Corel WordPerfect for Linux

$69; Server Edition: $495; Download: free

http//linux.corel.com

Pros: Character mode and server version; integrated document approach

Cons: Limited database support; not a full office suite

In general, Corel WordPerfect for Linux met and exceeded our expectations for a stand-alone word processor. While not as functional as the WordPerfect Suite we have used on Windows 98, WordPerfect for Linux still provides the performance and features we have come to expect from Corel. A full-blown WordPerfect Office suite for Linux is forthcoming.

WordPerfect comes packaged with over 130 fonts and has many unique features, like Corel's document version tracking system. This can come in very handy when multiple users are revising the same document. WordPerfect also offers a built-in file manager, which can serve to shelter novices from the complexities of the Linux filesystem.

Bundled with Adobe Acrobat Reader and over 5,000 clip art images, WordPerfect for Linux represents a good value and is a competent tool for the average office. The complete WordPerfect Office suite will round out the missing features by incorporating applications such as the world-famous CorelDraw. But there's no need to wait if you don't need these tools.

KDE KOffice

Free (download only)

http//koffice.kde.org/

Pros: Complete office suite; regularly updated

Cons: Requires KDE; import/export filters still in development

KDE KOffice is an ambitious free-software project that is developing a complete object-based office environment on top of the KDE desktop environment. KDE itself ships with some Linux distributions like Caldera's OpenLinux and is of course available from the KDE.org Web site. KOffice utilizes the KDE object model (KOM), which is based on CORBA.

Documents in KOffice are compound objects. KOffice itself consists of a set of matching applets that interact with the objects. KWord provides word processing and HTML page generation. KSpread is the suite's spreadsheet. KPresenter is used to build and present slide shows while KChart and KDiagramm provide charting functions. KIllustrator is an object-based drawing package. There are also specialized tools like KFormula for representing complex mathematical formulas within documents. KoHTML is a Web browser that can even be embedded within a document. As it stands today, KOffice does not yet incorporate features such as e-mail and scheduling, although it may in the future.

KOffice has breadth, but its track record is short. This is glaringly evident in its extremely limited import/export filter support. Work is ongoing in this area, but KOffice is not likely to match the capabilities of Applixware or StarOffice any time in the near future. This may put KOffice out of the running for heterogeneous office-suite environments where document exchange is important. Still, KOffice provides a sufficient office environment for most users and has obvious appeal for KDE enthusiasts.