Microsoft tries free office suite - Free versions of Microsoft’s Works package of programs will be available soon, says the software firm. [BBC Technology]
Wow, I truly wonder what exactly goes on in the heads of the development executives over at Microsoft.
Is this really the way forward, when we are fast moving towards web-based software, Google are leading the way, Microsoft are playing catch-up.
I can just see the conversation now:
MS Exec 1: “Google are offering all of the services of our popular Office software ..online, ..and for free!”
MS Exec 2: “This is not right, how can they be stealing our constomer base and passing off a lite version of our software. Can we sue them?”
MS Exec 1: “Afraid not, we filed a patent to make ‘the written word’ the ‘MS written word’, but unfortunately I had a crash whilst preparing the document for submission and all I could recover were pages and pages of funny symbols.”
MS Exec 2: ” Then we need to compete. …Did you say they were offering it for free?”
MS Exec 1: “Yup, free, and with no annoying adverts.”
MS Exec 2: “No adverts, …fools, ..they have left the door open for us. We will release a similar version of this software, ..only we will not put ours online.”
MS Exec 1: “Why not put it online?”
MS Exec 2: “In case the user does not have internet, ..well that is what we will tell them, ..but really, ..do we want the responsibility of all of those documents on our servers, ..what if they wrote bad things about us, ..what would we do then?”
MS Exec 1: “OK, fair enough, no connection required, seems simple enough.”
MS Exec 2: “No wait, ..you have missed the point, ..we still need them to have a connection.”
MS Exec 1: “Erm, ..i’m lost, ..if we do not store their documents, don’t offer online software, and no other web based fantastic functionality, ..why exactly do they need to be connected to the internet to use our free software.”
MS Exec 2: “Why? ….simple, …so we can stream a whole host of unwanted adverts at them whilst they work.”
MS Exec 1: “Genius !! ….let’s see what Google have to say to that.”
Maybe as a staunch opposer of Office for years, but until recently someone forced to use Excel my opinions may be a little biased, …but someone somewhere must see the slight irony in a company who make 70% of their revenue through advertising (Google) offering ad free software, and a compnay who have make 100% of their profit (Microsoft) through software unable to offer free/lite versions without filling them with adverts.
As someone who does not employ but runs a one man show (that doesn’t use Office), ..I say “Bring It On” …any extra office distractions for my competitors (thanks FaceBook) means less competitive quality for me.
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2 Comments
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To true,
Though, i need to play a slight bit of an advocate. I have been using the notes system of office for the mac, with the audio recording etc. I have found it quite good. spot light can then search the files…..
*feel dirty all of a sudden*
Anyway, I love google office and if this entire campas wifi thing happens, i may move over to that. heck, why i am talking of moving, i havent even hit one yet!!!
Licks
Jamie & Lion
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Myself i have grown rather attached to Apple’s Pages, Keynote combination, ..they just keep making me happy, ..but as i never do any serious word processing (whatever that may entail) …i guess i don’t meet the demands of the corporate market.
As for Googles office, ..me just don’t need it.
Although group XL documents on it have been being used quite a bit recently, ..damn Microsoft, ..they should make a stand alone XL light.
As for the notes on office, ..it just makes me think f that damn paper-clip :)