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Apache OpenOffice: We're OK With Not Being Super Cool (theregister.co.uk)

Posted by msmash on from the perspective dept.

The Register's Thomas Claburn, interviews Jim Jagielski, Apache Software Foundation President and Apache OpenOffice project mentor. From the story: Despite being the subject of a deathwatch -- perhaps mainly by fans of rival LibreOffice -- AOO appears to be rather popular, with the 4.1.4 update racking up at least 1.6 million downloads. [...] While AOO and the ASF formulate a formal statement of direction for the project, Jagielski said more or less that all's well. "AOO is not, and isn't designed to be, the 'super coolest open source office suite with all the latest bells and whistles,'" Jagielski continued. "Our research shows that a 'basic,' functional office suite, which is streamlined with a 'simple' and uncluttered, uncomplicated UI, serves an incredible under-represented community. "Other office suites are focusing on the 'power user' which is a valuable market, for sure, but the real power and range for an open-source office suite alternative is the vast majority which is the 'rest of us. Sometimes we all forget how empowering open source is to the entire world."

2 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Basically has one job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    after the main devs bailed on the project and forked it, oracle soon after donated the code and name to apache foundation. had those wusses waited just a few months, we'd all be using the combined efforts of those devs + apache instead of having 'yet another fork'. ibm also donated code to apache.

    apache then stripped out all code not compatible with apache license, rewriting what needed to be.. and it is now, and has been for quite some time, completely free and clear of oracle. it is also completely free of libreoffice. which i consider to be a bonus. apache openoffice is stable, it works, and it has a long shelf life between releases - which is also a huge bonus.

    libreoffice shills and anti apache trolls will -1 this, but fact is: apache > 'document foundation'. libreoffice was 'started' by a bunch of fucking shortsighted traitors, who at the first sign of discontent have proven they'll jump ship. apache foundation is solid, and has a much longer history of service to the open source community.

  2. Re:This is how the frog feels while being boiled. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I heard the same kind of things said by Radio Shack. It took a while, but try finding one now.