Kingsoft Office - seems quite compatable with Ms Office 2010

[jimbo45]

Hi there

For me the main part of looking for an Ms Office replacement is the EXCEL application -- other parts of the suite I could probably manage with any one of the alternatives.

I still don't think LibreOffice is quite ready for primetime but Kingsoft seems to offer a highly stable Free version (works fine on Android and is in Alpha for Linux).

While there IS a PRO version out there (69 USD or so compared with the 499 USD for Ms office PRO at full retail the Free version seems to offer nearly everything one would want -- I already use it on the Samsung S5 phone and I haven't had trouble reading any EXCEL documents yet.

http://www.kingsoftstore.com/spreadsheets-free.html

The EXCEL "Clone" also supports VBA macros which I must have. I'm going to play around with the FREE Windows version and the Linux version to see if it's "useable" and an alternative to LibreOffice.

Anybody else tried this suite - especially the spreadsheet yet.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've heard good things about Kingsoft and have been watching it as a possible replacement for M$ Office 2010 when Win 7 reaches EOL and M$ hasn't come to its senses about their one OS for everything B.S. Open Office and Libre Office depend on Java for some of their features and I do not want Java on any machine of mine, especially after the rash of security issues it's been having. However, I plan on using Office 2010 and Win 7 until sometime in 2019 when I have to decide between M$'s latest and greatest or go with one of the Linux flavors. Office isn't the only program I use that can cause compatibility issues for a switch to Linux although I suspect there will be fewer of those issues by 2019.

 

[Sarris]

I've been using Kingsoft Office Free for years. I've had no compatibility issues in either direction with MSO. On the Kingsoft comparison chart (Here: http://www.kingsoftstore.com/windows/professional-office-difference.html), there is only one additional function in the pro version that's not in the free one, so it's been the free version for me. I use the word processor and spreadsheets daily.

The only thing I did was to disable two phone home scheduled tasks that were installed.

Plus, a much smaller footprint than OOo or Libre Office.

Available here: Free Office Software, Kingsoft Office Suite Free 2012

Regards;

Sarris

 

[fireberd]

I have Libre Office installed. I don't have Java installed and don't recall that as being part of the install?

I have to get off of Office 2003 and have been trying out Libre Office (and Thunderbird for e-mail).

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I have Libre Office installed. I don't have Java installed and don't recall that as being part of the install?...

I doubt it's part of the install (I never installed it myself) but both Libre Office's and Open Offices website state that some of the functions (not all) require Java to be installed.

 

[sunsetlover]

I was going to start a thread about Kingsoft Office '13, till I saw this thread. It got a great review on CNET, but there are some mixed reviews by users (a minority to be sure).

The issue these reviewers raised was, in a nutshell, do you trust a Chinese company offering you a free office alternative? Some users mentioned they used Revo to deepscan uninstall.

I'm not inferring anything racist here, it's just that I would tend to share that concern, especially given that I lived in China for 4 years.

I'd love to see more reviews by users here.

 

[Layback Bear]

From post #3 by Sarris about Kindsoft.

The only thing I did was to disable two phone home scheduled tasks that were installed.

Are you ever sure their is no more calling home. Seem like any program from China call home.

 

[Ranger4]

As far as I know Open Office only requires Java if you want to use their database.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

As far as I know Open Office only requires Java if you want to use their database.

That's what I seem to recall but I'm not so sure I would trust any software that uses a software language that has well known security issues, even if only for a small part of the software.

 

[Ranger4]

As far as I know Open Office only requires Java if you want to use their database.

That's what I seem to recall but I'm not so sure I would trust any software that uses a software language that has well known security issues, even if only for a small part of the software.

Yes I definitely agree with you, in fact it's why I dumped Open Office sometime ago & bought MS Office Pro 2013.
As I needed Access & I had past experience using Access years ago, I found I quickly remembered a lot of what to do, with setting it all up. I also found Open Office was more difficult & I just could not get my head around it. Most probably old age catching up with everything.

