Google declares war on Microsoft

[mzkhadir]

hajmola writes "According to an article in The Inquirer, 'Google has confirmed that it will launch free spreadsheet and word-processing software online and take on Microsoft in one of its biggest markets. Under the deal, Google will allow web users to access Sun's OpenOffice from a toolbar.'" This is full confirmation of a story from Tuesday. Forbes thinks this isn't anything to write home about, while InfoWorld disagrees.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26734

http://www.forbes.com/businesstech/2005...-microsystems-cx_ld_1005microsoft.html

 

[tfinch2]

I don't think it will really make a difference anytime soon. The reason people use Office is brand recognition and industry standard. Google/Sun isn't going to take over the word processing/spreadsheet market overnight.

 

[rh71]

just a moral battle...

I mean it's free... they're just looking to stick it to them for MS' recent actions with that exec.

 

[Bumrush99]

If anyone can knock down the dominance of office it's google.

This is big news, Google has been hiring tons of software developers, many that were former Microsoft employees. This is great news, I mean is office professional really worth $500???

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

*yawn*

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: Bumrush99
If anyone can knock down the dominance of office it's google.

This is big news, Google has been hiring tons of software developers, many that were former Microsoft employees. This is great news, I mean is office professional really worth $500???

In some ways, its worth the price.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: Bumrush99
If anyone can knock down the dominance of office it's google.

This is big news, Google has been hiring tons of software developers, many that were former Microsoft employees. This is great news, I mean is office professional really worth $500???

In some ways, its worth the price.

It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If there's a free alternative that's easy to use and accessible to Joe Public, then the perceived value of Office will go down.

But running it from a toolbar? wtf?

 

[mdchesne]

just like Lewis Black saws about christmas: "You guys created a beast that cannot be FED!"

 

[AdamSnow]

I see great things coming from this...

A lot of you will look at it as "Oh yay, a free office suite that's online" but you need to look at what it means from a technology perspective as well as everything else it means for products of the future.

I also see the chance of some bad come this as Google is so large now that they will be releasing everything for free... How will competitors ever stand a chance?

 

[ATLien247]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
I also see the chance of some bad come this as Google is so large now that they will be releasing everything for free... How will competitors ever stand a chance?

By adding more value, obviously. Enough that people are willing to pay for it.