SoftMaker Free Office now available

[oops]

FreeOffice can be installed from MX Package installer -> Populare Apps. The softmaker repo is added and will take care for updates.
Within MX Linux yad is pre-installed.

Thanks fehlix! I wasn't sure about how the updates were managed when installed from Package Manager.

I just discovered it into the "Office tab" (softmaker office 2018), and it is a nice software, especially for MX-17to19 for a x32 bits versions. (because LibreOffice is now not updated for x32 versions)

[Stevo]

Are you using x32 in the same manner as Debian uses it? It refers to a different sort of setup--32-bit apps on a 64-bit kernel, as far as I can tell, not the standard i386 arch that MX uses for 32-bit.

Debian certainly builds 32-bit versions of Libreoffice for Debian--currently 6.4.4.2 is in buster-backports, for example.

[oops]

@Stevo ... I use x32 when the kernel is for x32 and the computer too.
ex: here for a computer into MX18-3 x32 (not mine):
Kernel Linux 5.4.0-4-686-pae (i686)
Operating System MX 18.3 Continuum
Processor 2x AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 240 Processor

Via Anydesk and MXPI, for MX18-3, I can only find an old version of LibreOffice (6.0.1-1 MX stable repo) (6.1.5-1 MX test repo) (6.1.5-3 Debian repo)

https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/

Here for v 6.4.4, only 64 bits are available for linux (x32 and 64 versions for Windows)

[KBD]

Softmaker is working on their 2021upgrade right now:
https://www.softmaker.com/en/softmaker-office
Their beta is available to download and try out.

[user14]

Hopefully Softmaker will upgrade the free version too in the near future.

The best thing about it must be the compatibility with MS Office. This might make the online MS Office versions obsolete.
I have this installed alongside LibreOffice at the moment.

[KBD]

Hopefully Softmaker will upgrade the free version too in the near future.

The best thing about it must be the compatibility with MS Office. This might make the online MS Office versions obsolete.
I have this installed alongside LibreOffice at the moment.

Usually it is not too long after they release a new version that the Freeoffice version becomes available.
It is nice to know there is a free office version available on Linux that is fully compatible with MS Office. I love Libreoffice, but it is still a bit weak when it comes to full compatibility with MS Office formats.
Edit; Softmaker has released the full 2021 version of their office software, so Freeoffice should not be far behind.

[figueroa]

What happens after the 30 day free trial expires?

This thread is about FreeOffice, which does not have a trial expiration time.

Just today, FreeOffice 2018 required me to give them an email address in order to have a "free" product key. I have FreeOffice installed in 18.3 from the MXPI. I went ahead and did it.

[KBD]

That's weird. The last couple of times It has not required one from me. I installed Freeoffice about a week or so ago from a fresh MX install and have not been asked for an email, nor for the one before that. I suppose there could be a set time after using it that they ask for an email. I always have 2-3 throwaway email addresses that I use for such things.

[asqwerth]

.... I suppose there could be a set time after using it that they ask for an email. ...

Yes. Their free version asks for a key after a while. But you can reuse the same key. So I got a key for the version of free Softoffice in my Manjaro install when finally requested, and reused the same key number when I installed SO in MX.

[KBD]

Yes. Their free version asks for a key after a while. But you can reuse the same key. So I got a key for the version of free Softoffice in my Manjaro install when finally requested, and reused the same key number when I installed SO in MX.

That's a good idea. I will do that from now on.