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Microsoft Office Faces British Invasion

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the in-the-loosest-sense-of-the-word dept.

jdkane writes "CNet reports that a small British software maker, Ability, plans to challenge one of Microsoft's most profitable markets by selling its low-cost package of productivity applications in North America. Ability Office faces competition from Corel's Word Perfect, Sun Microsystems' StarOffice package and OpenOffice, it's free, open-source sibling. None of these products have captured a significant share of the market from Microsoft's Office. Does anybody have any hands-on experience with the Ability Office suite, or are there any general speculations as to why this move will make a difference in the office software market (if not just for the bottom line of the software company)?"

6 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. Actually the latest MS Office kicks ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    MS Office 2003 is very nice. I needed to make a flowchart the other day, so I used Visio 2003 (Visio was good before MS bought it; now it's even better). Then, when I was done, I wanted to show it to my boss, so I saved my drawing 'as a web page'.

    I expected a .jpg file or something, wrapped in an HTML file. What I got was this uber control on the left side that lets you zoom in and out, pan, etc. It appeared to be 100% script when I looked at the source.

    Anyway, it was an extremely and surprisingly rich experience that I hadn't expected.

  2. Re:I'm a die-hard OpenOffice user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Directing such a strong emotion like hate to something as insignificant as software seems a waste.

    Hate injustice. Hate inhumanity. Hate an office suite? Hate an OS? Sounds pretty foolish.

  3. Re:OO is still missing a good database. by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    any moron who would use Access for some sort of DB application is a moron.

    --



    I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  4. Re:Aawe, too bad. by tealover · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Is that the only way Europeans can compete ?

    --
    -- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
  5. BRITS RULE!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    BRITISH FOR EVER! Europe rules the planet, Brits rule the planet!!! Fuck America!!!

  6. Re:Aawe, too bad. by Motor · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    This story's posts -- a summary/prediction:

    • The British don't have dentists
    • A Matrix Reloaded spoiler
    • Microsoft Office suxxxxx
      • No... Linux is tha suxx0r
    • Use KOffice!
      • KOffice is barely functional. Stupid zealot
    • Who needs this when we have OpenOffice?!
    • GNAA r00lz
    • Why isn't this in Debian non-free yet?
      • On Gentoo I'd just type "emerge ability"
    --
    We all know that crap is king
    Give us dirty laundry!