Is OpenOffice.org a Threat? Microsoft Thinks So

[LiquidSolstice]

True, because pirating Windows gives pirates something to do with Windows, and without that, people would turn to free, and better things.

Or you know, you could also count that every single PC comes with Windows nowadays. Sheesh.

[4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran]

Or you know, you could also count that every single PC comes with Windows nowadays. Sheesh.

Not quite true, as, in the Western nations, you can buy PCs with Linux and not Windows. And if you get one with Windows, you can refuse to accept the license at first start-up and claim the refund.

Or, as far as the person you quoted was saying, the fact is that, in many places (such as China and many other parts of the world), it has been the norm to see pirated versions of Windows installed on PCs.? ;)

[Growled Member]

That's just the point though, I don't think Microsoft see Apple as a threat in the desktop sector, and the reason for that is that util they either open OSX up to all computers, or get real with their pricing, Apple will always remain in a niche part of the market. Because you can, as you eluded to get Linux free and simply install it on any computer you wish, it has a lot more potential to take off which is why Microsoft see it as more of a threat.

Linux is potentially a threat but not a real one. It would take Linux decades to surmount the Windows lead. Unless many things changes, Linux will always be a niche market as well. I think Microsoft is inventing competition to ease government investigation.

[rawr_boy81]

The pie chart gives you the reason why it doesn't make sense for MS to come out with a Linux version of Office.

Linux users make up for 1% of the total market share. 99% of them wouldn't buy MS Office for Linux. Simply put, it would cost MS more than it is worth.

It holds true then if most of the users of OpenOffice.org are Linux users therefore the issue at stake is not only Office but Windows as well - however, if most of the OpenOffice.org users are Windows users then the discussion can be focused just on Office suites; therefore, do you have any information as to the break down of operating system usage for those who use OpenOffice.org?

As for why are Microsoft concerned? because when Oracle finishes the purchasing of Sun, they knew that Sun was run by bumbling fools but when Oracle sets about doing something, they actually do it. From what I understand there is a massive push by Oracle to get OpenOffice.org, JavaFX, the server software etc all integrated to the same level that Microsoft offers (which gives Microsoft a competitive edge). It will be like Microsoft going up against Microsoft with one slight difference, Oracle has its own hardware section tacked onto the side. It is the perfect storm, Oracle and IBM versus Microsoft.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Linux is potentially a threat but not a real one. It would take Linux decades to surmount the Windows lead. Unless many things changes, Linux will always be a niche market as well. I think Microsoft is inventing competition to ease government investigation.

I love Linux. (you can see that in my history of Neowin posts)

I am also very pragmatic and practical about it. Linux may take 10 more years to double to 2% of desktop market. Linux is doing well in embedded, and in servers. They dominate the supercomputers. But on the home or business desktops, it is primarily an "enthusiast" OS. People use it because they tried it and loved it. Others try it and don't.

Yes, the possibility of a Linux tipping point is there. It may not actually teeter over the totter point for many years. If ever.

But I like it, and I use it. And more and more people feel the same way every year.

[Growled Member]

I love Linux. (you can see that in my history of Neowin posts)

I am also very pragmatic and practical about it. Linux may take 10 more years to double to 2% of desktop market. Linux is doing well in embedded, and in servers. They dominate the supercomputers. But on the home or business desktops, it is primarily an "enthusiast" OS. People use it because they tried it and loved it. Others try it and don't.

Yes, the possibility of a Linux tipping point is there. It may not actually teeter over the totter point for many years. If ever.

But I like it, and I use it. And more and more people feel the same way every year.

I totally agree. I am typing this from Linux Mint and I love Linux as well. The thing many seem to forget is Linux can't be a failure. It doesn't need to own any huge market share to be a success. It is already a success. It is a success because people like it and use it. It will continue to grow, whether by 1% a decade or by 1% in the next hundred years. The rate doesn't matter. As long as Linux keeps progressing and people use it, it is not a failure.

[M_Lyons10]

Openoffice is the worst piece of software ive used in years, it freezes alot, its slow, visual weirdness when scrolling through docs, its slow.

I have to agree. I tried using OpenOffice in our office and it never made it past my scrutiny... It would just never fly. I would rather spend the money for Office than deal with that suite.

