Word Processing Features:  

SoftMaker Office’s word processor, TextMaker, can count speed, usability, editing functions and graphic input amongst its strengths. TextMaker doesn’t occupy a large section of your hard drive and is light on system resources. Even if you have multiple documents open simultaneously, TextMaker won’t drain your RAM reserves. The word processor is an ideal candidate for note taking on a netbook or running on a library computer from a thumb drive.

TextMaker’s interface is obviously inspired by Microsoft Word 2003 and features most of the same functionality. You’ll find the standard spell check, grammar check and autocorrect function you know from Word. You can track changes and insert comment balloons into documents which are indispensible features when editing second and third drafts.

Additional Software:  

We like using SoftMaker’s various tools to compose a final product ideal for export into a PDF document. Using SoftMaker’s spreadsheet editor, presentation software and word processor at the same time gives you the ability to make a final product rich with graphic and text data. PlanMaker (SoftMaker’s spreadsheet solution) and Presentations are functional, if unremarkable programs on their own. Using them in conjunction with the rest of the SoftMaker suite, however, can yield some impressive results.

SoftMaker also includes a scripting language that advanced users can use to automate tasks like inserting personal information into a document or adding an APR calculator to a spreadsheet.

Compatibility:  

Given that the most recent major update to SoftMaker Office came in 2008, it is surprising that Microsoft Office 2007 file formats were not addressed. SoftMaker Office does not support DOCX or XLSX file formats which is a disadvantage to this otherwise able set of programs. On a more positive note, SoftMaker Office is compatible with OpenOffice file types. Given the increased popularity of OpenOffice on college campuses and home user environments, SoftMaker Office’s lack of support for Microsoft Office 2007 need not necessarily be a deal breaker.

User Support:  

SoftMaker’s support offerings include software updates, user manuals, a support forum and email access to tech support.

SoftMaker Office is overpriced when you consider its limited support for popular file formats. OpenDocument on the one hand, and lack of support for Microsoft Office 2007 on the other render SoftMaker Office appropriate for some environments, but certainly not ideal for all productivity scenarios. Without considering price and compatibility issues though, SoftMaker Office is a competent standalone software suite. We like the ability to edit and insert spreadsheet, text and presentation data in the same file. SoftMaker Office’s PDF conversion and small size make it a viable alternative to more expensive software suites.

To compare SoftMaker Office to the competitors, read our in-depth reviews of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Corel Home Office and StarOffice.

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