OpenOffice, and a slew of other X11 based apps will indeed run on OSX without to much work. There's some issues with that, tho.
Speed is the number one thing. X11 apps just don't compare to Aqua apps in terms of responsiveness and speed, so they feel slow when used side by side with 'native' Mac apps. Also, launching X11 apps, OpenOffice in particular, is pretty slow. You have to launch the X11 server, if it isn't already running, and then launch whatever app you are trying to use after that. On my (admittedly slow) iBook G4, it takes something like 20-25 for OpenOffice to start.
The interface is another issue with X11 software on a Mac. It looks like you are running it on a KDE desktop. Nothing wrong with that, except that it doesn't gel well with the generally very nice looking Aqua apps it is running next to.
To answer the original poster, there really isn't a GREAT open source office suite available for the Mac at the moment. OpenOffice will get the job done, no doubt about it, but it really doesn't even come close to MS Office for Mac (where I prefer OOo to MS Office under Windows). They are saying it will be a couple of years before we see an Aqua native version of OOo.
Which reminds me to head over to the OOo site and see if there is anything I can do to volunteer.
Yes, but with an education discount the 12" iBook is only $500 more than a wireless Dana. It's just a shade bigger and about 2x as heavy.
Sell your current notebook, buy an iBook instead of one of these little single funtion devices, and break even monitarily. Plus, you'll get a MAC out of the deal! HOw cool is that. Chicks dig Macs.
You'll kick yourself in 3 months if you drom $500 on a Dana.
Or, you could buy my Dell Axim X5 Advance, with cradle and memory card for the low low price of $200!:)
Besides, wouldn't Guybrush use an iBook?
The XBox 2, PS3, and whatever Nintendo (if they stay in the home console market at all) systems are going to really change alot of this... There are a few advantages that the PC has over the console which will all but disapear when these come out...
1) Screen resolution - By the time we see the XBox2 and PS3, HDTV will be the standard. By the time the systems are under $200 (and the games start to really get off the ground) people will actually have HDTV capable TVs. This will equal the screen res that MOST games are played at (ya, I like my war3 at 1600x1200, but I can get by with a little less). These systems are being designed with that in mind, so I don't doubt that games will soon become 'optimized' for HDTV monitors. Plus, your average household has a 17" computer monitor, a small, but significant number probably have 19" (and 15" for that matter). Your average HDTV has gotta be 27". Lets face it, size matters. Esp. when added with HDTV resolution.
2) Controller input - XBox already uses a modified USB interface, anf I expect other systems to follow suit with USB2.0 based inputs. Reason's are simple: they can make make cross platform devices relitively simply, keeping costs down. By changing the actual 'plug' shape and wiring patterns it will keep your average console gamer from using the Xbox2 controller in his PS#, but the 'guts' could be basically the same, meaning cheap construction.
Also, it looks like MS is removing the HD from thier system, and Sony is having good success in selling an external one. However, as games become more advanced (FFXI online, Fable, etc), you will require an large non-volitile storage system. So, do like sony and sell a HD seperately, keeping system costs down, and making some actual profit on 'accessories' for the latest game. Using USB2 will let them easily adapt existing, cheap (and getting cheaper all the time) technology to do this.
2a) Back to controllers - I seriously am expecting the XBox2 to be bundled with 1 controller and a kkeyb/mouse combo. Maybe not the 'base' system, but a Special Edition or something like that at least. (At launch why not have a $299 regular system - the console and a controller, nothing else, and a 'special limited time' $399 bundle with the addition of a game, and a keyb/mouse? it's sell liek mad). Just about all the systems have a keyb/mouse kit available, and I think that we will see more of these in the future. When we do, FPS will bcome much better for console, and RTS games will make thier way into the scene in force.
Once the console catches up in these areas, and added to it the already significant list of advantages (no install worries, garaunteed to work, better price/performance) it's going to be a no brainer.
In fact, I am looking forward to it. Next year I can ditch my PC, get a nice new iMac, a PS3 or XBox2, and have the best of everything. It'll be nice to, especially since the only reason I ever upgrade my PC is to play the newest games, I'll prolly be able to keep my iMac for 4-5 years and just upgrade my console as needed.
There'll be PVR functionality in XBox2, and likely the PS3 and GameCube Jr.
Doubtful, since the current plans look like Microsoft is going hard driveless on the XBox2. Unless of course the manage to pull cheap 40+gig solid state memory cards out thin air in the next 18 months...
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OpenOffice, and a slew of other X11 based apps will indeed run on OSX without to much work. There's some issues with that, tho.
