WRITERS - Softmaker Office Pro (2021) suite is 60% off

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Yes, I think you are correct - from my limited experience with both of these programs. (Thank you. )

ADDED: Uncle Robin has way more experience with LibreOffice than I do.

MS Office compatibility is a moving target for sure, and there are online sources which suggest Softmaker really IS better for Linux users, but LO continues to improve, 7.1.4 is very good, and is around $100US cheaper than Softmaker's paid offering. Meaning that it is MUCH more compatible with my wallet.

[rcentros]

I got the link to the $40 Office Pro 2021 (with free PaintShop Pro) in my email today. It looks like the link is for anyone who stumbles on to it (the same link as original one in the first post of this thread, I think).

https://www.softmaker.com/en/softmaker-office-promotion

If you're interested it might be worth looking into. I can't guarantee the link works for everyone — I'm guessing it's for the U.S. (And you have to buy the subscription NX version if you want Android support — at $30 a year. It looks like the Android version is free at the Google Play store also?)

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I got the link to the $40 Office Pro 2021 (with free PaintShop Pro) in my email today. It looks like the link is for anyone who stumbles on to it (the same link as original one in the first post of this thread, I think).

https://www.softmaker.com/en/softmaker-office-promotion

If you're interested it might be worth looking into. I can't guarantee the link works for everyone — I'm guessing it's for the U.S. (And you have to buy the subscription NX version if you want Android support — at $30 a year. It looks like the Android version is free at the Google Play store also?)

I can confirm that the reposted link still doesn't work for me - there's a graphic advertising a HUGE discount, but the full version is still close to $100US for me.

[LinuxArie]

Here the same, €99 for the full version, €59 for the upgrade, Paint Shop Pro for free

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I can confirm that the reposted link still doesn't work for me - there's a graphic advertising a HUGE discount, but the full version is still close to $100US for me.

You may wish to do what I did: Download the limited-time version and then let it expire. Perhaps you may then get that special offer. Of course, even at that very generous sale price, if it doesn't do what you need it to do then it may not even be worth it to you.

(Unless, of course, if you've already done this.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I can confirm that the reposted link still doesn't work for me - there's a graphic advertising a HUGE discount, but the full version is still close to $100US for me.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

You may wish to do what I did: Download the limited-time version and then let it expire. Perhaps you may then get that special offer. Of course, even at that very generous sale price, if it doesn't do what you need it to do then it may not even be worth it to you.

This must be the case. I'm not logged in at SoftMaker so I thought the link was generic. But when I copy the exact same link into another browser I don't get the discount either. There must be some kind cookie in my browser? Weird. Sorry, I thought the offer expired last time and this was a new chance available to everyone.

I see now, when I hover over the "go to Browser" or buy from the email, there's a credential (cred) code in the link, and it's definitely tied to their newsletter mailing. I'm guessing it's unique to each "subscriber." I've attached a screen grab to show what it looks like. I'm pretty sure if you download the free version of their software you would (sooner or later) get one of these offers in your email (they require your email address to download the free version).

[mkm]

I registered for the free version and got the promotional link.

I bought it because it supports powerpoint and it's portable.

LibreOffice/OpenOffice has very good compatibility with M$ Office with the exception of power point. I prefer Impress which is x10 better, but many use power point and I wanted something which supports it "on the go".

After you install the software you can install it to a USB drive under utilities, then uninstall from your PC.
I only activated the USB drive install.

my 2bits.

[GlenBarrington]

From a heavily Microsoft invested user, I would say the $40 US price makes more sense than the $100 US price. My reasoning is that for $99/year, one can buy 6TB of online storage (6 1TB accounts) AND have full access to the entire standalone MS Office Suite. For a family situation or a small group of individual users who chip in, that, is hard to beat. Especially when one considers the tight integration with Win10.

At $40 US, I might be interested in a commercial alternative. But at $100, I just don't see the appeal.

[LinuxArie]

$100 is the stand alone version

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by LinuxArie

$100 is the stand alone version

As is the MS Office Version. Actually, subscribers have access to both standalone and online versions, as they should, I think.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

From a heavily Microsoft invested user, I would say the $40 US price makes more sense than the $100 US price. My reasoning is that for $99/year, one can buy 6TB of online storage (6 1TB accounts) AND have full access to the entire standalone MS Office Suite. For a family situation or a small group of individual users who chip in, that, is hard to beat. Especially when one considers the tight integration with Win10.

At $40 US, I might be interested in a commercial alternative. But at $100, I just don't see the appeal.

Yeah, but if you don't use Windows or don't use any (or very little) online storage, the SoftMaker suite would be a great alternative for those who need to create and use Office compatible documents. And the $100 (or $40 if you just sign up for the free software and wait a bit for the promotion) is a one time charge — not an annual one. Since I use Linux (by choice) the Microsoft Office suite is not available for me (even if I wanted it) — and I don't like to "rent" software. But, even at $40, the SoftMaker Office suite and PaintShop Pro have no draw for me. I hardly ever even use LibreOffice and I never need to deal with Microsoft documents. And every attempt at using a "PaintShop" application has ended in failure (for a while I worked in a print shop, so had access to these paint applications).

[mkm]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

As is the MS Office Version. Actually, subscribers have access to both standalone and online versions, as they should, I think.

With Softmaker you can mix-and-match your permanent 5 licenses and install on Windows/MacOS/Linux.
The yearly subscription version is cheaper (and includes a fully functional Android app).
You get to use normal classic interface.

Also, you can have it on a USB drive.
As far as I can tell there's no spying either.

If you're happy with M$ Office stick with them, to each his own.
I'm still using win7 pro, win 10 is awful.

I thought this was a hell of deal at $40. Even at the full $100 if you buy for a family or with 4 others it's a great deal at $20 per license (but I can afford the $40 and now have extra :-D ).

[rcentros]

Here's the link that seems to work for the $40 deal. I don't know if it's only for the U.S. or not. (No way to test for that.)

DELETED

Sorry. It looks like the link has a unique customer number when you go to checkout.

[rcentros]

Well, SoftMaker finally got some (not much) money from me. They offered the SoftMaker Office 2018 Standard package for $8 and I went ahead and picked it up. I haven't tested it much, but so far I like it's "feel" better than LibreOffice. I also like that it comes with real (PDF) User Manuals. I guess now they'll dun me forever to upgrade to 2021.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I also like that it comes with real (PDF) User Manuals.

FWIW, so does LibreOffice