OpenOffice.org Tries to Woo Dell

Rob writes "OpenOffice.org project members have written to Dell (pdf), hoping to persuade the company to adopt OpenOffice in response to customer demand. John McCreesh, OpenOffice.org marketing project lead, writes 'Let's have a conversation about how we could build an OpenOffice.org supplied by Dell product to give your customers what they are asking for.' Demand for open source products on Dell's IdeaStorm web site prompted the letter. A somewhat obvious question is raised: why isn't OpenOffice already available by default on new PC's and Workstations?"

Comments

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[otacon]

It isn't on there by default, because that would mean people might actually use it...and we can't have people just running around using free software, can we?

A somewhat obvious answer:

[hhlost]

OOo is free, and therefore Dell gets no cut.

Re:A somewhat obvious answer:

[synoniem]

To be more accurate: OOo is free, and therefore Dell gets nothing but the support calls and even offshore they want to be paid.

Re:A somewhat obvious answer:

[babbling]

That's actually not true. If Dell were to add an option on their website saying "OpenOffice $25", they would be allowed to charge the $25 to bundle OpenOffice with a Dell computer.

Nothing in the GPL forbids Dell or anyone else for charging money for the software, so Dell wouldn't just "take a cut", they can set the price they like and take 100% of it rather than having to give some of it to Microsoft.

Re:A somewhat obvious answer:

[bill_mcgonigle]

Yeah, and $25 is way more expensive than MS Office, right?

MS Office is "free" with a Small Business Desktop from Dell, haven't you heard?

The sad reality seems to be that Dell thrives at Microsoft's pleasure and they'd be dumb to muck that up. To bad the DOJ had no teeth.

Upon first glance

[oskard]

I thought it said:
"OpenOffice.org Tries to Doo Well"

Re:Why?

[mungtor]

MS Office isn't installed on a new PC by default either. Even at an OEM type discount, it isn't free.

OpenOffice is freely available to anyone with an internet connection, and Dell simply doesn't see the business case for distributing and supporting it. Even if they tried to distribute with a support disclaimer there would still be a lot of calls to support about it. Also, Dell would have to distribute CDs with the source code since OpenOffice is GPL'd, etc, etc. None of it is a show-stopper, but why go through all the hassle with no reward? Distributing free software that they don't want to support (or don't think they can sell support on) doesn't make sense for Dell.

Yeah, it would be nice, but warm feelings and the respect of the /. community doesn't keep the lights on.

Re:Why?

[AKAImBatman]

could it be because everyone uses Office and it's proprietary formats?

Yet they offer the incompatible (and amusingly named) Microsoft Works package. If they can offer Microsoft Works by default, why can't they offer OpenOffice as an option?

I believe that is the point the author is trying to make.

Re:Why?

[Hatta]

The first thing I did when I got my dell laptop was flash the HD and reinstall an OEM copy of windows.

Your Dell laptop came with a solid state hard drive?

Re:Why?

[aputerguy]

It's obvious -- Dell makes more money *selling* MS Office then *giving* away OpenOffice.

Even when the customer doesn't buy MS Office up front, you can be sure that MS pays Dell for every "60-day trial" version which comes installed on most PCs nowadays. Even if MS didn't unfairly retaliate, giving away OO would take away from subscribers buying or upgrading to paid MS Office so Dell would inevitably get less of a commission back from MS.

On the other hand adding a preloaded OO is unlikely to shift share to Dell so not much upside -- particularly, since the relatively small minority of users who consider this as a factor could easily download it themselves.

Plus supporting OO would add support costs.

So, while I would love personally to see more OO, I don't see the business case from Dell's perspective

Re:Why?

[CaptainTux]

Even if they tried to distribute with a support disclaimer there would still be a lot of calls to support about it. Also, Dell would have to distribute CDs with the source code since OpenOffice is GPL'd, etc, etc.

1: So Dell gets a support call about Open Office. They handle it the same way they handle most technical questions about MS Office: go to the software vendor. Problem solved. No additional work required.

2: Why would Dell need to distribute CD's with source on them? Nowhere does the GPL even mention that you have to do this. All they have to do is include a piece of paper in each box that says "Want the Open Office source? Email: xxx@dell.com", or set up an FTP site, or make someone mail in a source request form, etc, etc. Problem solved.

OpenOffice bundled on new PCs

[Yaddoshi]

The company I work for always adds OpenOffice to every new PC sold by default, because getting OEM Office drives the price up by almost $200 (and our price is already higher than Office Depot, Office Max, Best Buy and Walmart on comparable PCs of the main brands). I find, however, that people who are comfortable using MS Office don't like OpenOffice, just like people who are comfortable with Corel WordPerfect typically don't like MS Word. You like the program you are most familiar with, even if other programs do the same task better. Nobody likes having to learn to do the same thing in a different manner. I still tie my shoes the same way I taught myself to as a child, even though the normal way to tie one's shoes tends to keep them tied longer than my method.

With that in mind I find it highly amusing that MS Office 2007 requires a substantial learning curve before most users can become efficient with it. Nice job yet again, Microsoft. Justify the massive pricetag of your newest product that is nothing more than a minor upgrade with a facelift by including an interface overhaul.

I have customers that are still using MS Office 97, purchased almost ten years ago. Why? Because for them, it still works just fine.