 

[jimbo45]

I was going to start a thread about Kingsoft Office '13, till I saw this thread. It got a great review on CNET, but there are some mixed reviews by users (a minority to be sure).

The issue these reviewers raised was, in a nutshell, do you trust a Chinese company offering you a free office alternative? Some users mentioned they used Revo to deepscan uninstall.

I'm not inferring anything racist here, it's just that I would tend to share that concern, especially given that I lived in China for 4 years.

I'd love to see more reviews by users here.

Hi there

Decent software by CHINESE companies shouldn't be a problem -- people don't seem to have any problem riding in Trains / Planes made with a lot of CHINESE manufactured components in them -- and Chinese medicine is one of the OLDEST on the planet -- quite frankly I'd rather check into a SHANGHAI hospital any day of the week than most typical public UK Nat. Health one's or a US community hospital in a "dodgy" area.

Most CHINESE I've met are very hard working -- totally different to the portrayal that's often shown on the web - especially by people who have never been to China.

Political differences apart -- and remember you are dealing with a VERY OLD and ancient society for the most part - I wouldn't find any more problems with buying Software from China than anywhere else assuming the business is properly registered -- CHINA actually does have Civil courts too !! so it's not always "Fell off the back of a Truck" type of market.

I'll bet a load of people on this forum use quite happily PAID for DVD copying / cloning software from China without batting an eyelid.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Sarris]

From post #3 by Sarris about Kingsoft.

The only thing I did was to disable two phone home scheduled tasks that were installed.

Are you ever sure their is no more calling home. Seem like any program from China call home.

There are two scheduled phone home tasks shown in the task manager. One checks for updates every hour (useless) and the other sends usage stats back to Kingsoft (more useless). I disabled them in the task scheduler without issue. No more phone home.

Insofar as them being a Chinese company, you can't trust anyone anymore, so what is the difference?

As I said in my previous post, it opens and saves in all M$O formats, no issues. All three programs (Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations) have been working well for me for a number of years. I won't pay M$ anymore than I need to, and this one fits the bill. Works great, is free.

Regards;

Sarris

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I was going to start a thread about Kingsoft Office '13, till I saw this thread. It got a great review on CNET, but there are some mixed reviews by users (a minority to be sure).

The issue these reviewers raised was, in a nutshell, do you trust a Chinese company offering you a free office alternative? Some users mentioned they used Revo to deepscan uninstall.

I'm not inferring anything racist here, it's just that I would tend to share that concern, especially given that I lived in China for 4 years.

I'd love to see more reviews by users here.

Hi there

Decent software by CHINESE companies shouldn't be a problem -- people don't seem to have any problem riding in Trains / Planes made with a lot of CHINESE manufactured components in them -- and Chinese medicine is one of the OLDEST on the planet -- quite frankly I'd rather check into a SHANGHAI hospital any day of the week than most typical public UK Nat. Health one's or a US community hospital in a "dodgy" area.

Most CHINESE I've met are very hard working -- totally different to the portrayal that's often shown on the web - especially by people who have never been to China.

Political differences apart -- and remember you are dealing with a VERY OLD and ancient society for the most part - I wouldn't find any more problems with buying Software from China than anywhere else assuming the business is properly registered -- CHINA actually does have Civil courts too !! so it's not always "Fell off the back of a Truck" type of market.

I'll bet a load of people on this forum use quite happily PAID for DVD copying / cloning software from China without batting an eyelid.

Cheers
jimbo

Can you give us some examples of decent Chinese software, particularly the PAID for DVD copying / cloning software?

I'm very cautious about buying Chinese products because of the high percentage of poor quality products, many of them overpriced cheap quality knockoffs of otherwise good quality products. The company I'm getting my pension from refused to accept any steel manufactured in China because of the frequent poor quality that had been received before the ban, even though the certs that came with the steel had said otherwise. Despite the fact that there are many excellent products coming out of China, Chinese products right now have the same reputation for poor making quality that Japanese products had back in the '50s and '60s.

