Completely free office suite for docs, sheets and presentations
In the beginning was Microsoft Office. Then OpenOffice appeared as an open-source alternative. And now IBM makes a new move and offers its own productivity suite, IBM Lotus Symphony, all free of charge. The idea is not new: there have been a few free suites launched lately, but all of them were online. IBM Lotus Symphony is the only desktop suite that, together with OpenOffice, can offer a free alternative to Microsoft's proprietary apps.
IBM Lotus Symphony offers three tools: word processor, spreadsheet and presentations. It's true that other productivity suites are usually more complete. However, IBM Lotus Symphony stands out for a convenient, single-windowed interface from which you can launch the three apps. Simply click on the "Open" button and select the kind of document you want to open: the program's toolbar will change accordingly. What's more, you can have as many opened documents as you want at the same time, no matter which type, and switch between them in the top tab bar.
The IBM Lotus Symphony suite includes all the basic tools that you could expect in such an application: spell checker and tables for documents, pre-designed templates for presentations and charts for spreadsheets - to name a few - besides the usual configuration options as regards fonts, colors and the like.
In my personal opinion, I'm glad to have another possibility like IBM Lotus Symphony to choose from when deciding which suite I'm going to use. A little rivalry is always good and usually produces better and wider options for computer users. And it seems IBM is beginning to take the suite competition quite seriously, as can be seen with IBM Lotus Symphony.
IBM Lotus Symphony has left the beta stage behind and now offers a stable, highly functional productivity suite that, despite not being as complete as other suites, may perfectly fit your needs.
Ability to open files created using Microsoft Office 2007Enhanced drag and drop capabilityPassword protection for documents
Changes
Ability to open files created using Microsoft Office 2007Enhanced drag and drop capabilityPassword protection for documents
User reviews about IBM Lotus Symphony
by Tewodros Ayalew
GOOD and attractive why you forced me to comment before the use of your app
by Anonymous
Best Free Microsoft Office Alternative.
This is hands down better than OpenOffice.org. It offers the same features as OpenOffice.org but cleaner and more stable and it's menu is more like Microsoft Office than OpenOffice.org is. The problem with OpenOffice.org is the installation folder it leaves on the desktop, and the fact if you delete or move it, you can't upgrade to the next OpenOffice.org. You don't have that same problem with IBM Symphony. Good features, clean interface and clean installation as well as stable and reliable. Everything you'd expect from a paid program, all for free.
Pros:
Free
Clean interface
Menu resembles Microsoft Office
Clean installation
Reliable and stable
Cons:
Not as up to date as OpenOffice.org
Isn't Windows 7 compatible
Program is added to the start-up menu More