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Architosh Staff ([email protected])
29 July 2001

 

MWNY: ThinkFree Office, Universal office productivity

We had the great pleasure of discovering and learning about ThinkFree, the folks who were at attendance at Macworld this year showing their Microsoft Office compatible office suite software for multiple platforms, including Mac OS X.

ThinkFree Office 1.5

What is ThinkFree? Their brochure says, "ThinkFree is the leader in next-generation productivity solutions for anywhere, anytime, any operating system computing from a variety of Internet-connected devices including thin client and mobile computing platforms."

ThinkFree is a full suite of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics applications which allow you to essentially work with MS Office files directly. ThinkFree accomplishes this because they have reverse-engineered Microsoft's file formats for its office applications (Word, Excel, etc.) in a similar manner to how the OpenDWG Alliance has reverse-engineered Autodesk's .DWG format.

Now anyone with the need to work with Microsoft Office files can do so using ThinkFree; and they can do it from any device, on any platform, and on any OS. And they can do it for much cheaper than purchasing MS Office.

A Different Model to Office Productivity

Unlike the old software model with ThinkFree you rent your software. Ya, it's like .Net has already arrived, but unlike Microsoft's proprietary future with .Net ThinkFree's future is based on Sun's open Java and openly available on all the major platforms, including OS X and Linux.

What Comes with ThinkFree?

The current version ThinkFree Office 1.5 comes with a number of discreet applications (or modules in the Office suite). ThinkFree Folders is a file manager app, which also allows you to manage your ThinkFree files over the Net, in your Cyber Drive and through your Public Folder (typically you store your ThinkFree files remotely in your CyberDrive, allowing you to get access to them from anywhere).

ThinkFree Write is your word processor module and is completely compatible with MS Word. And you can even create HTML documents for the Web with it.

ThinkFree Calc is the spreadsheet module which with each release includes more of the functionality of MS Excel's advanced features. For general office use ThinkFree Calc supports over 300 functions and over 40 charts—more than the typical user requires.

ThinkFree Show is the presentation module and is compatible with MS PowerPoint. You can fully open, edit and save presentations in MS PowerPoint format.

More on ThinkFree and the Macintosh

Steve Croft, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, gave us a brief showing of ThinkFree running both under Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. The OS X version looked particularly nice but the OS 9 version was further along.

ThinkFree does not include every single feature of Microsoft Office. But it does include a large majority of them, including some advanced features. Most importantly, regardless of which advanced features of MS Office a file includes, ThinkFree can always open the file so you can view the data. So ThinkFree is perfect for those users who occasionally need to open MS Office files with typical features employed but do not wish to pony up the dough for MS Office.

The newest version of ThinkFree 2.0 is currently in preview version only. This version utilizes J2SE (Java 2 Standard Edition) virtual machine which makes Mac OS X the perfect (most capable J2SE) platform to run it on.

Who is Using ThinkFree - Should I Give It A Try?

Steve Croft told us that ThinkFree is currently being targeted at schools and enterprises which need affordable, scalable office productivity applications. Schools with limited software budgets are particularly good candidates and the software can allow students and teachers to access their private and public documents over the Net from school or home.

Although a single user license is a modest $49US per year, a business license of say 20 users would likely bring that cost down to $30US per year, per seat. That means for just $10 per "word", "spreadsheet" and "presentation" application you can have full seat coverage of up-to-date productivity software that is [mostly] fully compatible with MS Office documents. We say "mostly" because although ThinkFree will always open any MS Office file (Windows or Mac) it may not always support certain advanced features found only on MS Office.

And ThinkFree works perfectly fine offline as well as online. For more information on ThinkFree and its solutions and services visit their Web site.

 

Bill Gates' House Designed on Macintosh?

PowerBook G3's Win at CAD Shootout!

Special Report: Financial Software for Architects

MacCAD: BOA publishes first BOA Plane Talk newsletter - [Aug 1] New!

Acne's: Kirksey moves up to ArchiCAD 7.0 - [Aug 1] New!

Mac3D: VectorWorks SPOTLIGHT 9.0.1 ships - [Aug 1] New!

