Bonum Certa Men Certa

Why Microsoft Office is in Trouble; Debunking Microsoft Goodwill

Office Reveals Pains, Exposes Its Achilles Heel



Steven JVN, whose opinions may be biased yet very insightful, has just unleashed a couple of curious blogs items. In his personal blog he wrote to say that Microsoft can’t support OOXML:

If Microsoft can’t give users a compelling reason to switch from their old version of Office to Office 14 their cash-flow is going to slow down considerably.


Over at Computer World he argues that Microsoft Office may be in trouble, citing (or at least repeating) some of the observations made earlier in his blog.

And, now Microsoft isn't hurrying to support its own format, but it is moving to support PDF and ODF... Could it be that all those copies of Office 2007 Microsoft boasts of selling are collecting dust at reseller and retailer warehouses instead of being used on office systems? Could users be sticking with their older copies of Office and when they do want to move to something newer, they're moving to OpenOffice and Google instead?

Interesting isn't it?


It is worth reminding readers that sales of Microsoft Office declined in the last quarter. This is unusual and Robert Cringely had some interesting interpretation of this last week.

What Authorities Say



Microsoft loves to label us all "zealots" and wishful thinkers if we dare to question its market strength and/or criticise its technical output, such as OOXML. Consequently, one of the more effective ways to counter The Beast is to cite not pundits or individual companies with vested interests but impartial sources instead. The mainstream media isn't such a source because it's corporations-funded and corporations-influenced; even the BBC is no exception.

State studies, on the other hand, which are funded by states themselves (taxpayers, i.e. consumers/citizens, not corporations or corporation-backed universities) are of relevance here. Slashdot has just brought to readers' attention this Minnesota State study about document formats, which could accompany the recent New York State study [1, 2]. It supports the idea that one single format is preferable, yet it's not being specific as to which one.

The response of the European Commission, which has been studying this case of electronic document formats for a very long time, is worth special attention also. We bring to you a group of new articles about this:

1. Microsoft's ODF Policy Gets Skeptical Reception From EU

Little sooner had Microsoft announced upcoming Office support for the Open Document Format than the European Commission countered that it will investigate to make sure such a measure actually ensures greater consumer choice. Microsoft's Office 2007 will support ODF once the suite's Service Pack 2 comes along. It's expected in the first half of 2009.


2. Microsoft's embrace of ODF cautiously welcomed

A looming concern is if Microsoft's implementation of ODF within Office will handle documents with the same or better performance as competing suites. Microsoft has been criticized for embracing a particular standard but using subtle means within its software to subvert it.


3. All eyes on how Microsoft pulls off ODF support

European Commission, weary of dealing with Microsoft, will put the software giant under the microscope


4. EU to investigate Microsoft file format support.

Microsoft's move, also announced Wednesday, is seen as a concession to regulators concerned about competition and to customers, mainly governments, worried about product lock-in.


5. Critics Blast Microsoft Despite ODF Support Pledge

Microsoft said it's going to build native ODF support into Office 2007. But is that enough to satisfy the rival camp after a lengthy debate over OOXML?


That last one comes from an author who is typically biased in favour of Microsoft, so do not be deterred by the wording.

Other Reactions



Glyn Moody's fast reaction over at Computer World UK is worth a quick mention because he uses the analogy which many people have been using and puts it right there in the headline:

Should We Fear the (Redmond) Geeks Bearing Gifts?

As well as this unexpected backing, proponents of ODF should also find their hand strengthened once OpenOffice.org 3.0 appears. By all accounts it's a good step up from version 2.0, and that was markedly better than 1.0. All-in-all, then, things are looking up for open source office suites in enterprises: now might be a good time to go on the offensive.


One article that we mentioned earlier ("South Africans don’t understand OSS - Microsoft") cannot escape without further comment, such as this response which comes along with the headline: "Chickens don't understand coop--Fox."

It replaces some of Microsoft's own words, without exactly paraphrasing Microsoft. It's mildly amusing.

Despite having a chicken-coop strategy, chickens don't really understand how to benefit from coops. This is according to Fox director of corporate standards, Wile E. Reynard.

"'Chickens have taken a most unfortunate position of late--they have sought to put a political mandate in place for the adoption of coops with locks,' Reynard writes..."


