"I must admit that I had mixed feelings when I saw the new toolbar metaphor for OpenOffice.org 2.0. On the one hand, the 1.x system for seeing different toolbars was a bit complicated and weird. On the other hand, the huge list of toolbars under the "View" menu of the OpenOffice.org 2.0 (release candidate) seemed potentially overwhelming. I must admit, though, that I am a happy convert to the new system." (Part 1|part 2)
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Member since:2005-07-06
Firefox was the first browser to do tabs properly, they always were awkward on Opera, and still are to an extent.
Firefox's innovations include the extension system; the Greasemonkey extension; the ability to open a folder of bookmarks, via one click, in several tabs; and an extraordinarily easy way of modifying toolbars.
On the desktop, there's the idea of the virtual file-system, used in both KDE and Gnome; virtual desktops; and applets.
Also the OSS world has led the way in RSS publishing and reading tools.
There's tons of inventive OSS stuff out there, people just don't use OSS enough to leave the old habits in favour of the new.
Member since:Give a guy free food and all he does is bitch about how you forgot the salad fork when setting the table.
That's not exacly fair. Whenever you have an MS article on sites such as ZDNet, you get at least half a dozen OpenOffice whores screaming that OOo is the greatest thing since sliced bread, it 0wNz MS Office, etc. So when people try it and blow it off as being the copycat app that it is, then the OSS zealots wonder why people bitch about free software. Well, if you had simply been honest and told us up front how good it really was (which, in all honest, is good enough ... so long as you're looking for free), most of us wouldn't have bothered with it in the first place.
Firefox was the first browser to do tabs properly, they always were awkward on Opera, and still are to an extent.
Dunno ... depends on how much you like MDI, I suppose. Besides, without extensions, the functionality is extremely limited.
Firefox's innovations include the extension system
Which is horribly flawed. If you can install at least half a dozen of them (which you'll need to even begin to match Opera's functionality out of the box) and keep them from breaking from release-to-release, then you are most certainly a better man than I.
the Greasemonkey extension
It's an extension (and a helluva insecure one at that) - not functionality built in
the ability to open a folder of bookmarks, via one click, in several tabs
I think IE shell browsers (eg MyIE2) have been doing this for longer
and an extraordinarily easy way of modifying toolbars
Shit, you gotta be kidding me. Right click/customize - Opera's toolbars have got to be at least 10x more customizable than FF
On the desktop, there's the idea of the virtual file-system, used in both KDE and Gnome; virtual desktops; and applets.
These are file systems and desktop enviroments, which I will admit open source does quite well. However, these are no more applications than Windows 3.1 was. Well, maybe 'technically', but you know what I mean.
Member since:modifying toolbars visually via drag/drop comes from OS X, not OSS IIRC.
not sure I would call any of the others innovation. nice, but innovation requires something to be unlike anything seen before. (lookup the dictionary definition)
take for example greasemonkey. javascript: bookmarks could edit pages, although greasemonkey makes it a whole lot nicer / easier.
Member since:I prefer the tabs in Opera. I use both browsers, I just prefer the way Opera works and find Firefox awkward. This is a case where choice is good. We each get to choose what works best for us.
I believe OOO is trying to look as close to MS Office in order to encourage people to switch. Once people are aware of alternatives then they can look for something better. It may be KOffice or abiword or something we haven't seen yet. You need to be aware of another path before you can walk it.
Member since:
No, it's a lamemans copy of Office. I would have expected better from OOo but "catching up" seems all they want to do rather than overtake.
On the desktop, it seems that's all open source does with their apps - they always seem at least one or two steps behind. Look at Firefox (probably the best desktop app that OSS has ever created) - in most respects, still trying to play catch-up with Opera (tabbed browsing, mouse gestures, etc).