Google formally declares war on Microsoft

[theavidgeek]

Google formally declares war on Microsoft

We will fight them on the breaches

By Nick Farrell: Thursday 06 October 2005, 07:05

GOOGLE HAS confirmed that it will launch free spreadsheet and word-processing software online and take on Microsoft in one of its biggest markets.

Under the deal, Google will allow web users to access Sun's OpenOffice from a toolbar.

The other day, when Sun's Scott McNealy and his former employee now Google chief Eric Schmidt met up, Sun was wary about doing that.

When asked point blank, McNealy said it was something to be investigated. However Sun's Australian spokesman Paul O'Connor was a little more forthright about the deal which he said was "huge".

He bubbled that the deal was a wake-up call for Microsoft.

"At the moment most people are used to having to pay for software packages, but at the end of the day, the value is in the content and services ? not in the software itself," he said

http://theinquirer.net/?article=26734

[insanekiwi]

"free word-processing" sounds cool to me :yes:

[Max Veteran]

:laugh: I have to thank Google, this could cut the price of the Microsoft office suite in half if its done right.

[NoneAvail]

ohhh mannn

microsoft is in deep ****

* we have a swear filter here, please don't circumvent it *

Edited October 6, 2005 by markjensen

[TruBD]

well lets see how well it competes.

[ECEGatorTuro]

Hasn't OpenOffice been out there for ages... for free?

[former1]

Yessssss! I'm so happy real competition to Microsoft ^^. Maybe this'll start real innovation :D

[xxdesmus]

pssh. corps still won't be changing anytime soon. way to go google....not like there aren't plenty of other free office programs (abiword, open office, etc etc etc) ...

These days, I trust Google way less than I trust Microsoft. :yes:

[kjordan2001]

Hmm, online word processing and spreadsheets? How's that going to work? Wonder what format they'll let you save to.

Edit: "Access OpenOffice from the toolbar"...so they're going to have an online version of OpenOffice? :huh:

[theavidgeek]

What do you guys think it will be called?

[Keito]

Awesome... I think Google's initiatives are allways nice and welcome. Don't like all of their products / see use in them but they're a cool company :D

[brotherrabbit]

Ya What I love the Google vs Microsoft wars is that Google completely reinvents the wheel in a more pratical sensible way, EVERY time. Microsoft, is just a lost child at this point following what ever is in front of it. Have you seen the microsoft earth? Come on. Completely ripped off Google.

Microsoft is sad, they should stick to what they do best, and that's suck.

[insanekiwi]

Hasn't OpenOffice been out there for ages... for free?

586632248[/snapback]

yes it has. but it's not that popular.

Hmm, online word processing and spreadsheets?  How's that going to work?  Wonder what format they'll let you save to.

Edit:  "Access OpenOffice from the toolbar"...so they're going to have an online version of OpenOffice?  :huh:

586632265[/snapback]

save? probably *.gdoc or *.gtxt :D

[Orange Battery]

It would be nice to get rid of office from my pc as I do like to keep my system light and I don't exactly use a lot of the detailed features office offers.

[bdsams Veteran]

i hope this takes off, while i dont think it will ever be a serious competitor for MS in the dept due to they already own that sector, it may cut prices

[former1]

What do you guys think it will be called?

586632273[/snapback]

goffice? :p

[tmw]

Google are kicking some serious ass. :D

[leesmithg]

Didn't Microsoft have this idea about 6 years ago where you could subscribe and use their word software on-line and save your work to a folder at their site or to your HD?

[theavidgeek]

goffice? :p

586632284[/snapback]

iffy name...ms can sue.

Maybe Gcreate? or Gwork

[John S. Veteran]

Hasn't OpenOffice been out there for ages... for free?

586632248[/snapback]

Indeed it has, but compare the average Joe's awareness of Open Office to Google...

[Doli]

Hasn't OpenOffice been out there for ages... for free?

586632248[/snapback]

yes it has so there is nothing new here. Office is still the champ because there is so much you can do, get certified and you wil see, its nuts, certified for office? but hey thats what businesses like.

This whole google war sounds just silly, more fuel for the sad people who will follow google to the end of the earth

[MulletRobZ]

If only OpenOffice could fix this bloody header and footer problem, we'd be all set for that. But I just hope Google comes up with a viable alternative to Windows in order to really raise hell for Micro****!

* we have a swear filter here, please don't circumvent it *

Edited October 6, 2005 by markjensen

[kitchenutensils]

basically this is a large advert for openoffice which i guess is good. further low budg pcs we have wont have the huge cost of office slapped on the back :)

[theavidgeek]

Indeed it has, but compare the average Joe's awareness of Open Office to Google...

586632308[/snapback]

:yes:

[mica]

Sun Office, never used... How about Open Office.. it's free now! still no threat to MS Office