stability first.

    OpenOffice needs a LOT of work before adding more cruft.

    1. Re:I have a better idea by Billly+Gates · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I have been using openoffice 1.01 on win32 for several weeks and I had not even had a single crash. On my older system it is alot more quicker and efficient then staroffice 5.2.

    2. Re:I have a better idea by mz001b · · Score: 5, Insightful
      OpenOffice needs a LOT of work before adding more cruft.

      Submit bug reports detailing the problems/crashes you are having. Like many others, I don't have any stability problems. I did in earlier builds, and I submitted some bug reports. That is how things will get fixed.

    3. Re:I have a better idea by woogieoogieboogie · · Score: 2, Informative
      I have also been experimenting with OO 1.0 and have found it to be extremely usable and stable on a win 32 platform.

      From what I have seen so far from 00 1.0, I might actually be able to bring this to the boss as a BETTER solution than MS Word.

      --
      ... Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed...
    4. Re:I have a better idea by Idaho · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How about getting OpenOffice to run without segfaulting?

      Am using Openoffice.org 1.0 exclusively on Windows and Linux since 2 months. Am not getting any segfaults. Maybe you overclocked your PC or got some bad memory banks?

      The install process is too complicated (and doesn't work)

      Yes, it's really hard indeed (N-O-T). './setup -net' as root, click 'next' a few times, then run $INSTALLDIR/setup as the user that wants to use Openoffice, and then you can start it using the KDE menu (or probably the Gnome menu, I suppose it supports that as well). Wow...exactly as the documentation describes you should do. Real hard, ain't it?

      And "yeah but it worked for me" is no different than the standard Microsoft tech support answer "it's running on our systems here"

      Except in this case you are the only one around here that claims to have severe problems all the time, while with Microsoft they are generally the only ones claiming NOT to have problems with their own products.

      Any program that segfaults is broken.

      I agree in general, but I know from personal experience that broken or overclocked hardware can cause this as well. I don't think Openoffice.org belongs in the category that 'falls apart at the slightest nudge', as you so eloquently put it.

      Just my 2 cents, ofcourse :)

      --
      Every expression is true, for a given value of 'true'
    5. Re:I have a better idea by Archie+Steel · · Score: 2

      Well, I tried it on stock Mandrake 8.1 and 8.2 installs.[...] As anyone except root, all programs segfault except setup. [...] (just like Mandrake, whose install doesn't work either) [...] OpenOffice 1.0: click click click segfault [...] Mandrake 8.2: click click click hangs

      Mmh...did you consider that this might be a hardware problem? I can assure you, Mandrake's installer (and OpenOffice's too) work quite well. I don't know, but it seems to me that something is wrong with your setup, either software or hardware, but definitely your situation is exceptional. It does not reflect my own experiences with those products, nor those of most Mandrake users I know/meet...What's your hardware platform (Motherboard, graphic card, memory, etc...)?

      --

      Reminder: find a new sig
    6. Re:I have a better idea by Pretzalzz · · Score: 2, Informative

      So why don't you just use "apt-get install openoffice.org"? I assure you that it is just as easy as apt-get install koffice. The debian maintainers have cut the per-user install down to ~1.3MB which isn't absurd and based on a search of my home directory kde, and netscape[two programs I don't use] created similarly sized .<config> directories. It is currently in debian's incoming ftp section and should hit unstable any day now or if you are impatient use:

      deb http://ftp.freenet.de/pub/ftp.vpn-junkies.de/openo ffice/ testing main contrib

    7. Re:I have a better idea by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 2

      I installed it from Ximian. Worked OK, as far as I could tell.

      However, I agree that stability work is important. Luckily, we have code revision control systems that allows teams to work on stability on one branch, and new features on another.

      --

      Stop the brainwash

    8. Re:I have a better idea by Archie+Steel · · Score: 2

      This hardware works with everything else. There is no reason it shouldn't work with OpenOffice.
      [...]
      Sure. Mandrake 8.1's installer works great. 8.2's installer hangs.

      In both cases, before saying that it's a software bug, you should try it on different hardware. Have you tried to install it on a different computer? Mandrake 8.2's installer worked like a charm for me, as it did on my dad's and my girlfriend's PCs...OpenOffice works flawlessly as well. It seems to me you should research this problem a bit more before complaining that it's the software's fault, especially since there doesn't seem to be any outcry about it among users - this tends to validate the fact that your problem is "special". Did you contact Mandrake and OO.org about those problem? I'm sure they'd be happy to help you out, and possible add fixes to their products with the knowledge gained from your misfortunes.

      So OpenOffice will be proclaimed "1.0" and we'll just slide on down the road, just like Windows. The fact is: It's too complicated.

