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StarOffice Dropped From Google Pack

Posted by timothy on from the stardom-is-temporary dept.

Barence writes "Sun's StarOffice suite has been mysteriously dropped from the Google Pack of free software. The office suite has been axed without any warning or explanation on the Google site. Is Google trying to drive more people towards its own online suite of office applications? Or has it been stung into action by Steve Ballmer's recent comment that Microsoft Office faces stronger competition from StarOffice than it does Google Docs and Spreadsheet?"

10 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Re:If there's one thing I wouldn't do... by rodrigoandrade · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Unless your business strategy involves some future negotiations with Microsoft.

  2. Why not OpenOffice? by Shin-LaC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The answer might be obvious to the people involved in the project, but as an external observer I'm left to wonder why they were using StarOffice in the first place. Why not OpenOffice?

    1. Re:Why not OpenOffice? by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "In particular, Sun Microsystems licensed information about the format of Office files from Microsoft, to gain better compatibility."

      [citation needed]

      --
      http://rocknerd.co.uk
  3. It's obvious.... by i_want_you_to_throw_ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google Apps. Google's only obligation since becoming a publicly traded company (GOOG) is this...

    Making a profit for shareholders

    Including StarOffice does nothing to that end.

    Honestly why is anyone surprised when Google acts like a real company?

  4. Support by dreamchaser · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When an enterprise deploys office software they want at least some kind of support from the vendor.

    1. Re:Support by bmo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What support?

      Really, what support from the vendor? Have you /read/ your EULA for any software you've used? Ever?

      YOYO.

      You're On Your Own.

      Every EULA should have "YOYO" printed at the top of the first page (typically of dozens) or just say "You're On Your Own" in 28 point type in the middle of a blank page. It would greatly simplify things.

      That support myth is so old. I don't know which myth is older, that one or the "someone to sue" myth.

      Seriously, stop repeating this bullshit.

  5. Doesn't make sense by toxygen01 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How in the first place could have been staroffice included in "Google Pack of free software" when it's proprietary?

  6. Why not axe Norton first? by MazzThePianoman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Forget about StarOffice, axe Norton Security Scan. I am wondering why they are having anything to do with Norton who makes the most bloated, resource wasting, performance sucking, software on the planet. There are better solutions out there that don't kill the usability of your computer.

    --
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Franklin
  7. How were they giving it away in the first place? by sorak · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How were they giving it away in the first place? If you go to Sun's website and try to download Star Office normally, it's $70. So how was Google able to give it away for free, and why isn't "sun wanted cash" a possible explanation for Google dropping the product?

  8. Sun's deal with MS probably prompted this by hakawati · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sun just signed an agreement to distribute the MS Search bar with it's java download http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/10/sun_stows_ms_search_on_java/ I would guess this has a lot to do with Google not promoting the StarOffice suite anymore.