Microsoft Office is a cash cow. It is amazing how much people fear alternatives to a program that is mature, almost mundane, and so familiar. The idea of abandoning MS Office for OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Google Docs or any another solution is virtually unthinkable to the masses.
I understand that there are many that have tried and tested methods of doing things, particularly with data and Excel. Yes, re-engineering some data exchanges and analysis would be a troublesome task. So, I agree that alternatives are not applicable to all.
Yet, for many, dropping MS Office is a possibility... and one that I think everyone should consider.
Today I read about the new Google Chrome extension that allows Office docs to be viewed in a browser. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57581475-93/new-chrome-extension-can-open-office-docs/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
What does this mean? Well, what it signifies to me is that Google has a commitment to Office alternatives, i.e. Microsoft will eventually lose Office market share in a big way. I also take it to mean that Google Docs/Drive has MS Office in its cross-hairs.
In the future, the ubiquitous "Office" software will no longer be an installed application and $200 license fee paid to M$. Cloud "Office" will dominate. Yes, Microsoft's reduced price Home & Student Office allowing multiple installs was a welcome gesture. But, Microsoft should be even more proactive and lower their price in order to keep their business customers happy. Though, I doubt that will happen.
The downside for Microsoft when people jump ship is that those same people will realize that they don't really need Microsoft at all.
....just as unthinkable as not needing Office.
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