OpenOffice.org's latest update includes a database that matches Microsoft's popular and competing Access database, experts say. The stand-alone database rounds out the offering by bringing long-missing, important database power to users. Users will be able to create stand-alone databases, associated forms, reports and queries, much as with Microsoft's extremely popular and widely used Access database.
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Member since:2005-07-06
Agreed; those who use the really advanced features are the IS staff; the ones who setup internal databases, and even they're moveing to opensource solutions like Firebird, MySQL and Postgres - its not about features necesssarily, its GET - Good Enough Technology - it may not be sexy or technologically the best, but it still does a pretty damn good job, but without the massive costs.
As for end users, I agree; most would probably use less than 20% of the features; the end users the article was talking about sounded more like the wizard using variety where a set of step by step screens help them setup a database - everything automated.
On topic, kind of; I'd love to see Apple drop Apple Works, port OpenOffice to MacOS X natively and of course make it HIG compliant, then re-badge their version as AppleWorks X or something that is buzz word compliant; they would get a damn good office suite that is comparable to Office, and will be able to bundle it free of charge with their desktop systems.
Member since:
2005-07-07
Okay, I'll bite, why is it totally ridiculous? OpenOffice/StarOffice is now the leading competitor to MS Office.
Access to OO Base does seem to be well within the realm of apples to apples comparison.
Seriously, what features does OO Base lack that are frequently used in Access?
I'll venture that most users would be happy with MS Works 4.0's level of functionality. It's the 80-20 rule...80% of the users use 20% of the features.
I'd say OpenOffice is at least at the 70% of MS Office features level, and the addition of an integrated database app helps this value proposition immensely.