Google Pack gets free Star Orifice

Star Office 8, which is flogged by Sun for $70, is apparently available for free in Google Pack. We say apparently, because Google Pack only works in Windows and since I don't, I can't check it.

However the "fully featured" office suite that contains a word processor, a spreadsheet tool, applications for presentations, databases, math formulas and drawing is actually listed in the Google pack here.

While it would have made sense for Google to run the free Open Sauce version of StarOffice, OpenOffice.org, it is strange that the search engine outfit opted for its paid for cousin.

The only difference between the two flavours of software is some proprietary add-ons like clip-art graphics, a few fonts, templates and tools for Microsoft Office migration. Most people can probably live without them and the cost a bit for Google to provide free, unless this is one of those deals between Sun and the search engine that did not cost it anything. µ