QuickOffice 7 vs Desktop To Go?

[DerekErb]

I've been using Desktop to Go (DataViz) for years and am currently using Pro version 5 which I only recently upgraded to...

But...

I just saw the QuickOffice Premier web site. If that thing does exactly what it says it does then it's the killer app I've been looking for.

Real Hi-Res+?
Real formatting?
Smooth file management?

But I've also seen some pretty negative messages here (formatting losses, font problems, ...)

Has anyone seriously compared the 2 suites yet?

Also does anyone know if QuickOffice has an automatic synchronizing program like Desktop to Go where the user knows that if the original file is modified on the PC it will automatically be transferred to the Palm (Clié) and vice-versa?

Looks like Dataviz' got a run for its money!

What do you think?

[n2ifp]

Maybe, but there is rumor that Docs to Go will have an update out soon too.

[mcompeau]

Hi Derek:

I will try to give a dispassionate description of capabilities:
:)

- Cutting Edge Software was THE pioneer in this category, having created the business productivity software segment on the PalmPilot by the introduction of the fully functional Quicksheet spreadsheet for Palm OS back in 1996, two YEARS before a 'view only' solution was available from DataViz.
- CES was the first to offer a fully functional suite (view AND edit) to the market, and has consistently focused our attention on business user's needs rather than 'general market'
- Back when I first purchased in 1997 (wasn't working here at the time) Quicksheet was the first application beyond the Palm Computing PIM apps to commercialize a solution making use of the Conduits development kit to tie in to a MS Office application.
- Quickoffice version 6 saw the unveiling of an entirely new and simplified Desktop interface for drag/drop files. Quickoffice still provides it's unique 'within your Office app' ability to use Quickword, Quicksheet and Quickpoint menus within Word, Excel, PowerPoint for saving, opening handheld-based files.

- We take a very different approach to 'default file access': Quickoffice incorporates a 100% fool proof operation metaphor to prevent dataloss in original files.-- Though folks may be used to 'the other guys' idea that files should always be 'sync'ed' to each other, we find that many sophisticated mobile business users would rather make a COPY of a desktop document for editing and what-if work in the field, than risk syncing to a document for which 'track changes' was turned on and left them with an entirely messed up original file which can not be put back together--regardless of the DocSync claims, many folks do indeed experience problems with our competitor's 'sync' ability. Trouble is, they have to try to be Perfect, since they offer little option... we also offer a linked-file option, but most of OUR users do not use it--hence comparisons of 'formatting preservation' are less critical, since we never destroy original files with errant sync interleaving operations... To repeat, most of our users are not technology neophytes, but busy, tech-saavy, mobile managers, business owners, etc. It depends on what YOU need. Regarding our users' fierce loyalty, it's a bit like the Harley ads: "If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand."
(Our staff doesn't sport tatoos, however--at least that *I* know of...)

So, that was a long answer to a short question--and may not have directly answered what you were really asking.

Quickoffice Premier supports three usage models, then: (first two apply to Quickoffice and Quickoffice Pro)
1) traditional 'save a copy of the document to your Palm' which let's you make changes and then LATER access those changes from Within Word/Excel, etc, but does NOT impact your original Office files (think of it as 'Sync to a NEW file-mostly identical to original)
2) File Linking: whereby in similar fashion to DxTG, you can drag/drop a file to the Desktop application, choose LINK option and changes made on handheld are interleaved to the PC DOC or XLS file, and vice versa, and-
3) NEW Premier functionality for NATIVE file access direct on the handheld-- meaning you can:
a) BT or IR beam a file from a laptop directly to the handheld and the ORIGINAL file stays on the laptop, and a 'reconstruction' of the native file is immediately delivered 'live' to the appropriate Quickoffice application and opened. Extraneous information such as images not supported in Quickoffice apps are dropped from the resulting file you would save on the device
b) SAVE a MS OFfice file to an expansion card (use card reader, use MSImport, etc.) and then see those files in a list in the appropriate QOPremier applications where you can simply tap to open, whereupon the file is immediately opened/imported into the application, the ORIGINAL file on the card remains INTACT, and any changes made (in Quickword, for example, currently) are saved out to the same folder where the original file was, as a PC compatible *.doc file.
c) File ATTACHMENTS in MS OFfice formats can be received with a compatible email app like SnapperMail (snappermail.com) and will can be just tapped to pass them off to the appropriate Quickoffice Premier application.

Hope this clarifies a bit.

Best,

Mike