Comments on: Would a Subscription-based Microsoft Office be Successful? http://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/ Technology News Sun, 27 May 2012 02:30:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ryanhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136183 Ryan Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:24 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136183 <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-136083" rel="nofollow">skykid wrote:</a><blockquote>The companies who works with Office probably have their licenses by now - and as for the regular students there are plenty of open source alternatives they can use .</blockquote></div> I'm sure that most companies wanting to upgrade do already have their licenses, but Microsoft has to start this at sometime. They are probably hoping that starting it now might get people to jump on the bandwagon when the next version is released.<div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-136091" rel="nofollow">Michael Dobrofsky wrote:</a><blockquote>For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it’s not the same, check it out - I was once YOU :)</blockquote></div> I actually used that for several years, but I eventually got into Visual Basic for Applications programming which caused me to switch back to Microsoft Office. I've actually made some specialized spreadsheets for companies using VBA.<div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-136100" rel="nofollow">Change wrote:</a><blockquote>If you pay $5/m while you can get a full version for $120, what guarantee do you have that MS *will* come out with a new version within 2 years? Office 2007 was the next version after 2003, that’s 4 years. I think $5/m or $50/y will be reasonable prices though, but it might not be the best investment..</blockquote></div> That's really just it though. You have to be confident in Microsoft's ability to provide updates on a regular basis. I don't think they will make the same mistake of letting so much time pass by again.<div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-136127" rel="nofollow">Omar Upegui wrote:</a><blockquote>Linux users probably will never use MS Office. </blockquote></div> My university had MS Office installed on all the Linux machines using Crossover. So I wouldn't say never. ;) skykid wrote:
The companies who works with Office probably have their licenses by now – and as for the regular students there are plenty of open source alternatives they can use .

I’m sure that most companies wanting to upgrade do already have their licenses, but Microsoft has to start this at sometime. They are probably hoping that starting it now might get people to jump on the bandwagon when the next version is released.

Michael Dobrofsky wrote:
For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it’s not the same, check it out – I was once YOU :)

I actually used that for several years, but I eventually got into Visual Basic for Applications programming which caused me to switch back to Microsoft Office. I’ve actually made some specialized spreadsheets for companies using VBA.

Change wrote:
If you pay $5/m while you can get a full version for $120, what guarantee do you have that MS *will* come out with a new version within 2 years? Office 2007 was the next version after 2003, that’s 4 years. I think $5/m or $50/y will be reasonable prices though, but it might not be the best investment..

That’s really just it though. You have to be confident in Microsoft’s ability to provide updates on a regular basis. I don’t think they will make the same mistake of letting so much time pass by again.

Omar Upegui wrote:
Linux users probably will never use MS Office. 

My university had MS Office installed on all the Linux machines using Crossover. So I wouldn’t say never. ;)

]]> By: Asgardhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136162 Asgard Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:17:56 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136162 No matter what they say there is always going to be version that works "illegally". That's how they keep their monopoly up and running. The more people uses free softwares the more those are developed and the less MS is able to really sell their own. Its clear that many companies cannot even consider those free softwares that linux fans thinks are soooo great, but home users can. No matter what they say there is always going to be version that works “illegally”. That’s how they keep their monopoly up and running. The more people uses free softwares the more those are developed and the less MS is able to really sell their own. Its clear that many companies cannot even consider those free softwares that linux fans thinks are soooo great, but home users can.

]]> By: Francis Simhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136142 Francis Sim Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:33:20 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136142 For me, I am comfortable with using Google Docs or OpenOffice. However, I feel that OpenOffice Impress is still not ready to take on PowerPoint so many Microsoft Office users are still holding back. For $5/mth, I may consider using Microsoft Office again with the cost spread over the whole year. For me, I am comfortable with using Google Docs or OpenOffice. However, I feel that OpenOffice Impress is still not ready to take on PowerPoint so many Microsoft Office users are still holding back. For $5/mth, I may consider using Microsoft Office again with the cost spread over the whole year.

