Why is the World Stuck on MS Office?

[halfpower]

MS Word cost some $200 at Amazon. Don't freeware programs, such as OpenOffice, work equally well for 99% of all users? It's not like it has some big learning curve the way Linux does.

 

[Forsythe]

Not a clue tbh. Maybe it's the reputation MS Office.
In all honesty i find MS Office crap. There are so many annoying things about it. Things shouldn't be developed to noobs.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Forsythe
Things shouldn't be developed to noobs.

Fact is, 99% of computer users are either 'noobs' or don't want to have to learn a new problem. Granted, Word is fairly easy to use but spreadsheet programs, database programs, and presentation programs take a bit of effort to learn.

Edit - At the moment, I have Office 2003 and OpenOffice 2 installed on this machine. Only reason I have MS Office is that I bought it for a mere 20 bucks, legally, through my employer. Otherwise, it'd just be OpenOffice.

 

[drag]

They use Microsoft Office because that's what everybody uses.

That's about it... Realy.

Think about things like file compatability, macros, and training material.

When I went to community college all the 'beginner computer' classes that I was forced to take didn't teach people how to use computers... they taught people how to use Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows.

Just think about that... People are paying other people to teach them how to use computers and they are taught to use Office. This is standard, this is everywere. Most people use Office at work, so if they want to work at home they buy the 'student' edition from wallmart.

Most people have been using MS Office for years. Most people have never heard of things like Koffice, Abiword, OpenOffice.org or any other things like that.

Like I said up top.. most people use MS Office because most people use MS Office. Follow the herd.

 

[bersl2]

Originally posted by: drag
They use Microsoft Office because that's what everybody uses.

That's about it... Realy.

Think about things like file compatability, macros, and training material.

When I went to community college all the 'beginner computer' classes that I was forced to take didn't teach people how to use computers... they taught people how to use Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows.

Just think about that... People are paying other people to teach them how to use computers and they are taught to use Office. This is standard, this is everywere. Most people use Office at work, so if they want to work at home they buy the 'student' edition from wallmart.

Most people have been using MS Office for years. Most people have never heard of things like Koffice, Abiword, OpenOffice.org or any other things like that.

Like I said up top.. most people use MS Office because most people use MS Office. Follow the herd.

The sad truth.

Abstraction is not something that is valued much in The Real World.

 

[biostud]

Becaus lots of other programs are developed around MS Word. A single user could just as well use any other wordprocessing program, but you'll run into word all other places, so it could seem a bit "stupid" to use time and ressources to learn several wordprocessing programs.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Just like with Windows, Microsoft was in the right place during the right time and capitalized to the max.

Let's keep in mind that you don't really need to use the actual suite, you do need to make your files Office-compatible, that's all. It doesn't seem to be a big deal. Openoffice can open and save into popular Office formats like *.doc right? Apple's Appleworks and iWork do the same.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

I think it's that thing called. OH YEA... MONOPOLY. Kind of like that one other program everyone and their mother's have been using (literally)... called... WINDOWS.

T.T

I use MS products because it's free to students at my University. Why bother with OO, which I've used extensively and found it only satisfactory for free, when Office is free too?
That, combined with myself having started out in MS Office, it only makes sense to continue with it. Why bother with something different, especially when OO doesn't really improve on anything much, and the rest of the world is stuck in MS's grasp.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Forsythe
Things shouldn't be developed to noobs.

I guess you think there is greater profit in the non-noob market?

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: bersl2

Originally posted by: drag
They use WordPerfect because that's what everybody uses.

That's about it... Realy.

Think about things like file compatability, macros, and training material.

When I went to community college all the 'beginner computer' classes that I was forced to take didn't teach people how to use computers... they taught people how to use WordPerfect and DOS.

Just think about that... People are paying other people to teach them how to use computers and they are taught to use WordPerfect. This is standard, this is everywere. Most people use WordPerfect at work, so if they want to work at home they buy the 'student' edition from wallmart.

Most people have been using WordPerfect for years. Most people have never heard of things like MS Word, WordStar or any other things like that.

Like I said up top.. most people use WordPerfect because most people use WordPerfect. Follow the herd.

The sad truth.

Abstraction is not something that is valued much in The Real World.

Maybe I'm just too old, but I remember when WordPerfect dominated word processing. When my mom took an intro computer class back when I was in high school, she learned DOS and WP.

For most people, what is considered "using the computer"? Word processing, email, internet, and maybe solitaire . What is the majority using for those programs? Word, Outlook, and IE.

Sure, you can teach your family OO and they'll use it everyday. However, if they need help and ask their friends, the friends will say "I don't know how to do that in OO, but I do know how to do it in Office." They'll then think that it's easier to use Office.

I don't think it's a "sad truth." It just a result of people using the computer as a tool and not trying to become "l33t".

 

[CTho9305]

Because it's too hard to add a trendline in OpenOffice, and impossible (AFAIK) to make it print the equation and R^2 value on the chart. MS Office also starts a LOT faster.

