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Microsoft To Try Works As Adware

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the penny-for-your-eyeballs dept.

Several readers noted that Microsoft has announced plans to pre-install an ad-laden version of Works on some manufacturers' PCs in coming months. Works is Microsoft's lightweight docs-and-spreadsheets software. The manufacturers involved were not disclosed. The adware Works will come with a pre-installed cache of ads that will be refreshed when the machine is online. Microsoft will decide by mid-2008 whether it can afford to forgo the $40 normally charged for Works.

3 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why would anyone want Works anyway? by Tom9729 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A lot of people just don't know about OpenOffice. People will use this because they don't feel like paying for the full thing (MS Office). Sure, they'll mumble and groan about the ads and etcetera, but they'll use it.

    This is a great time for OpenOffice to get out there and let the common person know about them. Firefox had ads in the newspaper, why couldn't OOo?

    My only question is how long before we see ads in Windows.

  2. who wants this? by huckda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The manufacturers involved were not disclosed. So as not to hurt the sale of said systems...

    --
    "Just Smile and Nod." --Huck
  3. Re:Switch! by nine-times · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Or OpenOffice, for christ's sake. I mean, come on, MS Works doesn't even read MS Office documents. It doesn't have the features of a full office suite. There is absolutely no good reason to continue using this crap, even if it's free.