How come this is not [noisy] ? [NOISY]
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 30, 2004 7:40 AM

This message has been moderated by the Javalobby Team. You can discuss it here.

Yes
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 30, 2004 9:36 AM

Hello Sione,

> With all these office suites application from
> different companies, MS-Office, Open-Office,
> Star-Office, EI-Office, I am thinking of starting
> another Java Office suites open source project.

There is not so many java-based office suite and no open-source one, afaik.

> Who wants to start this open source project in Java
> for another office suites product.

I would contribute a little to it but due to a lack of time, I'm not in position to start such a project. Well, if it starts, I would join. But an office suite is a very big project and first a serious team is required.

Regards, Guillaume

Re: Yes
Posted by Christopher Deckers on Jan 30, 2004 10:50 AM

How much serious

I guess I would want to join any nice projects, but I already have a lack of time for mine... *sigh*

But I would contribute if it is a serious team

-Christopher

Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Steve Wood on Feb 1, 2004 8:59 AM

These aren't end user benefits... They're developer benefits - how many developers are responsible for purchasing Office products. Actually, how many developers really use Office products! (I'm speaking personally here - since I started developing, I never seem to write much in Office).

Steve




Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Cornellious Mann on Jan 28, 2004 10:08 PM

I think a product like this not only competes with Open Office, but also validates it. It proves that alternatives to MS Office can exist and prosper!

It's really wonderful!!!
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 29, 2004 3:57 AM

I just downloaded the software for linux. I must say that this is the most amazing software ever written in swing(so, the best swing work comes from a chinese company)! it is so fast in comparison to open office, and also can aompete ms-office. i think it will force people to change their opinion that swing is slow. jvm sharing will certainly change the scenario a lot more. further more, it has similar look as ms-office, so people accustomed to ms-office will feel no problem using this(i tested the linus version, i can guess the windows version will be more impressive). i hope this product will succed and will increase java's demand as a language to managers(all programming related jobs go to VB programmers in our country, sigh!!)

Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Cornellious Mann on Jan 28, 2004 10:08 PM

I think a product like this not only competes with Open Office, but also validates it. It proves that alternatives to MS Office can exist and prosper!




It's really wonderful!!!
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 29, 2004 3:57 AM

I just downloaded the software for linux. I must say that this is the most amazing software ever written in swing(so, the best swing work comes from a chinese company)! it is so fast in comparison to open office, and also can aompete ms-office. i think it will force people to change their opinion that swing is slow. jvm sharing will certainly change the scenario a lot more. further more, it has similar look as ms-office, so people accustomed to ms-office will feel no problem using this(i tested the linus version, i can guess the windows version will be more impressive). i hope this product will succed and will increase java's demand as a language to managers(all programming related jobs go to VB programmers in our country, sigh!!)

Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 29, 2004 4:25 AM

The installer:
- is native and gnome-based
- requires root privileges
- will restart your computer (even on Linux)
- create a directory at the root (/EIO_Binders)
- install a new JRE (Sun 1.4.1_01)
- the JRE has additonal libs (native)
+ easy
+ one and only one JAR (EIOOffice.ese)

The suite:
- look and feel is so-so
- look and feel is hardcoded (not plaf)
- minor repaint problem
- looking for a DLL (on linux)
- doesn't quit
+ a lot of features
+ very user-friendly (file dialog, wizard, ...)
+ quite fast (IO is a little slow)

And IT RUNS ON JDISTRO !
(it runs fine in wharf-only mode but there is a few problems
with Graphics2D in desktop mode)

Conclusion:
+ Impressive, powerfull, user friendly
- Installation could be improved

This is the java-based office suite you were dreaming of.
I give it four stars on five.

Ref:
Exception occurs: 2004.01.29 10:49:27
java.io.FileNotFoundException: /opt/eio/system/$eiosystem.dll (Permission denied)

Guillaume

Re: Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Kim, DoHyung on Jan 29, 2004 8:46 PM

I have some points to add to your evaluation.

1. It seems that it isn't implemented as an active client for input method framework. But anyway I can input Korean thanks to the default behavior of the input method framework. (I'm Korean)

2. I understand that providing supports for multiple L&Fs is important in many environments. But it's quite difficult to do it right in presence of highly customized sets of UI components. Though EIO is not so perfectly elegant in its look, I think they did quite much to improve user experiences, and has quite many highly customized components with modified look.

