Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Quietly Offering Ad-Funded Version of Works

Posted by timothy on from the nielsen-ratings-are-next dept.

mikesd81 writes "News.com reports Microsoft has finally started offering an ad-funded version of Microsoft Works in some countries. Users who run the software see a small ad as they are writing their document or editing their spreadsheet. Although the program has the ability to update its set of ads online, today it runs mostly ads for Microsoft and a few partners, all of which ship with the product itself. Microsoft remains cagey on the details of where you can find Works SE. The company has been testing Works SE in 5 countries: The United States, France, Canada, Poland and the United Kingdom. It is available only through select computer makers and Microsoft won't say which computer makers those are. However, it seems Sony is offering it in the US."

11 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Works? by calebt3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It still exists?

    1. Re:Works? by Plutonite · · Score: 4, Funny
      Speaking of oxymorons and innuendo and such: did anyone notice the rackspace ads running on the top bar here on slashdot?

      ..its going that extra mile, reaching a little deeper

      If you need a partner, it's Rackspace! No comment.
    2. Re:Works? by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Pfft, have you ever tried opening a complex Office or Word document in Microsoft Office? As awesome a product as it is, it's downright lousy for handling things like image filters and pixel-perfect positioning on Word documents. It tries, yes, and sometimes it does OK, but it's far from perfect. That's because Word actually lays out the page according to the printer driver that happens to be default on that particular PC today. So Word is, quite literally, not compatible with the same version of itself on the same operating system.

      --
      http://rocknerd.co.uk
  2. worst for portability by v1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    MS Works is currently the #1 trouble child for us to do data migration from older systems.

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    1. Re:worst for portability by davolfman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To be honest I'd never suggest it with OpenOffice available in this day and age it just makes no sense. The value of Microsoft products in compatibility and when you can get a more compatible product for less money Works has no reason to exist except for widespread ignorance of the existence of OpenOffice.

  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. Hi! I'm clippy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You might remember me from informational presentations such as "Hi there, are you writing a letter?" and "Are you sure you want a comma there?" and I'm here to talk to you about a wonderful new kitchen product!

  6. Re:What about already existing alternatives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    In other news, Open Office is being offered WITHOUT ANY ADS for all platforms :-) And unlike Microsoft Works, it can actually read Microsoft Office documents.
  7. Re:What about already existing alternatives? by dacut · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone want to help fund an ad for OpenOffice on MS Works?

  8. Hi, there! by zmollusc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Hello, I am calling you to see if you wanted to advertise on our exciting new advertising medium targetted at skinflints who will use crap rather than fork out any money! Hello? Hello?"

    --
    They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.