 

[foghorn67]

Sharepoint.

 

[WillyF1uhm1]

Probably because that's what most people use at work/office.
And that's probably because management think it's the best thing around....

manager: "So... how much will those Open Office licenses cost us?"
l33t-worker: "Nothing.... it's for free."
manager: "Then it can't be that good..."

Something like that has really happened! (Not literally quoted, but you get the idea.)

 

[mechBgon]

1) MS Office is supported for about ten years per version.

2) You can deploy 10,000 installations of MS Office without moving from your chair, using an Administrative Installation Point and Active Directory. Stop thinking like SOHO-type users, and start thinking about how much money that capability saves a business over a ten-year timespan. Eh?

3) Corrolary to #2, you can patch 10,000 installations of MS Office without moving from your chair. Or any number. Either patch the AIP and redeploy, or let WSUS handle it. With OpenOffice... I dunno, maybe there's a creative way to do it that I'm not aware of? Anyone?


I could think of more, such as compatibility with Exchange, but there's a start.

 

[imported_obsidian]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
1) MS Office is supported for about ten years per version.

2) You can deploy 10,000 installations of MS Office without moving from your chair, using an Administrative Installation Point and Active Directory. Stop thinking like SOHO-type users, and start thinking about how much money that capability saves a business over a ten-year timespan. Eh?

3) Corrolary to #2, you can patch 10,000 installations of MS Office without moving from your chair. Or any number. Either patch the AIP and redeploy, or let WSUS handle it. With OpenOffice... I dunno, maybe there's a creative way to do it that I'm not aware of? Anyone?


I could think of more, such as compatibility with Exchange, but there's a start.

I do not believe that this was the target group the OP was talking about. I'd say well over 90% of users have no clue what even a macro is.

 

[mechBgon]

I do not believe that this was the target group the OP was talking about.

I suppose not. But I saw some pretty shallow answers above, OMG Micro$oft is teh debbil, they abues teh powars... oh yeah, and they have a manageability solution that knocks the socks off the wannabe product, plus 10 years of support and an upgrade option at the end of it. Give credit where it's due, guys.

As for Word being $200, well... if you can settle for the next-older version, there's Works Suite 2006, Retail for $78, and that includes:

• Word 2002, full version
• Microsoft Works 8 (spreadsheet, database, calendaring, stuff)
• Money Standard 2006
• Encarta Standard 2006
• Digital Image Standard 2006
• Streets & Trips Essentials 2006

There's OEM for cheaper, I've seen it down below $50, but it would be a one-shot deal bound to one single computer forevar, so it might not be the best option for us upgrade fiends

 

[EpsiIon]

If any of you guys have ever tried to chart thousands of points with OpenOffice's spreadsheet program, you know exactly why many of us still have Office installed. Im-freaking-possible.

 

[BeauJangles]

I think it's mostly because Office works. It's actually a pretty good set of tools and I, like 99% of the rest of the world, find no reason to switch. It does everything I need, I'm used to the interface, and, quite frankly, I actually like its interface more than OpenOffice.

 

[Zebo]

I use MS products because it's free to students at my University. Why bother with OO,

Because you're perpetuating that monopoly. I don't care if you steal it, get it for free, pay $20, or full retail price you are enriching microsoft by using it either directly or indirectly such as shraring a word file to another office paying customer and free advertisment.

I use OO even though work has an unlimted-can run any microsoft products made- for $90 a computer a year software agreement. Not as bloated or kiddfied which I like. Some people at work complain they can't read it so I send them a link to OO.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

I do not believe that this was the target group the OP was talking about.

I suppose not. But I saw some pretty shallow answers above, OMG Micro$oft is teh debbil, they abues teh powars... oh yeah, and they have a manageability solution that knocks the socks off the wannabe product, plus 10 years of support and an upgrade option at the end of it. Give credit where it's due, guys.

"Word."



- M4H

 

[Schadenfroh]

1. I got Office 2003 Pro for $20ish thru the school.
2. It is what all the schools use (at least in my area) and teach.
3. It is what most of the businesses use in my area.
4. Microsoft Office is better than open office, maybe not $500 better, but it is better.

 

[Smilin]

Open Office works, sure. So does wordpad so why bother to download?

Office pwns both of them, especially Outlook 2003 when integrated with exchange and Communicator. You may or may not use all functionality in Excel but I bet your accountant does. People pay for it because it is the best. Sure second best is nice and it's cheap but Office is the best by far.

 

[foghorn67]

OpenOffice and others lack what MS has with office. Collaboration.
People wouldn't put Office down if they actually had to provide an IT solution for more then two users.

 

[Alienwho]

Novell's standard is openoffice, not MS Office. Give it time, it will expand.

 

[theMan]

i would get open office, except i "borrowed" my install cd for office 2003 from work and it somehow got onto my computer at home...