]]> By: Omar Upeguihttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136127 Omar Upegui Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:45:49 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136127 Most<i> MS Office </i>users only utilize a small percentage of the productivity software, but because of the brand, they are willing to pay several hundred dollars just to be comfortable having it. If you are a mainstream user, I would say<i> Open Office</i>, <i>Zoho</i>, <i>Google Docs, IBM Symphony</i> and a whole lot of other software that escape my mind at this moment, will be just fine.  However<i> Microsoft </i>have drilled our minds to convince us that we need their office.  This is not true most of the time.Linux users probably will never use MS Office. Just my 2 cents worth.  Most MS Office users only utilize a small percentage of the productivity software, but because of the brand, they are willing to pay several hundred dollars just to be comfortable having it. 

If you are a mainstream user, I would say Open Office, Zoho, Google Docs, IBM Symphony and a whole lot of other software that escape my mind at this moment, will be just fine.  However Microsoft have drilled our minds to convince us that we need their office.  This is not true most of the time.

Linux users probably will never use MS Office. 

Just my 2 cents worth. 

]]> By: Noshhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136120 Nosh Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:20:26 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136120 Well, that depends! What do people have more of - money or brains? I'm not a statistician, so I wouldn't know... Well, that depends! What do people have more of – money or brains? I’m not a statistician, so I wouldn’t know…

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136106 Anonymous Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:12:29 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136106 OpenOffice here I come OpenOffice here I come

]]> By: Changehttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136100 Change Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:34:36 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136100 If you pay $5/m while you can get a full version for $120, what guarantee do you have that MS *will* come out with a new version within 2 years? Office 2007 was the next version after 2003, that's 4 years. I think $5/m or $50/y will be reasonable prices though, but it might not be the best investment.. If you pay $5/m while you can get a full version for $120, what guarantee do you have that MS *will* come out with a new version within 2 years? Office 2007 was the next version after 2003, that’s 4 years. I think $5/m or $50/y will be reasonable prices though, but it might not be the best investment..

]]> By: The Guruhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136092 The Guru Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:59:02 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136092 <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-136091">Michael Dobrofsky wrote:</a><blockquote>Yes, I think this is inevitable, but the bottom line here folks, is that the Open Office suite is more than fine for probably 90% of Office users. When version 3 hits, it’ll be even better. For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it’s not the same, check it out - I was once YOU :)</blockquote></div> I agree. Love OpenOffice and use it all the time. I do have MS Office on this machine only because it came pre-loaded (oddly enough so did MS Works) but never use it. Michael Dobrofsky wrote:
Yes, I think this is inevitable, but the bottom line here folks, is that the Open Office suite is more than fine for probably 90% of Office users. When version 3 hits, it’ll be even better. For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it’s not the same, check it out – I was once YOU :)

I agree. Love OpenOffice and use it all the time. I do have MS Office on this machine only because it came pre-loaded (oddly enough so did MS Works) but never use it.

]]> By: Michael Dobrofskyhttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136091 Michael Dobrofsky Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:55:50 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136091 Yes, I think this is inevitable, but the bottom line here folks, is that the Open Office suite is more than fine for probably 90% of Office users. When version 3 hits, it'll be even better. For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it's not the same, check it out - I was once YOU :) Yes, I think this is inevitable, but the bottom line here folks, is that the Open Office suite is more than fine for probably 90% of Office users. When version 3 hits, it’ll be even better. For those that just want Word, Excel and Powerpoint, why pay MS when another product is available free? OO is brilliant. Anyone reading who is skeptical or afraid it’s not the same, check it out – I was once YOU :)

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://cybernetnews.com/would-a-subscription-based-microsoft-office-be-successful/#comment-136087 Anonymous Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:18:22 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=12186#comment-136087 Windows update next, "You hav'nt paid for your vista to be fixed, please renew your subscription." Windows update next, “You hav’nt paid for your vista to be fixed, please renew your subscription.”

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