      Are you kidding? What is so complicated about executing a single file? How more simple could it be? Are you sure you're not just trolling here? Because, compared to most other Linux programs, the OpenOffice/StarOffice installer are a model of simplicity. Heck, they're even a lot simpler that installing MS Office!

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      Reminder: find a new sig
    9. Re:I have a better idea by Archie+Steel · · Score: 2

      Oops! I know I should have previewed...damn italics tag!

      --

      Reminder: find a new sig
  5. From OEone's web site... ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Pulled off the "about us" section on the OEone web site...

    "OEone has applied for seven patents on the company's unique 'balanced processing' architecture to create a barrier-to-entry from vendors using proprietary platforms."

    Uhhhh... Yeah. That's interesting. Anybody know anything about this?

    1. Re:From OEone's web site... ??? by officeboy · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well this is all I can find for OEONE, Don't know if it means anything, all this patent stuff is just way to vague sounding to me.

    2. Re:From OEone's web site... ??? by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 2

      2c seems relatively ok to me. No piracy, and no using the OEone for commercial purposes.

      I am more worried about 6. It was probably demanded by one or more plug-in providers. It also seems to conflict with 5b (you are given the option to accept updates for software, but not DRMs.)

      --

      Stop the brainwash

  6. Yippee by MicroBerto · · Score: 2
    The screenshots are pretty piss-poor, but I can still see that they're re-inventing the wheel.

    More fragmentation of the userbase is not what the linux desktop needs. I really don't have much else to say here, the screenshots leave me speechless -- but not in the good way, more like in a stupified way. I just ask, why??

    --
    Berto
    1. Re:Yippee by SourKAT · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why, is a good question. But the answer could be that this desktop is not actually targeted for hackers but regular end users. And if I read correclty they're targeting specialized devices such as settop or dedicated email/web machines. Their UI is very similar to a Browser/Web interface so it would be easy for momp, pop, little sister and that neighbor that insists on hangin' out on our living room to be comfortable with ... hmmm ... on second thought maybe it's not such a good thing after all ;)

  7. yes, because it forces me to choose "all" by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    A great deal of the useful apps these days are too tightly integrated with one of the major desktops to be useable without them. As a result, I have the vast majority of both KDE and GNOME installed, which seems to be a bit of a waste (I don't have either actual desktop environment, but I have pretty much all the libraries, due to various dependencies). I don't want to have to end up having 1gb of desktop environments.

  8. What about fonts? by Bullfrog · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I agree with the comment below about poor quality screenshots. I don't get excited over fuzzy, out-of-focus screenshots. This makes it all to easy to hide aspects of the interface that won't sell well, like crappy screen fonts.

    With Microsoft's recent withdrawal of the free web fonts, I have to wonder how OEone is going to surmount this particular hurdle easily. And before you start ranting about how the Microsoft EULA allows these fonts to be freely distributed if in their original packaged form, so therefore the fonts will be and still are available, I noticed an article in The Register where the actual license granted to *Microsoft* by the foundaries to use the fonts is only valid if the fonts are used in a *Windows* OS. Any other use is illegal, which is probably the main reason Microsoft withdrew them as free downloads. They weren't being used, nor could they be guarranted to be used only on Windows, which violates Microsoft's license to use and distribute the fonts.

    It appears that OEone has solved this particular, ongoing and nagging Linux problem, I guess. I hope. Here's wishing...

    Bullfrog

  9. Will this make its way to Mac OS X??? by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 2

    Hope so...

    1. Re:Will this make its way to Mac OS X??? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 2

      Yes and no. Here is the link and a screenshot. As you can tell by the color and style of the Windows is that gui aqua support is lacking and needs work. Unfortunately this and other things like the scripting engine need alot of work and may be more then a year or 2 away from a release. I believe even FreeBSD is not fully ported yet either so this means alot of work needs to be accomplished. I read your posts on macosX and assume your a user. The openoffice team had only 2 developers the last time I looked which were working on the Xdarwin/macosX port. If you know how to code or want to beta test it then you can help out.

  10. Re:So... QWZX by mz001b · · Score: 5, Informative
    Will they actually FIX the bugs in OpenOffice such that it won't core dump when I try and open a simple Excel file?

    have you submitted a bug report, including the excel file that causes it to crash? This is the way things get fixed. They cannot fix the bug if they don't know about it.

  11. Patents and segfaults. Wonderful by borked · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is really not what we need right now. Previous users have mentioned OpenOffice's current segfaulting behavior. Couple this with patents(!?!?) and you get a product that looks like it came out of Redmond! I'll stick with Moz and OpenOffice as separate applications. I prefer to launce a browser when I want to browse and launch an editor when I want to edit. Did anyone EVER use that silly file desktop in StarOffice 5.2? Right now, my support goes directly to the developers of Moz and OO rather than some patent-filer mooching off of the efforts of Moz's and OO's developers.

