Microsoft Prepping Browser-based Word and Excel

JCWDenton writes "In a bid to spin its web-based version of Office into contention with rival internet behemoth Google, Microsoft has said it will begin accepting applications for beta testing its web apps later this year. There is one significant difference, however: unlike Google apps, Microsoft said users of its new service can only create or edit online documents if they have Office software already installed on their machines. Microsoft said features of its Office Live Workspace would include allowing users to upload more than 1,000 documents to free personal websites."

Comments

What's the point?

[k_187]

If you have to have office installed, why bother with the online version? I could see them requiring office to register for an account. But why bother?

Re:What's the point?

[suv4x4]

If you have to have office installed, why bother with the online version? I could see them requiring office to register for an account. But why bother?

There is no point. You need to see Microsoft thinks in multiple steps, and this is just step 1.

Step 1 is about rolling out a beta of this software, and allow the public to test it, give feedback, and their devs to improve on that.

The fact they offer it only to existing customers means there's no chance that this may hurt their Office sales. And it also lets the world know that Microsoft is "aware" of competing web products, such as Google's.

Should things get rough (Step 2), Microsoft already will have a mature web product in their hands, it will have people familiar with working with this product, and have the option of changing how to offer it, including separately for an yearly fee, as Google does.

It's the benefit of having so much money, you can throw them in all directions and use what "sticks".

Re:What's the point?

[omeomi]

My guess is to allow you to use Office tools while not at your usual desktop machine.

The summary states that you can only edit online documents when using a computer that has Office installed...so, even if it's not your usual desktop machine, it still needs to have Office installed (assuming the summary is correct)

Re:What's the point?

[ednopantz]

Because they are playing a different game than online apps.

This is all about mating everything we like about desktop apps (rich ui, etc.) to collaboration tools found in online apps.

Basically, Sharepoint for the masses.

Whether or not this works is open to debate, but to say this is me-too is just slashbots wearing their ignorance with pride.

Re:What's the point?

[neoform]

Microsoft has been trying to switch to the service model forever. If they had an online version the could charge either a per use fee, or a monthly subscription. Right now they're 'stuck' with their one time sale that doesn't provide MS with the money they feel the deserve.

Re:What's the point?

[MightyMartian]

Of course, the nice thing about Google Docs is all I need is a compliant browser on any suitable operating system, so what we're talking about here, once you strip away all the hype, is nothing more than remote storage of your documents. I mean, if you need Office installed, then it only eliminates the step where you copy the file from a remote site to the local machine, then edit and then upload it again.

Not that Google Docs is all that great; it's certainly no Office, and maybe it's simply not possible to build a comprehensive office app in Ajax, which is why Microsoft is going this route.

Re:What's the point?

[Locutus]

my thinking on this went like this, 'how can Microsoft leverage their existing monopolies on the Windows OS and office applications?'. Well, putting this out there for free to existing Microsoft Office users is one way to leverage the MS Office monopoly. After all, once Microsoft built this monopoly, they've been really consistent at making sure only MS Office vX users could exchange with MS Office vX users. If they don't tie this with MS Office 2007, they'll surely do so at a later date.

Step One of the forward looking steps which are ALWAYS part of Microsoft's project design principles is 'How can it be used to protect the monopoly?'.

Microsoft does not need any money from these web apps, just needs to make sure the gravy trains of MS Windows and MS Office continue. Google is looking for revenue and coming up with tools/ideas to attract customers. Microsoft is doing what it's done for close to 20 years, attacking new ideas and protecting what it has. IMO.

LoB

Knee Jerk, or Just Jerk

[OneSmartFellow]

Wow, are they getting lazy at M$ or what. I guess somebody got a raise, but I also guess he'll be getting fired in about 6 months when there is no uptake on their generous offer.

Billiam must be wondering how much longer his empire can survive with such stupidity.

ActiveX is not "web"

[linebackn]

It seems like they have been trying for something like this for quite a while. Obviously this would be implemented using Win32 ActiveX binaries so it would be IE and Windows only.

Congratulations, Microsoft, you just re-invented client/server architecture, just using web protocols as a transport.