Is OpenOffice.org a Threat? Microsoft Thinks So

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday December 30, 2009 @01:15AM 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."

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Re:I use it because... by interploy · 2009-12-30 03:39 · Score: 0, Redundant

Though I would like the features I do use to work properly. OpenOffice has some strange quirks when it comes to certain formatting, like making lists. Nothing that individually would be a deal breaker, but after a year of constant minor frustrations, I went back to MSOffice. Fact is, most people just want to be able to get the job done quickly with the fewest hassles, and right now MS Office still does that better.