I totally agree. I am typing this from Linux Mint and I love Linux as well. The thing many seem to forget is Linux can't be a failure. It doesn't need to own any huge market share to be a success. It is already a success. It is a success because people like it and use it. It will continue to grow, whether by 1% a decade or by 1% in the next hundred years. The rate doesn't matter. As long as Linux keeps progressing and people use it, it is not a failure.

You're right, and in that regard it is very different from other OS's. It does need adoption and support by their community though in order to survive, so while it may not need growth perse, it can't really stagnate either because it relies so heavily on community support.

[Elv13]

MS does have a Linux version of Office, at least, they have office 2003 running native. They showed it a few time in Microsoft Labs expo and some even, but said that it would never be sold.

Personally, as a Linux user, I think MSO -is- vastly superior to OO.o. Yea, I just said that, it's not a question of fanboyism, it's just the reality. OO.o use some kind of obscure sun-driven desision process, reject useful patch and fear adding features not using the plugin interface. The code base is bloated and outdated, making it a pain to develop and support. The only good thing I can say about it since the 1.xx serie is that the MS word (.doc) support is getting quite good. Personally, I have both MS Office 2003 and Go-OO, the Novell version of OpenOffice installed. Must of the rejected features and patch are in it and it is much better, at least when it come to Linux integration.

Actually, the best OSS office suite hope is KOffice+Gnome Office (Abiword and Gnumeric). KOffice 2 is not yet ready to be used by real users, but the interface just feel right. The shared code between Gnome and KDE (.doc support and some libs) slowly evolve into something usable. I really hope KWork could get the 20% most used work feature working perfectly in the 2.x serie (they were working in 1.x, but it's a rewrite, so it will take some time to get all of them back).

KOffice SVN on KDE 4.4 RC1

All toolsbar are modular and can be detached, of course

Edited January 1, 2010 by Elv13

[LiquidSolstice]

Not quite true, as, in the Western nations, you can buy PCs with Linux and not Windows. And if you get one with Windows, you can refuse to accept the license at first start-up and claim the refund.

Or, as far as the person you quoted was saying, the fact is that, in many places (such as China and many other parts of the world), it has been the norm to see pirated versions of Windows installed on PCs.? ;)

Nooo. I didn't mean to say that Linux was bad in any way, I of course know you can get a PC with Linux pre-installed ;). What I was responding to was this:

True, because pirating Windows gives pirates something to do with Windows, and without that, people would turn to free, and better things.

He seemed to imply that the only way XP has any real use is if it is pirated (by extension, taken for free), and I attempted to counter that with the fact XP would not be useless because the majority of new PCs would still be sold with Windows OSes installed.

You can't pirate hardware, so you're anyway going to have to ultimately buy a computer, and you can be very sure that it will have Windows on it to begin with, reducing the need to pirate.

I guess it came out a bit wrong.

[Michael_A_K]

In regards to the Quality of OpenOfice and staying in line with the topic, the Performance is solely based on your hardware and the condition of your OS...

In retrospect to Open Office being a threat to Microsoft: It is quite possible since it is free, and I know many people who use it over Microsoft's Suites since they do run a moderately hefty price for the middle man. :/

[rawr_boy81]

MS does have a Linux version of Office, at least, they have office 2003 running native. They showed it a few time in Microsoft Labs expo and some even, but said that it would never be sold.

Personally, as a Linux user, I think MSO -is- vastly superior to OO.o. Yea, I just said that, it's not a question of fanboyism, it's just the reality. OO.o use some kind of obscure sun-driven desision process, reject useful patch and fear adding features not using the plugin interface. The code base is bloated and outdated, making it a pain to develop and support. The only good thing I can say about it since the 1.xx serie is that the MS word (.doc) support is getting quite good. Personally, I have both MS Office 2003 and Go-OO, the Novell version of OpenOffice installed. Must of the rejected features and patch are in it and it is much better, at least when it come to Linux integration.

Actually, the best OSS office suite hope is KOffice+Gnome Office (Abiword and Gnumeric). KOffice 2 is not yet ready to be used by real users, but the interface just feel right. The shared code between Gnome and KDE (.doc support and some libs) slowly evolve into something usable. I really hope KWork could get the 20% most used work feature working perfectly in the 2.x serie (they were working in 1.x, but it's a rewrite, so it will take some time to get all of them back).

The problem I've always found with KDE is the lack of motivation for merging webkit with the desktop so that konqueror goes from being a giant joke into something useful for every day web surfing.

With that being said, KOffice is pretty good the last time I used it.