Comments on: The Barbarians Are At The Gate, But Microsoft Moves To Protect Office Revenues http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/ Startup and Tech News Sat, 17 May 2008 08:57:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: New Year’s Tech Resolutions teasered @ TechTalkBlog http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1900445 New Year’s Tech Resolutions teasered @ TechTalkBlog Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:16:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1900445 [...] towards this with your recent Office Live Workspace beta, but you still need to get past your Barbarians at the Gate mindset. While Google, Adobe, and others try to figure out how to bring their Web-based word [...] […] towards this with your recent Office Live Workspace beta, but you still need to get past your Barbarians at the Gate mindset. While Google, Adobe, and others try to figure out how to bring their Web-based word […]

]]> By: Microsoft Re-Brands Office Live, But Little Changes » Small Business Trends | small business experts http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1670904 Microsoft Re-Brands Office Live, But Little Changes » Small Business Trends | small business experts Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:55:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1670904 [...] in limited beta, not a full release. Its announcement triggered what has now become the usual predictable debate about Microsoft’s pace in taking Office online. Unless you are an early adopter eager to be a beta tester, you can [...] […] in limited beta, not a full release. Its announcement triggered what has now become the usual predictable debate about Microsoft’s pace in taking Office online. Unless you are an early adopter eager to be a beta tester, you can […]

]]> By: Sharepoint BUZZ http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1670787 Sharepoint BUZZ Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:46:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1670787 <strong>Office Live Workspace Beta Launched (Powered by SharePoint)...</strong> Microsoft has just opened up the beta testing for Office Live Workspace (which many consider to be their answer for Google Docs). Office Live Workspace is a password protected, SharePoint workspace hosted by Microsoft. Your workspace will allow you ... Office Live Workspace Beta Launched (Powered by SharePoint)…

Microsoft has just opened up the beta testing for Office Live Workspace (which many consider to be their answer for Google Docs). Office Live Workspace is a password protected, SharePoint workspace hosted by Microsoft.

Your workspace will allow you …

]]> By: Don http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655413 Don Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:09:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655413 I'm amazed that Google Docs continues to get such positive press as some sort of realistic competitor to Office. Google Docs is very, very far from being a viable business solution for anything but the most trivial of tasks. I'd say they have a decent hosted notepad, but that's about it. Have you ever actually tried to collaborate with Google Docs? They don't even allow you to maintain position in a document while someone else is just viewing it. It's truly unusable. Try it some time. Let's get past the fanfare and be realistic about the field of competitors in this space which does not include Google Docs. I’m amazed that Google Docs continues to get such positive press as some sort of realistic competitor to Office. Google Docs is very, very far from being a viable business solution for anything but the most trivial of tasks. I’d say they have a decent hosted notepad, but that’s about it.

Have you ever actually tried to collaborate with Google Docs? They don’t even allow you to maintain position in a document while someone else is just viewing it. It’s truly unusable. Try it some time.

Let’s get past the fanfare and be realistic about the field of competitors in this space which does not include Google Docs.

]]> By: Once More unto the Breach http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655174 Once More unto the Breach Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:34:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655174 <strong>Storing Files on the Internet, Microsoft Style...</strong> That's the title of yesterday's New York Times article on Microsoft's launch of Office Live Workspace. There is so much that could be written here but let's let the professionals do it: Gina Trapani, Lifehacker goddess: "The catch? You can... Storing Files on the Internet, Microsoft Style…

That’s the title of yesterday’s New York Times article on Microsoft’s launch of Office Live Workspace. There is so much that could be written here but let’s let the professionals do it: Gina Trapani, Lifehacker goddess: “The catch? You can…

]]> By: Office Live Workspace http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655104 Office Live Workspace Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:19:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1655104 [...] Услугата обаче няма да предостави възможности за редактиране. Microsoft позиционира Office Live Workspace като допълнение към вече инсталираните на компютъра програми. Бъдещите версии на услугата ще включват и редактиране, съобщиха от Microsoft. [...] […] Услугата обаче няма да предостави възможности за редактиране. Microsoft позиционира Office Live Workspace като допълнение към вече инсталираните на компютъра програми. Бъдещите версии на услугата ще включват и редактиране, съобщиха от Microsoft. […]

]]> By: phenom http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654836 phenom Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:31:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654836 It is difficult to replace MSFT word. http://vidsonly.blogspot.com It is difficult to replace MSFT word.
http://vidsonly.blogspot.com

