OpenOffice Dropped From Ubuntu Netbook Edition

By , Published February 5, 2010

Update #2: OpenOffice BACK in Netbook Edition – read more here

Update #1: AbiWord & Gnumeric To Replace OpenOffice

OpenOffice has been removed from Ubuntu Netbook Edition – at least for now.

Developers are currently discussing the application line up for the official netbook spin and this includes proposals to drop applications that are irrelevant to netbook usage or just plain useless on a netbook.

Whilst OpenOffice doesn’t neatly fall into either of this its removal was proposed and, as of the current Lucid Daily builds, it’s gone. Documents will instead open up in Google Docs.

Other applications removed or hidden in the Netbook Edition are: –

  • Brasero/CD Creator hidden
  • Dictionary hidden
  • 'Take Screenshot' tool hidden
  • Tomboy removed
  • Graphics applications removed
  • PalmOS Pilot removed

In their place sit more ‘netbook friendly’ applications such as: –

  • Gwibber
  • Cheese Web Cam Booth
  • SimpleScan
Thanks to om26er
Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. Ubuntu Netbook Remix To Be Renamed
  2. Karmic Netbook Remixes: Kubuntu 1, Ubuntu 0
  3. Jaunty Netbook Remix
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  • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

    Ok, but Cheese was there before… Also, what about Tomboy and its neat UbuntuOne integration? Wouldn’t that be VERY useful on a netbook?

    • .fosk.

      I agree with you… i dont understand the decision about Tomboy… i find it very useful on a netbook!!!

      • nomono

        Removal of Tomboy is the only good news… While OOo is really useful, Tomboy is just a Mono piece of s**t… Gnote FTW

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

          I’d be happier with Gnote, but it doesn’t have Ubuntu One syncing, that’s the point.

        • EatMehChicken

          You dumb ass, you don’t have a clue about Mono. There is nothing wrong with it, shut up and go home.

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

    Well, makes sense. I’m thinking about removing it from my desktop PC, and just installing Abiword (I can’t even remember when I last used a spreadsheet app, I think a full year ago).

  • http://twitter.com/WolfHook Paul

    Makes sense I guess but Google Docs is still an option some people don’t get. It makes a rather large assumption that anyone who installs Ubuntu will have a Google Account and not require a native word/spreadsheet editing application.

    I have been moving to Google Docs over the last few months but what if someone sends me a word doc?

    I tend to do most of my administration for my business on my Netbook as it is just dealing with emails and other tedious tasks while sat on the sofa. I do get Word docs sent to me once in a while to proof read.

    Even though it would be easy to install, removing OpenOffice completely might back fire.

  • Calvin

    The heck? Just include AbiWord and Gnumeric, this way we don’t have a paperweight without WiFi, which is still sptty in Canada, despite lots of free WiFi.

    Plus not all Ubuntu users all Google Accounts. Screw the cloud.

    • daas88

      I totally agree! It’s a pain in the ass to use google docs when having slow internet connection. And i think it’s ok they dump tomboy, IMHO it’s pretty much useless. If i ever needed something like that, i’d rather have the sticky notes applet.

  • Calvin

    BTW. Tomboy and dictionary are useful. Hardly anyone uses Palm Pilots, plus the UI is awkward on that setup. As most netbooks don’t have burners, I’ll let Brasaero (whatever it’s called) hide itself.

  • http://www.equitasit.co.uk/ Equitas

    On the links you provide I can’t find any reference to Google Docs. Where did you get that users will be directed there in place of OOo?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      “One of the easier ones is to auto import docs etc. into gdocs if you double click on it using libgdata and then opening the browser with the right url.”

      • http://www.equitasit.co.uk/ Equitas

        That reads more like a discussion of an _option_ than a definitive decision such as is implied in the article above.

  • http://ronuts.blogspot.com/ Ro

    I’m far from convinced. My netbook and I travel everywhere together, and I often fire up one of the OO modules – it handles it and I don’t have to wonder whether I’ll have a Net connection to get to Google Docs.

    Perhaps an assumption is being made that anyone wanted to use Ubuntu NBR will be having to install it instead of some pre-installed alternative and will, therefore, have enough knowledge to be easily able to install OO afterwards if required. Fair enough, to an extent, and it will make for a (moderately) faster install with a (moderately) smaller footprint. However, it goes against the thrust of Ubuntu development in general which is trying to make this system as user-friendly as possible.

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/hannes.hiller moulari

    “Documents will instead open up in Google Docs.” can i get that function in my current karmic install as well?

