IBM's offering is still based on the old OpenOffice source code. This means it is still going to be slow on startup, I am not even to mention how long it is going to take to open a document.

Then there is the probem with document compatibility. ODF is not compatible between open source office suites. That goes for the MS Word doc format too(OpenOffice MS Office and back).

This so called poaching is not going to happen, people believe in MS products because they work and are completely stable. The documents keep their formatting when transported between computers unlike ODF in open source office suites.

When it comes to free office suites, you should rather try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download.

Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.

You may try these links:

http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm

I looked at it today and was quite impressed. I'd looked at it in the past and it was very slow. This one is well integrated, looks nice (though there are some resize errors on the far right panel, and performed well. I looked at the file formats that it supports. Pretty good for a free product. I can see why IBM is asking this of their employees.

You go IBM! It's about time a huge company takes the alternative software route to give viability to the rest of the world.

I've heard of Lotus Notes, but nothing about this "Symphony" product.

This is the best part about Microsoft: they make competitors give their products for free because they can't make any money actually *selling* them.

People have to install Symphony (Open Office). IBM purged 330.000 Microsoft Office installations from their desktops for this one.

Hit the Ballmer where it hurts! Love it!

You know there will be a group of IBM employees that will use it and think its the bees knees and call the rest of us are stupid for not using it. To which I say good for them at least they didn't have to pay for it.

If there is one area that IBM doesn't get its software. Only IBM people like IBM software. The rest of the world cant wait to get as far away from it as possible.

seriously? Would a business look at this? You've got to be kidding me. IBM's been irrelevant for so long now that they don't know what might sell and what won't...

Even tough I'm all in favour of open source and using free stuff, both Open Office and Symphony (which is built on top of Open Office 2.0) are way behind MS Office 2007 in functionalities and ease of use.
Both still have a long way to go...

if you cared to research, this resurrection of Symphony is built on the OpenOffice codebase

I have an antidote to this double helping of crap..it's called Open Office!

Lotus Symphony? That takes me back 25 years! Not sure my current systems have the required 5.25" floppy drive...