A reader comments on MO drives by Fujitsu - [Aug 1] New!

Shootout: G4 tower stacks up well against PC's - [Aug 1] New!

Nemetschek N.A. updates products, other news - [jul 31] New!

Macworld Expo News and Features

MWNY: Fujitsu Computer's new MO Products - [jul 29] New!

MWNY: ThinkFree Office, Universal office productivity - [jul 29] New!

MWNY: Architosh Forums Prize Winners Announced! - [jul 27] New!

MWNY: Nemetschek combines VW Architect with Landmark - [jul 27] New!

MWNY: Abvent news - ZOOM GDL tool announced - [jul 27] New!

MWNY: Expo Pictures - [jul 26] New!

Mac3D: New version of Lightworks rendering engine, v6.0 - [jul 26] New!

MWNY: VectorWorks demonstrated on Mac OS X - [jul 23] Updated!

MWNY: Notes on Mac OS X (10.1 update) - [jul 23] New!

MWNY: Lightwave 6.5 rocks Macworld audiences - [jul 23] New!

MWNY: Less than 48 hrs left in Architosh Forums Prize Contest - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Keynote and Expo Summary Notes - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Ashlar announces new product line - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Alias/Wavefront makes splash at Macworld! - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: VectorWorks demonstrated on Mac OS X - [jul 23] New!

MWNY: Shockwave takes on 3D, new partners sign on - [jul 22] New!

Keynote Predictions: Crystal Ball 2001 New York - [jul 18] Hot!

Architosh Firm Profile: Interview with Luminetik, 3D Macintosh Studio - [jul 17] Hot!

Architosh to Cover Macworld Expo - Notes - [jul 17] New!

Pre-New York Meditations on the Possible - [jul 17] New!

Architosh Feature Interview: Microspot Ltd talks Technical CAD on the Mac - [jul 12] New!


MacCAD news: Nemetschek initiates 2001-2002 Learning Tour - [jul 12]

ArchiCAD used for design of tallest residential skyscraper - [jul 12]

Mac3DNY.org renames and sponsors Teapot Awards - [jul 9]

Mac3D: Mac Cinema4D user creates masterful short film - [jul 9]

MacCAD: Free SPOTLIGHT Training by Nemetschek - [jul 9]

Quesa Group has QuickDraw 3D API on Mac OS X - [jul 6]

OpenDWG Alliance has Mac OS X code libraries available - [jul 6]

Microspot Sponsors Architosh Forum Prize Contest! - [jun 29]

MacCAD news: VectorWorks for Mac OS X news - [jun 29]

Tomorrow last day to get Electric Image (3D Toolkit) for $99 - [jun 29]

Architosh.com - What's Coming Up in the Near Future - [jun 29]

Architosh - Status Reports: Autocad, G4's and Other Info - [jun 29]

Mac3D market needs new Wildcat II graphics card - [jun 28]

MacCAD: Nemetschek NA finalizes VectorWorks 9.0.1 update - [Jun 28]

AEC Newsletter CAD/3D platform poll, go show Mac support! - [jun 26]

OS X news: Autodesk seems to have taken a fancy to dock... - [jun 22]

Mac3D news: Japanese 3D tool, HexaSuper 2 for Mac - [jun 22]

VersaCAD 2001 Mac shown at AEC Systems - [jun 22]

Apple not at AEC Show, inexplicable or not? - [jun 20]

MacCAD news: VectorWorks LANDMARK is now officially shipping - [Jun 20]

MacCAD news: ArchiCAD to implement National CAD Standards - [Jun 20]

Mac3D news: 3D Nature intros Z-Buffer Compositor for LightWave 6.5 - [jun 19]

MacCAD news: Cigraph ships two new ArchiCAD plugins - [jun 19]

Graphisoft intros ArchiFM 7 WebServer in Europe - [Jun 19]

ArchiFM WebServer to be announced by Graphisoft - [jun 15]

Online Design Tools site counting Mac visitors - [Jun 15]

MacCAD news: EON to work with ArchiCAD/GDL - [Jun 15]

