4 ms·
I own multiple copies of office and use them every day, but the author has an interesting point. And that point isn't revealed through me, or even (probably) th
by voxmatt 15y ago
I own multiple copies of office and use them every day, but the author has an interesting point. And that point isn't revealed through me, or even (probably) the person reading this comment, it's revealed through my mother.
My mom is an attorney and works with office every day. She's also in her 50s and not technologically fluent. But she got an iPhone. And then she got an iPad. She even got a keyboard for the iPad; which I rolled my eyes at, but that's where some of us are blind here. One of the first things she asked me was where office was--there is no doubt she would have purchased office had it been available--instead she downloaded a bunch of things (pages, docstogo, QuickOffice) and worked out which of those she likes. And she uses them a ton now; even to create documents.
Where I think the author is a bit off is in his assessment that the wizard has been revealed. I think Office is a good product for a lot of people and I think my mom would still buy it if they rolled one out for iOS (and I think they're working on it). Moreover, most corporate offices are deeply entrenched in office, and it will take years for that to change (my machine at work still comes with ie 7--how sick is that?). So, Microsoft still has time, but I think there's merit to the argument that they're behind and need to recover. Some damage has already been done, but it's not too late.
- MatthewPhillips 15y agoWhat the article overlooks is that the money Microsoft makes off selling individual copies of Office is a rounding error in their overall revenue. The money they make off selling thousand-seat licenses of Office, however, is not. The latter is not possible on iOS or Android.
- voxmatt 15y agoI think you're absolutely right, but this falls in the category of a lot of the comments in this thread: the "for now" category. I think anyone who assumes that the iPad or something-like-the-iPad (Windows 8, if you like) isn't where the vast majority of the market is heading, is going to miss the boat. The history of business is filed with the tombstones of once profitable companies that missed the boat.
- MatthewPhillips 15y agoIf Microsoft misses the boat it's not going to be because they didn't spend development time on unprofitable products like single-license Office for iPad. The winners of any movement are those who own the platform, Microsoft is correctly focusing their efforts there. The other option is to focus on software and become the next Atari.
- bishnu 15y agoExactly. In other words, it would have been the PERFECT excuse for Microsoft to price-gouge the same customers that need thousand-seat Office licenses by not being able to offer them a discount.