]]> By: Alex Linhares http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654739 Alex Linhares Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:03:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654739 Microsoft Word has passed away. Time of death: 12.23AM. Adobe has acquired Buzzword. Having one of the largest, and by the way, coolest, companies behind it will be the kiss of death to Microsoft Word. With Buzzword, you get almost all word-processing functionality what really matters on your browser--with the addition of online collaboration. I was one of their first beta testers, receiving my invitation from Roberto Mateu on July 19th. I have Masters and PhD students writing up papers and theses with it, in real time collaboration, dispersed all around: Taisa is in the heart of the Amazon, Anne is in Harvard University, and Analize is in Curitiba, in the Brazilian South. They have been adding features every month. It´s one of those things that, after you have it, you wonder how could you live without it. Soon, it will have the host of Adobe TrueType fonts, pdf support, offline functionality, etcetera. Yesterday it was alpha-geek only, but now it will spread like wildfire. No more emailing back and forth drafts and more drafts. Adobe isn`t disclosing the financial part of the deal, but something like this just wouldn`t go for less than 100 million, perhaps some multiples of that. After this huge incentive, expect similar start-ups to jump in the bandwagon and, twelve months from now, spreadsheets and more sophisticated presentation programs. In the future, expect everything all the way from charting to equation editors. Microsoft Office "ultimate" (¿?) goes for USD679,00. The "student edition" goes for USD149,00. (By the way, Apple should just give up this space and bundle iWork into new machines.) Scoble mentions that MS will still have some "office" revenue stream, yet: "There is blood in the water even if only the early sharks can smell it." I`ve just replied to Tad Staley`s email, congratulating these folks. As I wrote before, I´m almost feeling a little bit sorry for Mr Gates. But only almost. And only a little. But, hey, maybe that cool Zune will make up for these lost sales? From http://www.capyblanca.com/2007/10/microsoft-word-has-passed-away-time-of.html Microsoft Word has passed away. Time of death: 12.23AM.

Adobe has acquired Buzzword. Having one of the largest, and by the way, coolest, companies behind it will be the kiss of death to Microsoft Word.

With Buzzword, you get almost all word-processing functionality what really matters on your browser–with the addition of online collaboration. I was one of their first beta testers, receiving my invitation from Roberto Mateu on July 19th. I have Masters and PhD students writing up papers and theses with it, in real time collaboration, dispersed all around: Taisa is in the heart of the Amazon, Anne is in Harvard University, and Analize is in Curitiba, in the Brazilian South.

They have been adding features every month. It´s one of those things that, after you have it, you wonder how could you live without it. Soon, it will have the host of Adobe TrueType fonts, pdf support, offline functionality, etcetera. Yesterday it was alpha-geek only, but now it will spread like wildfire. No more emailing back and forth drafts and more drafts.

Adobe isn`t disclosing the financial part of the deal, but something like this just wouldn`t go for less than 100 million, perhaps some multiples of that. After this huge incentive, expect similar start-ups to jump in the bandwagon and, twelve months from now, spreadsheets and more sophisticated presentation programs. In the future, expect everything all the way from charting to equation editors. Microsoft Office “ultimate” (¿?) goes for USD679,00. The “student edition” goes for USD149,00. (By the way, Apple should just give up this space and bundle iWork into new machines.) Scoble mentions that MS will still have some “office” revenue stream, yet: “There is blood in the water even if only the early sharks can smell it.”

I`ve just replied to Tad Staley`s email, congratulating these folks.

As I wrote before, I´m almost feeling a little bit sorry for Mr Gates. But only almost. And only a little.

But, hey, maybe that cool Zune will make up for these lost sales?

