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Is OpenOffice.org a Threat? Microsoft Thinks So

Posted by Soulskill on from the peter-those-are-cheerios dept.

Glyn Moody writes "Most people regard OpenOffice.org as a distant runner-up to Microsoft Office, and certainly not a serious rival. Microsoft seems to feel otherwise, judging by a new job posting on its site for a 'Linux and Open Office Compete Lead.' According to this, competing with both GNU/Linux and OpenOffice.org is 'one of the biggest issues that is top of mind' for no less a person than Steve Ballmer. Interestingly, a key part of this position is 'engaging with Open Source communities and organizations' — which suggests that Microsoft's new-found eagerness to 'engage' with open source has nothing to do with a real desire to reach a pacific accommodation with free software, but is simply a way for Microsoft to fight against it from close up, and armed with inside knowledge."

9 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. I use it because... by misfit815 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...its GUI is more like Microsoft Office pre-2007 than Microsoft Office 2007 is, and I have never gotten used to the 2007 interface.

    --
    Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 NLT
    1. Re:I use it because... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My 5 year old niece uses W2007, how hard can it be? Personally I hate all them GUIs, never got the point, only editor I need is nano or a good old typewriter.

    2. Re:I use it because... by selven · · Score: 5, Insightful

      99% of people couldn't care less for the advanced features in anything.

    3. Re:I use it because... by JamesTRexx · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I prefer having a text menu over that ribbon style as well.
      Because I had to support so many different programs I can't develop a memory for all the different shiny icons there are. A few of them are alike, but most are just too different for me to know what's what in any program. So, with simple text menus I can just read and find what I need faster. Icons hold no meaning to me.

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      home
    4. Re:I use it because... by rtaylor · · Score: 4, Insightful

      99% of people want 1 advanced feature in their word processor. Thing is, they all want a different advanced feature which the other 98% will consider unnecessary.

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      Rod Taylor
    5. Re:I use it because... by dimeglio · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The real evil here is not the features of MS Office but how it becomes integrated with third party applications. There are a number of "gold" or "platinum" Microsoft partners providing integration with business systems who will not support anything but MS products as they fear reprimend from MS should they support a product from "the enemy." I think MS should have been split a long time ago.

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      Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
  2. Re:I installed the latest OO, definitely not a thr by suso · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Firefox doesn't already know that CSV should be tied to OO? Shouldn't that have occurred at install time by OO? No, ok, I'll set it up--done.

    In OO's defense, It seems that most of the time, CSV is not associated with any app, which is probably a good thing because CSV doesn't always imply "spreadsheet". True, some people want their computer to make all their decisions about which app to use for what. But those people usually also end up with a boatload of adbars in their browser and spyware and viruses on their harddrives. And they wonder why their computer doesn't work.

    "Won't that be grand, the computers will start thinking and the people will stop." - Walter, from Tron (1982)

  3. Re:I installed the latest OO, definitely not a thr by syousef · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You installed OO on a machine that wouldn't even run Office, then complained about start up times. You then played with the software for 5 minutes. It didn't do what you wanted. You didn't find a menu item and you moved on probably without even consulting documentation or Googling. It's possible that OO is lacking the functionality you wanted to use. Who knows. You didn't bother to find out, so why should I. Regardless, I'd say the problem is behind the keyboard in this case.

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    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  4. Re:duohce boag by ThePhilips · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As for myself, I don't think Linux needs world domination on the desktop, it does need interoperability though.

    You do understand that as long as MSFT has a desktop dominance, it would do anything to make sure that there would be no interoperability with any other competing OS?

    Because interoperability (through truly open standards) is what gives people choice.

    [...] I don't mean the OOXML farce that was pulled through the ISO.

    And MSFT many times exemplified that in their opinion a "de facto" standard (they have complete control over like OOXML) is just as good as a "de jure" standard.

    That's why as long as MSFT has >50% of market, there would be neither interoperability nor open standards.

    --
    All hope abandon ye who enter here.