  • http://www.geniuslife.wordpress.com/ Júlio

    WTH?!
    Tomboy is out?

    ¬___¬

  • http://twitter.com/TheAxeR Lucas David-Roesler

    I have to agree with everyone else Tomboy and Dictonary, not useful or netbook friendly? I am surprised.

  • arf

    How interesting, i have no idea what google doc is, i dont use a google account and so do all of my friends.
    maybe its only in germany, where people really would like to have some privacy and dont want to be scanned by google and have their private information sold.
    whatever, i plan to install the netbook remix on my eeepc and the first thing to do is to remove the google app. (and to install oo)

    • w1ngnutz

      +1. Unfortunately it’s hard to find these days a company that would provide as many services (and as much integrated) as google does. For instance, I’m moving my emails from ymail to gmail cos I can access it through imap on thunderbird. Someone could provide-me a better option?

  • http://openid-provider.appspot.com/medg85@googlemail.com medg85

    I agree that Tomboy should be included given its integration with Ubuntu One.

  • w1ngnutz

    No big deal removing OO. I think online apps will sooner or later replace desktop apps on small/low-powered devices but using google docs? Doesn’t seem a good idea as one would need to have an account to use it. And for God’s sake, let’s run away from google. Why not use other online apps?

    As for removing Tomboy, maybe they’re trying to get rid of mono? Sounds a good idea to me.

  • http://sergiorondan.com.ar/ Sergio Rondan

    I think that abiword and gnumeric are the best option

  • Anonymous

    So graphics apps are out but a scanning tool is in. What’s that about?

    • Anonymous

      Good point. How often do you have a scanner hooked up to an ultra-portable device?

  • Anonymous

    Whhhaaatt!!! i dont really see the rhyme or reasoning behind this.

  • John

    What do people want to do with a netbook if not office and communication work?!
    In my opinion OpenOffice is a must just like Firefox and a lightweight email application.

  • http://www.expatsinksa.com/ Bilal Akhtar

    OO removed. No major problem. But, they should have added AbiWord to take its place on UNE. Tomboy, well, like everyone, Its useful for note taking on netbooks as well.

  • http://seifsallam.co.cc/ Seif Sallam

    I’m Ok with everything but Why Tomboy? i really don’t understand

  • Anonymous

    doesn’t google doc require a internet connection? this is stupid on Ubuntu’s part, what happens if someone is at a place without internet access and wants to get work done now they cant. instead of removing open office they should redesign it so that it would look/work better on a smaller screen if thats there problem with it.

  • http://dopoknef.org/ Knef

    So Ubuntu is embracing Google for apps while ditching it as its favourite search engine? Seems quite inconsistent, and a dumb move, since it also forces the user to have a Google Account. I’d rather use Open Office, thank you. I am also not sure about GDocs offline support – is it even stable?

  • http://www.linuxmint.com/ Jimbo

    Surely a note taking app on a netbook is a reasonable thing to have installed? I don’t understand the reasoning for removing tomboy. I thought netbooks were seen as the ideal device to take to class.

    As for PalmOS Pilot. Why the hell wasn’t that removed from Ubuntu proper years ago? It just seems to random and out of place to have it included.

  • Anonymous

    Remove tomboy? thats odd.

    They better be planning on stock installing Gears then.

  • http://www.FreezingMoon.org/ Dread Knight

    I love google docs :)
    Btw, google docs pwns with google gears, so you don’t even need net connection.

    All sounds good except adding simple scan; I never use as scanner, oh well.
    That kind of shit, like simple scanner or brasero should be added based on hardware, so at some point linux should be smart enough to be able to adjust itself or propose apps to the user.

  • Anonymous

    Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix, the most feature-rich open platform for netbooks, the default installation of Ubuntu Netbook Edition for the upcoming Lucid Lynx release, atleast for now. Now documents will be opened by default in Google Docs.private villas bali

  • TheOne

    OMG! They’re finally removing Brasero??? Took em long enough.

  • http://www.1916home.net/ 1916home

    Thats funny, Ubuntu has been basically wrapping their arms around Google lately, and here I am downloading all of my gmail to Evolution and closing my google account. Google is just way to big anymore for my tastes. I have no trust for companies or governments that get too big.

  • Anonymous

    I’d like to know what the rationale was behind removing Tomboy, but only hiding Brasero. This is a netbook edition: netbooks do not have CD burners, but have good battery life and are ultra-portable, making them far better suited for note-taking.

  • http://danielsouzat.wordpress.com/ Daniel de Souza Telles

    Why they dont put Gnote. It’s is equal Tomboy, but lightweight and without special dependencies.