Re: Tests, evaluation and JDistro
Posted by Guillaume Desnoix on Jan 30, 2004 10:48 AM

> 2. I understand that providing supports for multiple
> L&Fs is important in many environments.

A good swing app is one that can run with any L&F. This is especially true with the new JRE (1.4.2+) because the default L&F is now the system-like one. It doesn't mean that the app has to follow the L&F. EIO makes a few changes to the UI defaults (bad) but it seems that they are not required (good).

> But it's
> quite difficult to do it right in presence of highly
> customized sets of UI components.

I don't agree. You can easily provide customized components without changing the L&F. You can code the new features at the app level, at the component level or even at the updateUI methode level.

> Though EIO is not
> so perfectly elegant in its look

Matter of taste. Even if I don't like this blueish background, maybe a lot of people like it.

> I think they did quite much to improve user
> experience

Yes. They really did a good job and I really like it (especially the file chooser).

> and has quite many highly customized components
> with modified look.

Yes. I really value them. It just would be even better if I could use the suite with any L&F.

Regards, Guillaume

Discounts for JL
Posted by John Bridges on Jan 29, 2004 5:10 AM

Rick

If this is as good as some of the reviews are saying could we try and arrange a volume discount for JL members ?

John

We've been in touch with Evermore SW
Posted by Rick Ross on Jan 29, 2004 11:27 AM

And their president is currently travelling in China. I'll discuss our group's interest in EIOffice with him soon, and hopefully we'll get something good put together for Javalobby. I'll report more as it becomes available.

Rick

Thanks Rick
Posted by John Bridges on Jan 29, 2004 8:18 PM

Good business for them anyway - if they can persuade us I'm sure we'll do some selling for them.

Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Ivan Ooi on Jan 29, 2004 11:09 AM

Holly Java.......

I MUST SAY, THIS EVEN BETTER THAN THINKFREE OFFICE!!!!

hmmm... what look like in OSX anyway ?....
opsss.... there;s no EVAL for OSX?

Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 29, 2004 12:08 PM


> hmmm... what look like in OSX anyway ?....
> opsss.... there;s no EVAL for OSX?

There's no version for OSX, period. The page says it's still under development. Until it's ready, you can always try NeoOffice/J.

Re: Problem downloading? More links
Posted by Jerason Banes on Jan 30, 2004 10:13 AM

> To answer you question. No, I can't read chinese.

Now you can.

How about document compatibility?
Posted by Milton Hernandez on Jan 30, 2004 10:36 AM

How about document compatibility with MS Office or StarOffice? This is an issue that has stopped the advance of many good office suites.

Re: Java-powered Suite from China To Challenge Office
Posted by Alex Garrison on Jan 30, 2004 1:36 PM

So will we see American knockoffs of this Chinese product? Surely they couldnt claim patent/copyright protection?

Finally, the revolution has begun
Posted by Mahbub Shahriar on Jan 30, 2004 10:58 PM

I just tested the Windows version. The question is, how is it so fast(even when the quick start option is disabled, yes there is a quick start there)? I have never seen any swing app to start that fast! Even a single JFrame with no control takes more time to display itself. However, the drawbacks are:

- No support for html, whenever i tried to open an html file, it opened in a spreadsheet.

- Does not display indian languages, it takes indian characters, but does not show it, even when the Devanagari input method is selected from the input method toolkit provided by Sun (Devanagari support is default in the JDK). What's makes me wonder is that, when in try to write in Devanagari, it just only shows white spaces and the cursor moves foroward. This is a serious drawback, as Swing is a very good framework that has full support for UNICODE.

However, I hope these drawbacks will be fixed in the near future and must say that this is the REVOLUTIONARY product in the Java world. So, FINALLY, THE REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!!!

Indeed ... Bye bye useless SWT
Posted by Serge Bureau on Jan 31, 2004 8:44 PM

Yes it is very impressive.

In fact in many ways it is superior to the original office !!!

What else do Chineese companies have in their sleeves.

Who now cares about stupid SWT.

Re: Indeed ... Bye bye useless SWT
Posted by Christopher Deckers on Feb 1, 2004 10:42 AM

Maybe I do care, if I need to use the system tray, know the absolute positioning of the mouse, embed easily a real web browser, have exact look and feel, etc.

SWT and Swing are made for different uses, so it is irrelevant to say that one is better than the other.

Actually, would this office suite be better in SWT?

-Christopher

PS: just kidding, don't start SWT vs Swing war...