3 ms·

There are plenty of free Office alternatives already that work for 90% of the people. The Web, Android and iOS has made such tools far more accessible for non-t

by jeswin 12y ago

There are plenty of free Office alternatives already that work for 90% of the people. The Web, Android and iOS has made such tools far more accessible for non-technical users. On the computer, use Google docs, on the tablet use QuickOffice. MS has had to react to this, Office on tablets and phones are now free. For general purpose software like document editing and presentations, people might pay $4.99 max, for lifetime. There'll be another 5-10% of users who need advanced features. That will not sustain the multi-billion revenue coming from Office products.

arethuza 12y ago
I don't think I've ever seen a large organization that doesn't have a critical dependency on Excel - usually with Excel plugged directly into their core financial/ERP/CRM. Replacing Excel in most large organizations would be like trying to give a human being a skeleton transplant.
- Luc 12y ago
  Sure, but that's not relevant to individual and family licenses, though.
  - arethuza 12y ago
    85% of the Microsoft Business division that is responsible for Microsoft Office comes, not unsurprisingly, from businesses: http://www.tannerhelland.com/4993/microsoft-money-updated-2013/ http://www.tannerhelland.com/4993/microsoft-money-updated-20... Edit: The point I was trying to make is that I wonder how important personal use of Office is to Microsoft. Arguably people either want to use what they use at work or they use something other product (in the past one of the competing office suites, probably one of the online offerings these days) - I wonder if the size of the latter category has actually changed over the years?
digi_owl 12y ago
There is a clever saying about MS Office. 90% of its users use only 1% of its capabilities. But they all use a different 1%. At this point in time, MS Office may well be more a RAD than a traditional office suite.

by jeswin 12y ago

arethuza 12y ago

I don't think I've ever seen a large organization that doesn't have a critical dependency on Excel - usually with Excel plugged directly into their core financial/ERP/CRM. Replacing Excel in most large organizations would be like trying to give a human being a skeleton transplant.

Luc 12y ago
Sure, but that's not relevant to individual and family licenses, though.
- arethuza 12y ago
  85% of the Microsoft Business division that is responsible for Microsoft Office comes, not unsurprisingly, from businesses: http://www.tannerhelland.com/4993/microsoft-money-updated-2013/ http://www.tannerhelland.com/4993/microsoft-money-updated-20... Edit: The point I was trying to make is that I wonder how important personal use of Office is to Microsoft. Arguably people either want to use what they use at work or they use something other product (in the past one of the competing office suites, probably one of the online offerings these days) - I wonder if the size of the latter category has actually changed over the years?

digi_owl 12y ago

There is a clever saying about MS Office. 90% of its users use only 1% of its capabilities. But they all use a different 1%. At this point in time, MS Office may well be more a RAD than a traditional office suite.