AjaxWrite to "Compete" with MS Word

prostoalex writes "Michael Robertson (of MP3.com, Linspire, SIPPhone, GizmoProject and MP3Tunes.com fame) is launching a Web-only competitor to Microsoft Office by creating a suite of applications replicating Microsoft Office look and feel. From the posting: "But ajaxWrite is just the start. We have a library of applications we have been working on to replace most of the standard PC software titles. Every week we will launch a new sophisticated program on Wednesday at 12:00 PST on ajaxlaunch.com. These programs will push the boundaries of what people believe is possible today with web-delivered software. These programs look and operate much like their traditional software cousins, but are cross-platform, loaded dynamically, and are available to users at no charge. I'm convinced if you try a few of these products you will understand how the software business will fundamentally change." ajaxWrite is the first launched product."

Comments

still some work to do.

[yagu]

Well, this guy may think he's replaced WORD(tm) but I was unable to:

• find the clippy help guy
• find the shifting winding twisty changing menus (think chevrons)
• get ajaxWrite to inexplicably put me in different viewing modes from which I could not find an escape
• randomly start numbering stuff because I indented

Until they get at least some of these features write, I'm forking over my $499.

Oh wait, did I just say that out loud?

All seriousness aside, one feature this really doesn't have (at least I couldn't find it) I absolutely must have is spell check. I'm kind of surprised, cuz it seems everyone is introducing some form of spell check instantiated in their latest ajax offerings (including other web word processors... e.g.,

• Writely (not currently taking new registrations, but soon!)
• Zohowriter

)

Re:Not likely

[AKAImBatman]

On top of everything, I just realized that this is a XUL application. i.e. It's not going to run in anything but Mozilla-based browsers. Still, you've got to love the spin:

ajaxWrite is a streamlined word processor, comparable to Microsoft Word. To keep the program lean, we left out some obscure advanced features

Apparently, spell checkers, word counts, arbitrary font sizes, find (there's a menu item, but it's disabled), and hyperlinks are all "obscure advanced features". Here, let me fix that for you, Mike:

ajaxWrite is a streamlined word processor, comparable to Microsoft Wordpad.

See? Much better. =D

Wow - they are Already Competing !

[bushboy]

I just tried it and it crashed!

That's a great first start to compete with Word.

Now all we need is an animated paper clip which says :-

"You seem to be writing a letter, would you like to :-

a. Punch your monitor
b. Scream
c. Smile a crazy smile and run around the office, naked and screaming"

AjaxBrowser

[Arandir]

I'm still waiting for the AjaxBrowser. Then I can dump Internet Explorer, and do all of my browsing, like my word processing, online.

Re:Man, I dunno.

[StikyPad]

I swear to God, I was 90% done with my paper and then my sister picked up the phone.