MacCAD news: new interactive 3D technology headed for OS X - [Jun 15]

Mac3D news: Get ElectricImage 2.9 for just $198 now - [jun 13]

Mac3D news: Hot new tools from Japan need US attention - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: TGS/Eovia offer Amapi 3D v4.15 for free - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: dvGarage intros new 3D Training Kit - [Jun 13]

Dr. Bott's DVIator for ADC-displays now shipping - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: POV-Ray for Mac OS and OS X - [jun 12]

Macs ousted for CAD Lab at Sacramento High School - [jun 8]

Revit attacks Autocad market, actually good for Mac users? - [jun 8]

Q: Need for Macintosh CNC Milling Software - [jun 8]

MacCAD news: Interstudio announces DigiCAD 3D 6.0 - [jun 6]

Macintosh Facilities Management software options - [jun 6]

MacCAD news: Apple seminar on new ArchiCAD 7.0 - [jun 5]

Map Resources updates site with new map finding facilities - [Jun 1]

Microspot ships new MacDraft 5.0 CAD program - [Jun 1]

Q: Need for Mac Facility Management software - [Jun 1]

Mac3D: LightWave 6.5 presentation, Apple Market Center New York - [may 30]

Home automation software for Mac, useful to architects/builders - [may 30]

280+ Architecture Firms show support of Macintosh - [may 29]

Architosh's AIWUG updated: 300+ member firms and growing - [may 29]

Mac3D news: MCnurbs Creator 2, updated for VectorWorks 9 - [may 25]

Mac3D news: Cinema4D XL 7 offers new radiosity engine - [may 25]

Mac3D news: Strata ships new 'Strata 3DPlus' - [may 22]

Mac3D news: Strata updates Strata 3DPro to v.3.5 - [may 22]

Cool news coming out of WWDC-2001 - [may 22]

Summary of Apple Store Opening Action, Links - [may 19]

Mac3D News: Looks like Blender is coming soon! - [may 18]

Mac3D News: Running Radiance on OS X, instructions - [may 18]

Mac3D News: VRML on the Macintosh - [may 16]

Learning more about Mac OS X - [may 16]

Mac Aircraft design software - part 2 - [may 16]

Architosh is TenLinks.com 'Site of the Week' - [may 15]

Hot Door introduces 'Perspective' for Illustrator 8 & 9 - [may 15]

Mac3D: Aircraft design software and Object-Maker - [may 15]

StudioDESK: Is Autodesk looking at the Mac again? - [may 11]

Q&A: Any Mac software for designing aircraft? - [may 11]

Mac Architect: Apple to host free BOA CAD seminar - [may 10]

MacCAD News: VectorWorks and PowerBooks, map ancient cities - [may 9]

VectorWorks helps student win International competition - [may 9]

A Mac version of MECcheck in the works - [may 9]

MacCAD News: Autocad sales down, Mac CAD up? - [may 9]

Architosh Forums: Multi-Prize Giveaway - [may 9]

New Architosh Highlights:

Firm Profile: Of the Place Itself, A vernacular Modernism in Austin - [may 2] New!

Introducing our Architosh Digital Practice Guide - [may 2] New!

DPG: Finding Macintosh CAD/3D and AEC software - [may 2] New!

DPG: Our Macintosh Hardware Guide - [may 2] New!

DPG: Searching our DPG FAQ Guides - [may 2] New!

DPG - FAQ: What 3D Mac apps are there for industrial designers? - [may 2] New!

DPG - FAQ: What apps are available for managing building projects? - [may 2] New!

New Architosh Site Area Content!

New Digital Practice Guide - [may 2] New!

New Revised CAD/3D Forums - [may 2] New!

New Edutainment Site Area - [Jan 9] Architosh

New Feature: Communication, Design and the Internet - [Jan 9]

Mac OS X Page: Comparative Table - Win2000/Linux - [Jan 9]

Building a Macintosh CAD Workstation - [Jan 9]

Building an Apple Server Solution - [Jan 9]

New Find Facilities and Sherlock Tips - [Jan 9]


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