From http://www.capyblanca.com/2007.....me-of.html

]]> By: Marc http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654684 Marc Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:07:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654684 Oh, I'm afraid this battle station is fully operational... muahaha Oh, I’m afraid this battle station is fully operational… muahaha

]]> By: Mini noticias del 2007-10-01 (microblogging) | hombrelobo, una mente dispersa http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654603 Mini noticias del 2007-10-01 (microblogging) | hombrelobo, una mente dispersa Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:25:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654603 [...] - The Barbarians Are At The Gate, But Microsoft Moves To Protect Office Revenues Microsoft has failed to understand the real power of Google Docs - easy, no hassle document [...] […] - The Barbarians Are At The Gate, But Microsoft Moves To Protect Office Revenues Microsoft has failed to understand the real power of Google Docs - easy, no hassle document […]

]]> By: Princesc98 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654602 Princesc98 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:24:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654602 Although this is an interesting announcement, it sounds like file storage with just minor collaboration capabilities. I’ll check it out, but I’ve been using eXpresso for real time collaboration of Excel spreadsheets online. It has a lot of cool features including the ability to compare two spreadsheets side by side and a very detailed audit trail. Check it out at www.expressocorp.com. Although this is an interesting announcement, it sounds like file storage with just minor collaboration capabilities. I’ll check it out, but I’ve been using eXpresso for real time collaboration of Excel spreadsheets online. It has a lot of cool features including the ability to compare two spreadsheets side by side and a very detailed audit trail. Check it out at http://www.expressocorp.com.

]]> By: Fabian Schonholz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654526 Fabian Schonholz Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:49:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654526 I think MS is milking it for all is worth and at the end they will do an about face and embrace online more. If they are not, I will be disappointed. Even through I do not like or use MS products - my house is 100% combo Mac/Linux and work 100% Linux infrastructure - I still have respect for one of the richest companies around. Maybe my respect will go too!! :( I think MS is milking it for all is worth and at the end they will do an about face and embrace online more. If they are not, I will be disappointed. Even through I do not like or use MS products - my house is 100% combo Mac/Linux and work 100% Linux infrastructure - I still have respect for one of the richest companies around. Maybe my respect will go too!! :(

]]> By: Lafayette Howell http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654489 Lafayette Howell Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:16:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654489 Like most curious, early adopters of technology who frequent the halls of TechCrunch, I have tried Google's word processing solution. The reality is that people are not "always" online. What if you are working on your manuscript at the park or on the plane? You NEED to be able to work off-line, when in fact, when you need to collaborate or transmit, being online is required. Oh, and the Gdocs application is simply not ready for prime-time at this point. Like most curious, early adopters of technology who frequent the halls of TechCrunch, I have tried Google’s word processing solution. The reality is that people are not “always” online. What if you are working on your manuscript at the park or on the plane? You NEED to be able to work off-line, when in fact, when you need to collaborate or transmit, being online is required. Oh, and the Gdocs application is simply not ready for prime-time at this point.

]]> By: Insider Chatter by Donna Bogatin » Schmidt to Ballmer: Stop Stealing MY Office Collaboration Lines! http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654479 Insider Chatter by Donna Bogatin » Schmidt to Ballmer: Stop Stealing MY Office Collaboration Lines! Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:10:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654479 [...] Michael TechCrunch Arrington disses Microsoft for the audacity of wanting to “protect Office r... [...] […] Michael TechCrunch Arrington disses Microsoft for the audacity of wanting to “protect Office r… […]

]]> By: Get A New Browser » Blog Archive » Microsoft Launches Live Workspace http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654468 Get A New Browser » Blog Archive » Microsoft Launches Live Workspace Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:01:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654468 [...] TechCrunch thinks it’s stupid and I think TechCrunch’s analysis (which as ususal is anti-Microsoft) is stupid. Clearly Microsoft has been here before and they are not losing anything to services such as Google Docs. Microsoft will and for the forseeable future own the Office/Productivity realm of the Enterprise - which regardless of what you say is where the Cash in Cash Cow comes from. [...] […] TechCrunch thinks it’s stupid and I think TechCrunch’s analysis (which as ususal is anti-Microsoft) is stupid. Clearly Microsoft has been here before and they are not losing anything to services such as Google Docs. Microsoft will and for the forseeable future own the Office/Productivity realm of the Enterprise - which regardless of what you say is where the Cash in Cash Cow comes from. […]

]]> By: liquidboy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654451 liquidboy Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:41:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654451 Microsoft are doing the right thing! They have an awesome desktop application that churns out heaps of content. The first step is to put that content in repositories online! NOT recreate the applications to be fully web based! Microsoft are letting the competition build out their online applications, and when the competition finds finds the right mix for an online app Microsoft will re-create it and plug in ALL there online content to it! BAM !!!! Microsoft is again ahead of the competition! The most important thing is to get the content online!!! Microsoft realize that and are playing the right game! Microsoft are doing the right thing!

They have an awesome desktop application that churns out heaps of content.

