Linux gets Office XP applications

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

NEWS
Users are now able to run most of the applications in Office XP on Linux, following the release of commercial software that allows the package to run on the open-source operating system. CodeWeavers' CrossOver Office now supports the full Office XP suite, with the exception of Outlook XP and Access XP. Outlook 2000 and Access 2000 are supported. The package plugs in to the standard Gnome or KDE desktops for Linux and Unix. "Once installed, your application will integrate directly with your Gnome or KDE environment," the company said in a statement. CodeWeavers is aiming to make Linux more viable as an alternative to the Windows platform by letting Linux users stick with familiar Windows applications. CrossOver Office is priced at around $55 (£34) which, together with a basic installation of Linux at around £20, is significantly cheaper than Windows XP Home Edition, selling for about £164 in the UK. However, Linux must still overcome significant obstacles before it can begin to challenge Microsoft on the desktop. Linux is not as widely distributed as Windows as a pre-installed desktop operating system. And switching from Windows to another operating system involves some difficulty, although projects such as KDE and Gnome have made Linux increasingly user-friendly. There is also the matter of support: Microsoft has said it will not offer full technical support to Office XP users who are running the software on Linux. Ironically, one of Linux's key advantages on the desktop has recently come from Microsoft itself. The software giant's unpopular Licensing 6 programme, which commits volume licensees to regular software upgrades, has caused many large businesses to take a second look at Linux and other alternatives. CrossOver Office supports more than just Microsoft products. Adobe Photoshop 7.0 is supported, as is Lotus Notes and Intuit's Quicken. The compatibility software runs on all major Linux distributions. Other projects also target Microsoft's dominant market share in productivity and operating system software. The OpenOffice.org office suite is an open source package that aims for interoperability through the use of an XML file format. The suite is clocking up around 350,000 downloads a week, across all supported platforms, which include Linux, Mac OS and Windows. Lindows, a version of Linux, runs some Windows applications, and the open-source WINE project aims to add Windows compatibility to Linux. Another key project is Evolution, an open-source Linux groupware application, which allows users to connect to Exchange servers and dispense with Outlook altogether.
Is Linux really a viable alternative to Windows on the desktop? Read the latest headlines at ZDNet UK's Operating Systems News Section. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

UnderINK

I agree with the previous commenter wholeheartedly. I couldn't say it better myself. This is very 'Big Brother'. And while I agree with protecting...

2 hours ago by UnderINK on European e-identity plan to be unveiled this month
Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe

Nice to see that Turing's idea of a general purpose computer doing once-hardware-powered tasks in software is now universal ;-) Mary

7 hours ago by Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe on Software with everything
Jason Burchell

seriously now. I've only bothered to read a small bit of the comments. do me and the rest of the world a favour. stop saying it does not work or...

11 hours ago by Jason Burchell via Facebook on Music industry negotiating over 24-bit downloads
Philip Charles Cohen

Read about it and weep, John Donahoe ... In addition to Visa’s V.me, there is now MasterCard’s PayPass digital wallet soon to arrive; another...

15 hours ago by Philip Charles Cohen via Facebook on PayPal takes phone-based payments to the high street
apexwm

Leslie Satenstein : Where have you ever seen Mozilla even mention this? Firefox is the most popular browser in the GNU/Linux OS, so I don't see...

16 hours ago by apexwm on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux
songmaster

SHleG: Do you remember building a clockwork scorpion kit (I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere) — I think it was called something like...

18 hours ago by songmaster on Software with everything
Chris Wortman

Good I love Yahoo! Their search engine is getting better than Google as of late. I find more of what I want on the first page, and usually within...

18 hours ago by Chris Wortman via Facebook on Linux Mint 13 ramps up for KDE release
PatrickG

openhgs has made the point for Windows 8 multiple monitors without realising it! With Windows 7 you have to switch the mouse and so your focus...

20 hours ago by PatrickG on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake
Leslie Satenstein

Mozilla has threatened to stop supporting Linux. I guess that UBUNTU is going with another browser. I indicated that if Mozilla stops supporting...

21 hours ago by Leslie Satenstein via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux
Andy Bolstridge

Much as I abhor Microsoft's licensing practices, this is almost certainly down to purchasing IT equipment via 3rd party consultants - you get the...

22 hours ago by Andy Bolstridge via Facebook on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT
Jack Schofield

@openhgs Windows users have had multiple desktops since Linus started writing Linux. They just haven't shipped as standard because not enough...

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake
Jack Schofield

@Phil at Cloud4 What, Microsoft gets £1,200 per PC and £1,622 per server? Gosh, I'm amazed....

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT
craigsc

You guys have no idea what is going on at Autonomy. Autonomy could have been a much more profitable organization. The sales operations at Autonomy...

2 days ago by craigsc on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves
Moley

How does this impact on dual or multi booting? Seems to me to more or less prohibit this, from Windows 8 anyway. Will Grub 2 recognise Windows 8,...

2 days ago by Moley on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround
apexwm

I don't understand why there cannot be a slight pause during the boot process so the user can press a key. Many operating systems do this, even if...

2 days ago by apexwm on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround
Gavin Goodman

You can now buy the Xi3 modular computer in the UK at http://www.ocdistribution.com . This can be bought with the Tand3m software, pricing and...

2 days ago by Gavin Goodman on CES 2012: Xi3 microSERV3R
Phil at Cloud4

I agree: Mike Lynch can clearly build a business and manage strategy. I suspect the exit of Mike is more likely the end of a planned handover...

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves
Phil at Cloud4

This is unbeleivable government wastage with only one winner... Microsoft 1 - Tax payer Nil!

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT
Mispam

So what do you do when you can't boot into windows? Why can't I just hold Shift while I power up instead of having to boot into windows and click a...

2 days ago by Mispam on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround
apexwm

I've also seen that Mac OS X for Intel machines is supposed to run in VirtualBox, which would also be a nice solution. I've never tried it though.

2 days ago by apexwm on xTreme Triple Booting: Linux, Mac & Windows