Speed is the number one thing. X11 apps just don't compare to Aqua apps in terms of responsiveness and speed, so they feel slow when used side by side with 'native' Mac apps. Also, launching X11 apps, OpenOffice in particular, is pretty slow. You have to launch the X11 server, if it isn't already running, and then launch whatever app you are trying to use after that. On my (admittedly slow) iBook G4, it takes something like 20-25 for OpenOffice to start.
The interface is another issue with X11 software on a Mac. It looks like you are running it on a KDE desktop. Nothing wrong with that, except that it doesn't gel well with the generally very nice looking Aqua apps it is running next to.
To answer the original poster, there really isn't a GREAT open source office suite available for the Mac at the moment. OpenOffice will get the job done, no doubt about it, but it really doesn't even come close to MS Office for Mac (where I prefer OOo to MS Office under Windows). They are saying it will be a couple of years before we see an Aqua native version of OOo.
Which reminds me to head over to the OOo site and see if there is anything I can do to volunteer.
Yes, but with an education discount the 12" iBook is only $500 more than a wireless Dana. It's just a shade bigger and about 2x as heavy. Sell your current notebook, buy an iBook instead of one of these little single funtion devices, and break even monitarily. Plus, you'll get a MAC out of the deal! HOw cool is that. Chicks dig Macs. You'll kick yourself in 3 months if you drom $500 on a Dana. Or, you could buy my Dell Axim X5 Advance, with cradle and memory card for the low low price of $200! :)
Besides, wouldn't Guybrush use an iBook?
Doh, I didnt change to 'plain ole text' mode so it all rand together.
:(
Ignore the babbling fromt he crazy man
The XBox 2, PS3, and whatever Nintendo (if they stay in the home console market at all) systems are going to really change alot of this... There are a few advantages that the PC has over the console which will all but disapear when these come out... 1) Screen resolution - By the time we see the XBox2 and PS3, HDTV will be the standard. By the time the systems are under $200 (and the games start to really get off the ground) people will actually have HDTV capable TVs. This will equal the screen res that MOST games are played at (ya, I like my war3 at 1600x1200, but I can get by with a little less). These systems are being designed with that in mind, so I don't doubt that games will soon become 'optimized' for HDTV monitors. Plus, your average household has a 17" computer monitor, a small, but significant number probably have 19" (and 15" for that matter). Your average HDTV has gotta be 27". Lets face it, size matters. Esp. when added with HDTV resolution. 2) Controller input - XBox already uses a modified USB interface, anf I expect other systems to follow suit with USB2.0 based inputs. Reason's are simple: they can make make cross platform devices relitively simply, keeping costs down. By changing the actual 'plug' shape and wiring patterns it will keep your average console gamer from using the Xbox2 controller in his PS#, but the 'guts' could be basically the same, meaning cheap construction. Also, it looks like MS is removing the HD from thier system, and Sony is having good success in selling an external one. However, as games become more advanced (FFXI online, Fable, etc), you will require an large non-volitile storage system. So, do like sony and sell a HD seperately, keeping system costs down, and making some actual profit on 'accessories' for the latest game. Using USB2 will let them easily adapt existing, cheap (and getting cheaper all the time) technology to do this. 2a) Back to controllers - I seriously am expecting the XBox2 to be bundled with 1 controller and a kkeyb/mouse combo. Maybe not the 'base' system, but a Special Edition or something like that at least. (At launch why not have a $299 regular system - the console and a controller, nothing else, and a 'special limited time' $399 bundle with the addition of a game, and a keyb/mouse? it's sell liek mad). Just about all the systems have a keyb/mouse kit available, and I think that we will see more of these in the future. When we do, FPS will bcome much better for console, and RTS games will make thier way into the scene in force. Once the console catches up in these areas, and added to it the already significant list of advantages (no install worries, garaunteed to work, better price/performance) it's going to be a no brainer. In fact, I am looking forward to it. Next year I can ditch my PC, get a nice new iMac, a PS3 or XBox2, and have the best of everything. It'll be nice to, especially since the only reason I ever upgrade my PC is to play the newest games, I'll prolly be able to keep my iMac for 4-5 years and just upgrade my console as needed.
Call me when the color model comes out. If I can't read an eComicbook on it as well, then it's not worth the 'paper' it's printed on.
Data stored in EXIF tags by digital cameras are now handled in read and write mode for JPEG files.
Doubtful, since the current plans look like Microsoft is going hard driveless on the XBox2. Unless of course the manage to pull cheap 40+gig solid state memory cards out thin air in the next 18 months...