Executive Summary

A set of usability comparison tests between the Sun StarOffice Writer and Microsoft Word word processors show most experienced computer users prefer Microsoft Word and find it easier to use. Suggestions for improving StarOffice Writer are provided.

StarOffice Writer 5.2 is the word processor packaged in StarOffice 5.2, Sun Microsystems’s freely available entry into the desktop office suite market. Microsoft Word 2000 is the word processor component of Microsoft Office 2000, the desktop office suite market leader.

Twelve participants completed the usability comparison test. All participants were computer owners and had been using computers longer than five years. 75% has been using Microsoft Word longer than five years, and 92% longer than two years. 17% had used StarOffice Writer before but used it rarely.

Each participant was presented with a hard copy of a short document, the creation of which required the use of a representative set of standard word processor functions. Each participant recreated a reasonable onscreen copy of the document using both of the tested products.

Captured metrics include user interface interactions, errors, indications of frustration, task completion times, and opinions on ease of use.

Participants experienced difficulty inserting tables and pictures into StarOffice Writer documents.

While overall ratings for both products were comparable, participants were more comfortable and satisfied with Microsoft Word and found it easier to use than StarOffice Writer.