The first step is to put that content in repositories online! NOT recreate the applications to be fully web based!

Microsoft are letting the competition build out their online applications, and when the competition finds finds the right mix for an online app Microsoft will re-create it and plug in ALL there online content to it!

BAM !!!! Microsoft is again ahead of the competition!

The most important thing is to get the content online!!! Microsoft realize that and are playing the right game!

]]> By: Marco http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654419 Marco Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:07:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654419 @Velioncho 100% correct! @Velioncho

100% correct!

]]> By: Velioncho http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654413 Velioncho Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:04:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654413 oh please folks, dont compare this with IE vs Netscape. Netscape's product was much superior compared to IE at that time. Here Google Docs and others are a joke compared to MS Office prodcuts. As much as I dont like MSFT, I admire their office tools, they are really really good. I tried StarOffice it sucks big time. I used to believe that people use MS office because of monopolist tactics. That is absolutely wrong, it is superior products, and the competition work looks like high school projects. oh please folks, dont compare this with IE vs Netscape.

Netscape’s product was much superior compared to IE at that time.

Here Google Docs and others are a joke compared to MS Office prodcuts.

As much as I dont like MSFT, I admire their office tools, they are really really good. I tried StarOffice it sucks big time. I used to believe that people use MS office because of monopolist tactics. That is absolutely wrong, it is superior products, and the competition work looks like high school projects.

]]> By: Marco http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654399 Marco Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:47:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654399 If this new product would only be half as good as Google Docs, I'd sure switch. Google Docs might be easy to use, but it so ugly. Sure, design has never been Google's thing... but when I want to write/edit a document i want to see how it looks like when I print it on a paper later. There is no real page view / preview. All it shows is a huge blank "white page"... i don't even know when it's using the next line... For ***playing around*** it might be good... but far away from becoming an ALTERNATIVE to MS Word. The newest Adobe 'Word application' looks even better then Google Docs. :( If this new product would only be half as good as Google Docs, I’d sure switch.

Google Docs might be easy to use, but it so ugly. Sure, design has never been Google’s thing… but when I want to write/edit a document i want to see how it looks like when I print it on a paper later. There is no real page view / preview.

All it shows is a huge blank “white page”… i don’t even know when it’s using the next line…

For ***playing around*** it might be good… but far away from becoming an ALTERNATIVE to MS Word. The newest Adobe ‘Word application’ looks even better then Google Docs.

:(

]]> By: Steve Ballmer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654397 Steve Ballmer Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:46:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654397 You gotta be kidding! ".... Instead, the Microsoft Office warriors are rebranding, repackaging and relaunching old products and calling them new." Hey guys look, all of the menus have been relocated! http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com You gotta be kidding!

“…. Instead, the Microsoft Office warriors are rebranding, repackaging and relaunching old products and calling them new.”

Hey guys look, all of the menus have been relocated!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

]]> By: nemrut http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654382 nemrut Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:36:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654382 MS is 'rebranding' themselves into oblivion. Computing 'in the cloud' is the future--can anyone dispute this? Ballmer is steering a sinking ship while trying to maintain that complex software is only viable in physical form... MS is ‘rebranding’ themselves into oblivion. Computing ‘in the cloud’ is the future–can anyone dispute this?

Ballmer is steering a sinking ship while trying to maintain that complex software is only viable in physical form…

]]> By: Andre de Cavaignac http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654354 Andre de Cavaignac Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:13:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654354 Take a step back for a second. Do you really think that AJAX, JavaScript and HTML are the wave of the future? These technologies aren't fast or robust enough for major apps, hence the move to Apollo and Silverlight. All we're doing is reinventing Java WebStart and .NET ClickOnce. These apps are huge because of the featureset that is demanded over time. In time, a Google spreadsheet will: 1) Not be HTML, but will be some easy-deployment (Apollo or some other desktop runtime) app 2) Be monolithic because they'll keep adding features people need. All Microsoft is doing is going in the opposite direction, and in the end they'll meet in the middle. Google will have to move from light-client to rich-client and Microsoft from heavy-client to rich-client. As far as Google Docs as a viable Office tool, I just don't see it -- not today at least. No one actually uses Google Docs for real document composition or spreadsheet work, thats why everyone still has Office on their machine. Truth is, until its not HTML and JavaScript, it won't be viable for real Office work. Take a step back for a second. Do you really think that AJAX, JavaScript and HTML are the wave of the future? These technologies aren’t fast or robust enough for major apps, hence the move to Apollo and Silverlight. All we’re doing is reinventing Java WebStart and .NET ClickOnce.

