AbiWord & Gnumeric To Replace OpenOffice in Ubuntu Netbook Edition

By , Published February 8, 2010

A few days ago we shared word that the OpenOffice.org suite of apps was to be dropped from default installs of Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook Edition.

Many of you cheered, many of you did a double-take but most of you agreed OOo was overkill on small, underpowered netbooks.
The proposed solution of switching to Google Docs was met with some disdain and concern so a new proposal has been made – OOo will be replaced by Gnumeric and Abiword in Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook edition.
Ubuntu dev Rick Spencer made a statement addressing feedback, the juicy part of which was: -

“I think we should try gumeric and abiword by default, and then those who want OOo apps can install just the ones they need later.”

Great News

I’m a big fan of Google Docs and would’ve been totally stoked with that direction, but i equally love AbiWord so I’m equally stoked at this decision. Choosing a lightweight yet feature-filled Word Processing application compatible with most common Microsoft formats is a win all round.
Tomboy
Also potentially making a U-Turn and returning to UNE line-up is Tomboy.
Thanks to om26er
Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. OpenOffice Dropped From Ubuntu Netbook Edition
  2. ‘Finestly’ Lucid Theme Gets White Edition. Very White Edition.
  3. Visual Tour n' Tweak Guide To Ubuntu Karmic Netbook Remix
Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
  • http://twitter.com/D_Tod Darren Tod

    Good move IMO :)

    Never tried G-Docs offline tho, Gears isn’t compatible with Chrome for Linux :/

  • http://www.martinsmucker.com Michael Martin-Smucker

    Definitely some good decisions there. I already use Abiword and Gnumeric with my old (like, ancient) laptop, and I was thoroughly impressed with both of those programs. OO.o is definitely overkill for a netbook.

    I’m also glad Tomboy is being reconsidered. Why would a simple note-taking program be less useful on a netbook? Now that it syncs notes over the internet, I would consider it an essential app for those who want to stay connected on the go. Then again, I don’t have a netbook, so what do I know?

  • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

    Hmm good! They’ve come to their senses! =D

    Yet I don’t what we’re going to do with presentations and the like, even if they are becoming more of a rarity..

  • http://twitter.com/markhepworth Mark Hepworth

    I think it’s a bit misguided. I use ooo heavily on my netbook, not least because I’m often off-line while using it. Yes, it’s slightly heavy for the average netbook (mines an aspire one with 512Mb RAM), but the trick with netbooks is to remember it won’t respond like a desktop. Also, this years standard 10-11″ netbooks with 1gb ram can handle it much better.
    I’ve given ABiword a quick try, but the first thing it did was to mess up the formatting on an imported word document that ooo handles perfected, so I’m not too impressed. I’ll give it another go though.
    Yes, people can install what they want instead, but first impressions are important for converting people to FOSS, and an office suite that MSoffice users feel comfortable with is an important link for that.
    Glad to hear of the return of tomboy…its UO sync feature is such an obvious fit with netbook usage that I’m amazed it was considered for removal.

  • Anirudh

    This will be absolutely terrible to switch from OpenOffice.org to Abiword/Gnumeric, people are just getting used to OpenOffice.org!

    Think of the branding: “So where’s Microsoft Word? Well it’s OpenOffice.org in Ubuntu, KOffice in Kubuntu, Abiword/Gnumeric in Xubuntu and Ubuntu Netbook Edition”. Hmm, that’s not confusing at all.

    Not to mention that they are completely different programs and have different compatibilities and features. This is a terrible step in the wrong direction. Ubuntu needs more uniformity rather than chaos.

    • Borsook

      Actually it is nothing new. Those two apps – Abiword and Gnumeric have always been a part of Xubuntu. And they do their job really well.

  • http://www.linuxmint.com/ Jimbo

    Its good to see they listen to user feedback, though why they ever proposed their original plans I don’t know. Maybe once Chrome OS has changed the OS field then they can consider going online only, but until then, people want and expect offline, real installed software.

  • http://www.wiberg.nu/ Daniel Wiberg

    How good does Abiword and Gnumeric work with MS Office files?

  • Concerned UNR user

    God, not including Tomboy makes no sense. It’s probably the program besides X-Chat and my browser that I use the most on my netbook.

  • http://ronuts.blogspot.com/ Mister Ro

    Call me a stick-in-the-mud, but I just don’t see it.

    Okay, I grant you these are lightweight apps compared with OpenOffice, but how many people have netbooks that really can’t handle OO?

    But it’s more than that; it represents a serious break between the desktop and netbook versions of Ubuntu. We’re installing, supposedly, the same operating system but the packaged apps differ? Not just “some of the apps in the desktop version have been removed”, which is usually going to be the case, but “you now get different apps depending on which machine you’re looking at”!

    If the decision is to drop OO, fine, but why put – and I’m sorry for any fans but it is nonetheless true – also-ran substitutes in place? Keep the install small and fast: just put a folder full of shortcuts to install the various different options, and put the information before the users as to why they might prefer to install, say, AbiWord rather than the more standard OO.

    *sigh*

  • http://twitter.com/symodhcn Symod J. Urich

    Thumbs up. Also, plus one for adding Tomboy, it’s a must-have, and I don’t really see why not to include it, besides the mono crap.

  • Ryan Peters

    They should use Gnote instead of Tomboy ;)

  • Mohan

    I think this is a better decision, it’s lighter and doesn’t take up much space.

  • Anonymous

    I tend to agree with Mark & Anirudh. I use OO extensively on my Tosh NB200 which runs fine. All your going to do is add more confusion for people considering taking up Ubuntu UNR or now UNE + what are they going to use to open powerpoint files? New users won’t be bothered to find out what software to use to open these files. They will instead think this is to hard & go back to M$.
    I believe the better option which Ubuntu users have always had is to give users the option of removing the OO software & installing Abiword / Gnumeric if they wish.
    Remember you have keep the MAJORITY of people happy not the minority.
    That my 2 bobs worth.

  • Jesu Castro

    What about presentations? How do I make them without Impress?

  • FabriceV

    Previous comments have pointed out some of the Abiword’s problems (Gnumeric is far from perfect too, but comparatively better). One more :
    You can personalize OpenOffice toolbars to fit netbook screen (you can even use it vertically). But with Abiword, none possibility to adapt to small screen. Abiword is just a prehistoric software that has no direction (it is not for beginners, not for technical – scientific writing, and too weak to be of general interest).
    OpenOffice is far from perfect too, but at least it does honestly its job, is able to adapt to different usage, and is multi-platform.

  • Anonymous

    I am quite happy that they listen to the fan base!

    Anyway, I already have Abiword and Gnumeric on my UNR, and they work fine, very responsive. I can always transfer back to my main machine with Dropbox / Ubuntu One to format.
    My netbook is for when I am on the go, and limitred formating is the only thing I need. I am aware other have needs as well. Googledocs needs to be always connected, that is it’s flaw

    As for Tomboy, the sync function has changed everything, and now I think that it is essential to have it on the netbook.

    The good thing is whatever the developers decide to package on Ubuntu Netbook Edition, one can always add ones favourite programmes with the software center / synaptic if they are not included

  • daas88

    what about openoffice presentations? is there any lightweight and easy to use replacement out there?

  • http://www.yatsite.blogspot.com/ L4Linux

    Why Tomboy instead of Gnote??
    Mono Apps take more space on the installation medium (and more resources when running).
    Isn’t the idea to make UNE fit into a CD…?

  • Anonymous

    I have installed AbiWord on my new desktop and wish to be informed how to install Thesaurus.
    Thank you
    Barrett Manning
    barrettmanning@btinternet.com