New option for free office productivity suite on clarkhoward.com

Are you using free productivity suite packages like StarOffice or OpenOffice instead of going the costly Microsoft Office route?

Well, Clark has a suggestion if you're looking for another freebie. Zoho.com is a new productivity suite that won't cost you a penny. So far it's been praised in a number of tech reviews.

Zoho is a cloud computing platform, which simply means it is a web-based system that's stored in cyberspace -- there's no software to download. You create a username and password and then can access the service from any computer.

This system was designed with small business in mind. Businesses with up to 9 employees can have accounts for free.

However, there is one great unknown. If this goes bust, what happens to all your stored documents? Chances are they may go off into the ether somewhere. That is one of the potential downfalls of using a cloud computing platform.

What others are saying

aandelenuus@yahoo.com
You should also try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download.

Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.

You may try these links:

http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
or
http://ssuite5element.webs.com/thefifthelement.htm
By Ado @ 09/04/09 01:54:04 PMreport abuse
I wonder
Is Clarke paid to promote this site?
By cl @ 05/31/09 09:54:41 PMreport abuse
nice until someone hacks their site
I prefer free OpenOffice.org productivity software. No way I'm going to leave the saftey of my personal documentation at the hand of internet hackers.
By consumer @ 05/17/09 02:52:34 AMreport abuse
Computer Repair
Not that I want to give away all my I.T. arsenal for paid computer repair, I still want this company to get credit for its fantastic virus computer infestation cleaner. Avast has fixed many CPU's that Norton's and MacAffee have let destroy the O/S.

Many times over the past 5 years, this product has helped clean out bad guys so I can fix the Windows XP/Vista/ and most likely Windows 7 when it is released.

lompocdirect.com and Webmaster T. of rockhawk.com

Love your show and info

Tom Sutor
Lompoc, CA 93438
805-735-3532
By Tom Sutor @ 05/02/09 02:13:31 PMreport abuse
ZOHO "FREE" ?
Even though Clark Howard has said ZOHO is free, There is the matter of pricing on the ZOHO web site. HE should do his homework and tell people the "FREE" -ness of the products he advertises
By David @ 04/23/09 10:35:35 AMreport abuse
Zoho and Privacy of content
People need to be aware that while Zoho offers basic data security, that your content can and WILL end up on servers that might not implement any significant data security measures.

The caurtion is: Only store content on Zoho that you don't mind being freely readable by anyone, anywhere, at any time. This is not paranoia. Read their privacy policy closely so that you might better understand this.
By Abe @ 04/23/09 07:59:55 AMreport abuse
Who Cares More?
Most folks I know lock the doors to their business and offices, yet are now contemplating handing over the most valuable thing they have, their data, to complete strangers. Who cares more about your business and your data, you.. or google and now zoho? If they encounter an issue and go down and you can't access your systems are they going to care that you still have to function and meet your customer needs that day to survive? Has anyone ever tried to contact google, it's nearly impossible! The great unknown mentioned briefly at the end of Clark's article to me is the great reason to look at technology you can implement to be in control of your own "cloud." Remote access and mobility are not an issue with new systems. Don't hand over the most valuable part of your business, your data and everything about you, to someone you've never met just because you hear it's the latest and greatest.
By Stacey @ 04/16/09 11:50:55 AMreport abuse
Mac specific OpenOffice version
OpenOffice can be a bit frustrating for Mac OS X users due to it's lack of os specific features on the platform. NeoOffice.org is a group that takes OpenOffice and adds such features. It makes for a much more productive experience on my favorite OS (besides Linux!).
By Tim Youngblood @ 04/13/09 09:01:26 AMreport abuse
Open Office is Fully Compatible w/ MS Office
I've downloaded Open Office onto four of my machines, and it's worked perfectly. The individual programs open and close slightly slower than their MS counterparts, but when open they offer all the features of MS XP Office suite. The best thing is they're completely free! Beware of companies out there that try to sell you Open Office, though - I almost fell for that once.
By robert wood @ 04/12/09 05:34:25 PMreport abuse
I like OpenOffice
I like OpenOffice. There is even a portable version. I put it on my memory stick and can take it and my files to any computer want to use. It's safe, as long as I don't lose my memory stick.
By Dennis @ 04/08/09 09:53:39 PMreport abuse
Don't report technology
I guess if the suite started in 2005 that should make it new?
maybe clark has heard of a company called google. google docs does he think would go bust as well?
By jbo @ 04/08/09 09:52:06 PMreport abuse
Thumbs up for OpenOffice.org!
If you're strapped for cash, then OpenOffice is the way to go. It's the most mature free solution out there and I find it works very well, although a bit slower than the real thing. Of course, you're getting it free!
By Medical Student @ 04/08/09 12:58:59 PMreport abuse
For desktop use I find that OpenOffice (a product of Sun) works best. If you're the online-type, Google Docs is a bit snappier and easier to use than Zoho.

http://www.openoffice.org/
http://docs.google.com/
By John Wallaby @ 04/08/09 10:49:25 AMreport abuse
Training? Security?
OK,to save maybe $200 over the next 3 years, I have to train an employee to use different software than what they've used before? And .. my company confidential documents are under someone else's control? No thanks.
By Kevin @ 04/07/09 06:41:38 PMreport abuse
The cutting edge!
As much as I love new technology and innovations like Zoho, I have found that when you're on the "cutting edge," you can BLEED ... a lot!
By Dan Blankowski @ 04/07/09 03:51:27 PMreport abuse

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Apr 07, 2009 -- New option for free office productivity suite

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