  12. Reinventing the wheel, or Windows? by Duderstadt · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Damn, but those screenshots look like the ones posted of Microsoft Whistler (XP) Beta 2. At the time, XP's UI looked kind of like a cross between their 'Luna' and 'Classic' modes.

    But damn again, when will the OSS world learn that you cannot overtake Windows, especially on the desktop, until we have something better than XP? Looking at those fuzzy screens, I almost cringe at the idea of what the fonts look like up close. And i do cringe at the thought of how slow this thing has got to be on less than prime grade hardware.

    Seriously, folks, if we really want a peice of the desktop, we have to take Apple's lead and build a new UI. If they can do it, there is no reason OSS can't.

  13. Re:Patents and segfaults. Wonderful by HiThere · · Score: 2

    Patents? Do you have references? I haven't heard of any relevant patents.

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  14. no, it's the opposite by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    Sort of like someone complaining that smoking is bad for your health, and you replying "but I've been smoking for 45 years and haven't had any problems". Still doesn't mean smoking isn't bad.

  15. Re:Patents and segfaults. Wonderful by BigBir3d · · Score: 2
    Right now, my support goes directly to the developers of Moz and OO rather than some patent-filer mooching off of the efforts of Moz's and OO's developers


    You do not understand the idea of OSS at all do you? THe idea is that anyone can use it, distribute it, modify it, sell it in somne modified form, or whatever. Tht is what OEone has beeen trying to do. How do you know that OO segfaults on HomeBase? Have you tried it?

    Myself? I am using it right now... It has a few slick features, and a few that suck (DHCP support blows with my particula ISP and cable modem). They have taken something that is not supposed to be just a web browser (mozilla), modified it, freely distributed it, with source, as well as offering it for sale. That is the whole idea of OSS.


    Hell, mozilla is being sued right now for infringing on the godzilla likeness and trademarked name...
  16. Looks Good by Tyreth · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I really like the idea of OEone's desktop. Combining with OpenOffice seems like an excellent idea - both projects should benefit from each other reviewing their products.

    Doesn't matter about segfaults - these will get fixed as time passes and as the two projects co-operate. Alternatively submit bug reports yourself.

  17. Good news... by VValdo · · Score: 2

    The recent CNET debacle over will-Apple-or-won't-apple-help-w/OS-X has apparently driven a lot of Mac developers to the site. I've been following the porting mailing list activity a bit (as you can see here, there have been nearly twice as many posts this month as last month), people really seem to be interested in getting this thing working on OS X.

    So it looks like there are more than the original two developers on this thing now.

    I can't wait...I was thinking for a while that Abiword would have an OS X port first, but now it looks like OO.o has the momentum.

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  18. Thankx! by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 2
    Thankx for the info. I'm busy doing some crazy work right now, but when things slow down I actually plan to start working on my first open source project, and it's gonna be the port of OO to Max OSX. Wish me luck. :)

  19. The fonts are still available by Vicegrip · · Score: 2

    http://corefonts.sourceforge.net/

    And, judging by the license they were licensed under, probably always will be.

    --
    Do not spread "09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0" over the internet, thank you.
  20. libraries is what I meant by Trepidity · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I personally run Enlightenment 16.5, and don't use either KDE or GNOME, but I still need to have all the KDE and GNOME libraries to run the apps I use. And the libraries (libgnome, libkde, etc.) constitute at least 70% or so of KDE and GNOME's size.

  21. Re:Patents and segfaults. Wonderful by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 2

    We are not the center of the universe. We are not typical end-users.

    That is all I have to say.

    --

    Stop the brainwash

  22. Open Office is trivial to install by FreeUser · · Score: 2

    The install process is too complicated (and doesn't work), and OpenOffice will faceplant (won't run, install or uninstall) if a Java environment is installed after it is.

    If you are running a source based distro like Source Mage or Gentoo, openoffice is trivial to install:

    (If you are using gcc 3.1 or greater and wish to compile with optimizations local to your hardware)

    emerge openoffice

    (If you are using gcc 2.95, you'll have to install the precompiled binary)

    emerge openoffice-bin

    The second command exists analogously for Debian, using apt-get. It doesn't get any easier than that.

    Any program that segfaults is broken. Period. End of story.

    Agreed. You should submit a bug report. I have not experienced any of the seg faults you are describing. Was your binary compiled against a slightly different set of library versions (that is one of the huge disadvantages of binary distributions, and one of the reasons those of us who have switched to source based distros such as Gentoo will never go back).

    --
    The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy