AbiWord is a word processor, suitable for those who doesn't need/want the OpenOffice.org suite just to do simple word processing.
Like Dia, GIMP, and Inkscape, AbiWord is part of the GNOME Office applications.
OpenDisc Forum » Program Nominations
AbiWord
(11 posts)-
Posted 9 months ago #
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Is used to feature on TheOpenCD, but was removed because at the time everybody figured if you wanted a word processor you could simply choose to only install that part of OOo.
I'll have another look at it for 07.12, in the mean time, is there anything you can think of that would make it a good addition considering that OOo already includes a word processor?
Posted 9 months ago # -
I see your point. I guess it's pretty much a matter of choice and preference. I figured someone might prefer a lightweight and simpler word processor compared to OpenOffice.org, although as far as functions and capabilities are concerned, the inclusion of AbiWord is rather redundant considering OpenOffice.
If you're afraid of confusing the new user with too many choices, maybe you could classify AbiWord as "other programs" while OpenOffice is featured/recommended for word processing. And as for the Notepad2 vs Notepad++ problem, maybe you could feature/recommend Notepad2 as the OpenDisc's main software for text editing, and present Notepad++ as additional/alternative text editor should the user is interested.
By the way, is the size of the OpenDisc a concern? How big is too big?
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm reluctant to add complication to the choices, but again I'll look at AbiWord again to see if there's enough difference to include it.
The size isn't a huge concern, but we don't exactly want to put a 4.7GB DVD release any time in the near future.
At the moment the sub 700MB mark is where we're ideally located, but I started the poll on the homepage to gauge whether people were averse to DVD over CD.
Aside from bandwidth we also have to consider media prices, and whether or not people will be more likely to make copies for friends or distribute on a large scale if the blank media costs costs them more. So far the majority at least don't mind about what media OpenDisc uses, so long as the disc isn't an enormous download.
As OpenDisc grows in size I envisage a future problem will be the update schedule itself, on a logarithmic scale of image size versus new OpenDisc versions. Put simply; the more often we release updates, the less likely people will be to download a fresh version because of the image size. So in that sense we are concerned of the size, but it's not something we're faced with yet.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Instead of adding more software to the CD, why not add a section to each program's description with links to the websites for similar software. EG at the bottom of the page describing OpenOffice.org "If you like OpenOffice, you might also like:
- Abiword, a lightweight dedicated word processor suitable
Posted 9 months ago # -
messed up the formatting a bit, but i hope the idea is clear
Posted 9 months ago # -
As for Abiword, I think it's unnecessary duplication. Most people want an alternative to MS Office, not just MS Word. A better alternative might be the new Lotus Symphony suit that IBM just released that is based off of OpenOffice: http://symphony.lotus.com/
However, it is still in beta so I'd wait a while to consider adding it to OpenDisc.As for the CD -vs- DVD issue... I download Linux DVD ISO's regulary. I just bought a 100 pack of blank DVD's a few days ago for only $23.99. At less than a quarter a disk I would have no problem giving them out to friends! I think it would be cool for OpenDisc to have 2 options:
OpenDisc - Core CD
OpenDisc - Enhanced DVDJust put the most popular programs on the core disk and add everything else into the enhanced DVD!
Posted 9 months ago # -
I think that's a great suggestion Sciurus!
Posted 9 months ago # -
I think sciurus's suggestion is great too and could solve a lot of problems, including the problem of choosing between Notepad2 and Notepad++. I did a search for open-source text editors for Windows and also browsed the software list for similar projects like WinLibre and GnuWin II, and there sure are a helluve choice for Notepad replacements. It was a bit daunting even for me, and I have to admit, might as well choose the most appropriate one and be done with it.
And if one would ask: "Great, I'm interested in the alternatives, but why aren't they included in the CD as well?" then that's what the DVD edition is for.
Posted 9 months ago # -
For now sadly there'll only be one disc because I don't have enough time to produce both. Hopefully when the time comes there'll be enough people helping out that it'll be possible. :)
sciurus's idea is a good one, although I'd rather have it as a list with it's own page on the disc, rather than clutter up each program page, and described with a single sentence (much like those on OpenDisc now).
The main problem would be quality assurance, in that we don't want to put people onto a program which isn't up to scratch. This isn't a problem at the moment, because we test everything thoroughly before it goes on the disc. For a list though it's a tall order to check everything that goes on it.
The other problem is that there'd have to be people volunteering not only to compile but (much more importantly) manage the list over time, because as with programs like Nvu and Healthmonitor, things change quickly. As with all volunteer efforts, people tend to lose enthusiasm for one reason or another, and it'd be a shame for a good list to be made, yet have to be discarded in a year's time when nobody is maintaining it.
If there are people willing to volunteer for that, great. :) I'm happy to have this list of other software, so long as the concerns I mentioned above are met. I just can't take on any more than I am already unfortunately. :(
Posted 9 months ago # -
Don't want to belabor a dead horse, but "links to where you can download alternatives" misses the point why somebody might have wanted "the opendisk" in the first place -- because to TRY some alternative software they didn't have to have a portable machine they could put in the car and then drive 20 miles to where free broadband was available to do a download.
For example -- I can "order up" (from outfits that provide the service at low price) any downloads I want burned to disk and mailed to me but am scarcely likely to bother for something I've never tried. Just too darned many "possibles". So a bundle of likley applications already burned to disk very useful. THEN for any I end up using a lot, if I want the newset "bleeding edge" version I can always get that directly (but again, not by downloading it myself!)
Posted 3 months ago #
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