That's just pretty much the situation and the way Microsoft responds to it in South Africa. The difference is: Microsoft does not tell the audience that Microsoft Office is vendor lock-in.

"Open!"

"XML!"

"Open XML!"

"Choice!"

What choice? Choice between office suites? Pay attention to the Malaysia story where Microsoft deliberately confuses or interweaves office suites and formats. It just loves that spin!

ooxml_demo_4.jpg



Previous posts about Microsoft's ODF policy announcement:

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

The Myth of an Aging (or Dying) GNU/Linux Leadership
Self-fulfilling prophecies as a tactic?
There's Nothing "Funny" About Attacking Free Speech and Software Freedom
persistent focus on the principal issues is very important
 
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news
Shooting the Messenger Using Bribes and Secrecy Bonds
We seem to live in a world where accountability for the rich and well-connected barely exists anymore
Links 06/12/2023: Many More December Layoffs
Links for the day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, December 05, 2023
IRC logs for Tuesday, December 05, 2023
PipeWire 1.0: Linux audio comes of age
Once upon a time, serious audio users like musicians and audio engineers had real trouble with Linux
This is How 'Linux' Foundation Presents Linux to the World
Right now it even picks Windows over Linux in some cases
Links 05/12/2023: Microsoft's Chatbot as Health Hazard
Links for the day
Professor Eben Moglen Explained How Software Patent Threats Had Changed Around 2014 (Alice Case) and What Would Happen Till 2025
clip aged reasonably well
GNU/Linux Adoption in Africa, a Passageway Towards Freedom From Neo-Colonialism
Digi(tal)-Colonialism and/or Techolonialism are a thing. Can Africa flee the trap?
CNN Contributes to Demolition of the Open Web
Reprinted with permission from Ryan Farmer
Eben Moglen on Encryption and Anonymity
The alternate net we need, and how we can build it ourselves
Yet More Microsofters Inside the Board of Mozilla (Which Has Just Outsourced Firefox Development to Microsoft's Proprietary Prison)
Do you want a browser controlled (and spied on) by such a company?
IRC Proceedings: Monday, December 04, 2023
IRC logs for Monday, December 04, 2023
GNU/Linux Now Exceeds 3.6% Market Share on Desktops/Laptops, According to statCounter
things have changed for Windows in China
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news
Links 05/12/2023: Debt Brake in Germany and Layoffs at Condé Nast (Reddit, Wired, Ars Technica and More)
Links for the day
[Meme] Social Control Media Giants Shaping Debates on BSDs and GNU/Linux
listening to random people in Social Control Media
Reddit (Condé Nast), Which Has Another Round of Layoffs This Month, Incited People Against GNU/Linux Users (Divide and Rule, It's 2003 All Over Again!)
Does somebody (perhaps a third party) fan the flames?
Who Will Hold the Open Source Initiative (OSI) Accountable for Taking Bribes From Microsoft and Selling Out to Enable/Endorse Massive Copyright Infringement?
it does Microsoft advocacy
Using Gemini to Moan About Linux and Spread .NET
Toxic, acidic post in Gemini
Web Monopolist, Google, 'Pulls a Microsoft' by Hijacking/Overriding the Name of Competitor and Alternative to the Web
Gulag 'hijacking' 'Gemini'
Links 04/12/2023: Mass Layoffs at Spotify (Debt, Losses, Bubble) Once Again
Links for the day
ChatGPT Hype/Vapourware (and 'Bing') Has Failed, Google Maintains Dominance in Search
a growing mountain of debt and crises
[Meme] Every Real Paralegal Knows This
how copyright law works
Forging IRC Logs and Impersonating Professors: the Lengths to Which Anti-Free Software Militants Would Go
Impersonating people in IRC, too
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, December 03, 2023
IRC logs for Sunday, December 03, 2023
GNU/Linux Popularity Surging, So Why Did MakeUseOf Quit Covering It About 10 Days Ago?
It's particularly sad because some of the best articles about GNU/Linux came from that site, both technical articles and advocacy-centric pieces
Links 04/12/2023: COVID-19 Data Misused Again, Anti-Consumerism Activism
Links for the day