These apps are huge because of the featureset that is demanded over time. In time, a Google spreadsheet will:
1) Not be HTML, but will be some easy-deployment (Apollo or some other desktop runtime) app
2) Be monolithic because they’ll keep adding features people need.

All Microsoft is doing is going in the opposite direction, and in the end they’ll meet in the middle. Google will have to move from light-client to rich-client and Microsoft from heavy-client to rich-client.

As far as Google Docs as a viable Office tool, I just don’t see it — not today at least. No one actually uses Google Docs for real document composition or spreadsheet work, thats why everyone still has Office on their machine. Truth is, until its not HTML and JavaScript, it won’t be viable for real Office work.

]]> By: Kaizyn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654339 Kaizyn Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:03:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654339 Stupid comments. Moving a huge, monolithic suite like MS Office to a web-based app will take time. Microsoft first can move the read capability to the web. Then after that, port the rest of the Office functionality (editing and collaborative editing) online. They may be waiting for Silverlight to mature to the point where it can support this functionality. While I'm no fan of Microsoft, the game really is theirs to lose. Stupid comments. Moving a huge, monolithic suite like MS Office to a web-based app will take time. Microsoft first can move the read capability to the web. Then after that, port the rest of the Office functionality (editing and collaborative editing) online. They may be waiting for Silverlight to mature to the point where it can support this functionality. While I’m no fan of Microsoft, the game really is theirs to lose.

]]> By: Danny http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654320 Danny Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:36:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654320 Does anyone here have the slightest idea how MS Office is actually used in really big corporations? (A 59 person startup doesn’t count.) First, in a really big shop Office is often programmed to be company specific. Meaning that word/Powerpoint or Excel function a backend to the company's own text entry interface. You can pretty much do anything you want with it in order to make sure the user conforms to company format/policy. Last I checked Google Docs didn’t even support headers. 2) As noted by a poster above - there are compliance issues for many of the biggest user's of word processing software. MS telling them to throw everything online is not a good strategy. 3) Sharepoints essentially does a lot of the things for a big company that google docs does for the average user. Not as flexible and easy but in a far more controlled way. The truth is the competition is as far behind in features as MS is in having everything online. >That’s how the market works, learn to love it. That's right! When MS won it was trickery. When it loses it is "how the market works". Also, just in case anyone cares about actual numbers rather than skylarking: According to NPD - Microsoft's overall dollar share of the retail office productivity market has increased over the last year. It is now 96.8%. It seems both Office 2007 and, surprisingly, Mac Office 2004 are selling really well. The Mac suite is 20% of all retail sales. (Even people fleeing MS buy Office.) Sorry Michael, you might be underestimating the size of that gate. Does anyone here have the slightest idea how MS Office is actually used in really big corporations? (A 59 person startup doesn’t count.) First, in a really big shop Office is often programmed to be company specific. Meaning that word/Powerpoint or Excel function a backend to the company’s own text entry interface. You can pretty much do anything you want with it in order to make sure the user conforms to company format/policy. Last I checked Google Docs didn’t even support headers. 2) As noted by a poster above - there are compliance issues for many of the biggest user’s of word processing software. MS telling them to throw everything online is not a good strategy. 3) Sharepoints essentially does a lot of the things for a big company that google docs does for the average user. Not as flexible and easy but in a far more controlled way.

The truth is the competition is as far behind in features as MS is in having everything online.

>That’s how the market works, learn to love it.

That’s right! When MS won it was trickery. When it loses it is “how the market works”.

Also, just in case anyone cares about actual numbers rather than skylarking: According to NPD - Microsoft’s overall dollar share of the retail office productivity market has increased over the last year. It is now 96.8%.
It seems both Office 2007 and, surprisingly, Mac Office 2004 are selling really well. The Mac suite is 20% of all retail sales. (Even people fleeing MS buy Office.) Sorry Michael, you might be underestimating the size of that gate.

]]> By: ESL http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654301 ESL Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:21:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/01/microsoft-moves-to-protect-office-revenues-they-are-blind-to-the-future/#comment-1654301 "User scan upload and hare office documents?" “User scan upload and hare office documents?”

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