IBM Lotus Symphony Office Suite - Free

[fos]

I saw this on the local news here in Houston, TX this evening. I had to do some searching, but I finally found the download site.

IBM has released the Lotus Symphony Office Suite to the public. It is available for download at this web site:

http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.jspa

Versions are available for Linux and M$.

I used Symphony at one time. I always like Lotus software. It is time for another try!

fos

[danieldk]

From what I understand, it is just their branded and modified OpenOffice.org. Still good for promotion.

[bluesdog]

Lotus Notes is death by a thousand tiny annoyances—the digital equivalent of being kicked in the groin upon arrival at work every day.http://lotusnotessucks.4t.com/index.html

;)

[fos]

I downloaded the Lotus Symphony software to my PCLinuxOS machine. Even with my cable internet line, it required about 35 minutes to complete.

The install seemed to go well, no errors shown. The install consumed over 500 MB of space. It must have been designed for Windows. :) The word processor is based on Eclipse. It took forever to start, even longer than OO. Once it had started, it threw an "exception error" and crashed when I tried to start a document.

The download site did say it was designed for Red Hat, so this PCLinuxOS install is probably the problem.

It was worth a try, but no cigar.

fos

[danieldk]

Hmmm, bummer, not good for promotion ;). I guess it's still a beta version?

[krp]

Does anyone have an idea what the license is? I've looked at the Lotus Symphony office web site but I cannot find any license terms.

[fos]

This is the first page or so of a very long license that is included with the software. There is another file that lists exceptions filled with lots of lawyer talk. fos....

License

The Program is owned by IBM or an IBM supplier, and is copyrighted and licensed, not sold.

IBM grants You a nonexclusive license to use the Program when You lawfully acquire it.

You may 1) use the Program up to the level of use specified in the PoE and 2) make and install copies, including a backup copy, to support such use. The terms of this license apply to each copy You make. You will reproduce all copyright notices and all other legends of ownership on each copy, or partial copy, of the Program.

If You acquire the Program as a program upgrade, after You install the upgrade You may not use the Program from which You upgraded or transfer it to another party.

You will ensure that anyone who uses the Program (accessed either locally or remotely) does so only for Your authorized use and complies with the terms of this Agreement.

You may not 1) use, copy, modify, or distribute the Program except as provided in this Agreement; 2) reverse assemble, reverse compile, or otherwise translate the Program except as specifically permitted by law without the possibility of contractual waiver; or 3) sublicense, rent, or lease the Program.

IBM may terminate Your license if You fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement. If IBM does so, You must destroy all copies of the Program and its PoE.

[krp]

This is the first page or so of a very long license that is included with the software. There is another file that lists exceptions filled with lots of lawyer talk. fos....

License

[...]

You may not 1) use, copy, modify, or distribute the Program except as provided in this Agreement; 2) reverse assemble, reverse compile, or otherwise translate the Program except as specifically permitted by law without the possibility of contractual waiver; or 3) sublicense, rent, or lease the Program.

Thanks FOS!

Sure does not sound like free software (GPL) to me. I will quite happily stick with Abiword and other GPL'd software.