Included Software:  

Compared to some of our other office software selections, SoftMaker Office 2008 isn’t a comprehensive productivity suite. Unlike Microsoft Office and WordPerfect Office X4, SoftMaker Office 2008 does not include an email client, database manager, or graphics editor. Despite some of the missing extras we would have liked to see, SoftMaker Office 2008 is still a decent performer at word processing, spreadsheet editing and presentation construction. If you don’t have database, graphic, communication and scheduling needs, SoftMaker Office 2008’s price tag ensures that it still warrants consideration. At just $79.95, SoftMaker Office offers a word processor, spreadsheet editor, presentation software and a macro creation tool.

Word Processing and Spreadsheet Features:  

SoftMaker Office 2008’s word processor and spreadsheet editor, TextMaker and PlanMaker, are both straightforward, user friendly tools. TextMaker and PlanMaker both feature user interfaces based on the Microsoft model—users with previous Microsoft Office products will have no trouble working with SoftMaker Office documents and spreadsheets. We were pleased to see that TextMaker includes useful templates in multiple languages.

SoftMaker Office’s word processor can edit and save files in DOC format. DOCX however, is unsupported. Microsoft 2008 file format compatibility on TextMaker is a serious drawback, but given SoftMaker Office’s support for OpenDocument it is still fairly compatible with widely used programs. Similarly, PlanMaker can open traditional spreadsheet files but is unable to decode Microsoft Office 2007 spreadsheets.

Key Productivity Features:  

While it’s quite standard for office software, the inclusion of a PDF creator is useful and helps you bypass potential file format conflicts with the recipients of your files.

Small businesses will get good use of SoftMaker Office 2008’s envelope generator for printing addresses, logos and information outgoing mail.

Customer and Community Support:  

SoftMaker Office 2008 has a support forum that is trafficked by users and tech support alike. Be forewarned that if you need telephone tech support, SoftMaker’s offices are in Europe and they do not provide a toll free number.

SoftMaker Office is a sound alternative to some of the more expensive office software suites available. That is, if you don’t have a need for compatibility with Microsoft Office 2007, an email client, database manager or graphics editor. As a standalone product, SoftMaker Office 2008 is very good, but given its lack of extras and dated file format support, we prefer other office software suites.

Read our reviews of Microsoft Office Professional, WordPerfect Office X4 and StarOffice to see how SoftMaker Office 2008 compares to our top office software picks.

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