 

[DavidE]

From post #3 by Sarris about Kingsoft.

The only thing I did was to disable two phone home scheduled tasks that were installed.

Are you ever sure their is no more calling home. Seem like any program from China call home.

There are two scheduled phone home tasks shown in the task manager. One checks for updates every hour (useless) and the other sends usage stats back to Kingsoft (more useless). I disabled them in the task scheduler without issue. No more phone home.

Insofar as them being a Chinese company, you can't trust anyone anymore, so what is the difference?

As I said in my previous post, it opens and saves in all M$O formats, no issues. All three programs (Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations) have been working well for me for a number of years. I won't pay M$ anymore than I need to, and this one fits the bill. Works great, is free.

Regards;

Sarris

I installed Kingsoft and disabled the two tasks.
Every time I open a Doc or spreadsheet with Kingsoft these two tasks get re-enabled.
Do your two tasks stay disabled?

I even made changes to the tasks so they couldn't run, but they get rebuilt!

 

[Layback Bear]

David that is exactly why I made post #7.

Jimbo45 seems to trust those companies but I suggest strongly not to trust them.
If I have to fight a program just to stop it from doing things I don't want it to do I don't want the program.
Who wants to keep checking and rechecking ect. just to make sure the call home is not working? (Activated)

Who else have read where the Chinese Communist imbed little programs in the hardware they make which infects your system when you install the hardware.

One can trust who one cares to but I think I would find another Office program to use.

Kingsoft would not even be on my list of Office programs to choose from.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I don't depend on a program to tell itself to not phone home if I don't want it to. I use ZoneAlarm's free firewall. It's much easier to use than Win 7's firewall, especially when tailoring it for outgoing transmissions. The first time a program tries to phone home, I get a pop up that gives me a choice of permanently blocking the transmission or just one time only or I can allow it every time or just for the one time only.

 

[Layback Bear]

Many firewalls will do that. That was not my point.
The point is the Office program shouldn't even be trying to call home when told not to within the Office program itself.

When I turn off auto update in a program I expect it to stay off until I tell it different.
One shouldn't have to set a firewall to block anything that I have already deactivated. Now one has to keep checking the firewall and see if the setting have stayed the same or has the new Office programed changed them also.

I have a problem with programs that do what they want to do and ignore my instructions, especially when it come to security.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...Now one has to keep checking the firewall and see if the setting have stayed the same or has the new Office programed changed them also...

If the firewall is any good, you won't have to do that. I don't have to keep checking ZoneAlarm to make sure it is working correctly. I do spot check once or twice a year and everything has been just fine.

...I have a problem with programs that do what they want to do and ignore my instructions, especially when it come to security.

So do I but, sometimes, you can't always have everything you want so you have to adapt, improvise, whatever. I already have ZoneAlarm's firewall in place so why not take advantage of it?

I'm perfectly satisfied with Office 2010 (I do not like 2013, however) and will use it until shortly—no more than a year—before Win 7 reaches EOL. At that time, if M$ is still putting out the intractable garbage it has been the last couple of years, I will have to seek out another solution, such as one of the flavors of Linux, and KingSoft will be looking mighty attractive if it is still around.

There is a difference between caution and paranoia. One is good and the other is crippling.

 

[TanyaC]

When I turn off auto update in a program I expect it to stay off until I tell it different.

I fear you might soon find yourself in a bind.

More and more programs are automating the update process and not even giving users a chance to disable it. And they tout that this is some fantastic feature.

I wont install or update programs to the point where they phone home without my permission, but this is a losing battle as more and more developers move to a silent update/usage reporting process.

And don't even get me going on Steam's new OS...

 

[DavidE]

For anyone interested you can get the Pro version for free right now:
Kingsoft Office Suite Professional 2013 (100% Discount)

The Pro version should give you Macros and VBA ...
Differences between Free and Professional Version of Office 2013

You do have to enter an email address ...
I found this site (windowsdeal) from another thread in SF and got Partition Wizard Pro for free ...