Applix Applixware Office Suite for Linux

$99; $189 for developer edition

http//www.applix.com/applixware/

PROS: Developer's version available; full office suite

CONS:Some import limitations

Applixware version 4.4.2 provides a complete office- application environment with functionality ranging from word processing to e-mail. It is organized along conventional office-suite lines starting with Applix Words. Applix Spreadsheets and Applix Data provide spreadsheets with graphing and database support, respectively. Applix HTML Author provides a full-featured Web-site editor. Applix Graphics is an image editor that can be used for a variety of image tasks, such as creating Web images or preparing graphics for use in other Applix documents and presentations. Applix Presents is a very capable slide-show presentation tool. Rounding it all off is Applix Mail, a MIME-compliant POP3 mail client. The only office tool we found missing was a scheduling application.

Applixware has one of the best sets of import and export filters of all the products we tested, with very good support for Microsoft Office 97 and Microsoft Office 2000 documents. There are notable limitations, such as an inability to support MS Office text highlighting. Likewise, embedded objects that do not have a Linux equivalent, such as some ActiveX objects, will be lost when importing documents, but this is not a surprise and not really the role of a word processor to correct. Common styles, text, and formatting come through the conversion process without a hitch.

Applixware uses the ELF programming language to provide a consistent macro environment among the components, which are tied together by a single Applixware desktop application. For the truly ambitious, Applix provides a developer's version that comes with "Applix Builder," its application-development tool. Other attractive Applixware features include real-time updates from spreadsheets and forms support in the HTML editor. Applixware is even multinational and supports the Euro currency symbol. Thanks in part to ELF, we found that Applixware components worked nicely together. For example, slide-show presentations can be linked to live data managed in an Applix spreadsheet.

Applixware should be a consideration for both power users and novices. We found its word-processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics, and presentation tools to be feature-rich and easy to use. With the included e-mail support, many office users may never have to leave the confines of the Applixware suite.

Sun StarOffice for Linux Professional Edition

$99; CD only: $10; Download: free

http//www.sun.com/staroffice/

PROS: Integrated document approach; network install

CONS: Limited import/export filters

StarOffice really gives Applixware a run for its money. And if Sun has its way, it'll really give MS Office a run for its money too. StarOffice matches Applixware component for component and even adds a few that Applix is missing, like StarSchedule and StarDiscussion. These handle scheduling tasks and Internet newsgroups, respectively.

StarOffice is built around StarWriter, a word processor and HTML editor. StarCalc and StarBase provide spreadsheet support and database support. StarImpress is StarOffice's slide-show presentation package, while StarChart, StarDraw, and StarImage bring charting, drawing, and image editing to the party. StarMail is the POP3 mail client, with PGP encryption support.

StarOffice clearly has Microsoft in its sights. It even has help wizards that are very similar in look and feel to those found in MS Office. Dubbed AutoPilots in StarOffice, they walk users through complex chores step by step. Sun's recent acquisition of StarOffice is seen as a major counteroffensive in its continuing battle with Microsoft for the software market of the 21st century. So expect to see a lot more of StarOffice in the coming months.

StarOffice comes with some very good documentation. Its biggest weakness is a limited set of import/export filters. They've obviously decided to focus on the most important ones, such as Microsoft Office 97, and left out support for older and more esoteric word processors.

StarOffice addresses most users' office requirements very nicely. Notably, it was the only suite to include a scheduling application.