Microsoft 2010...free???

[ncxcstud]

http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/07/13/microsoft-office-to-go-online-for-free/

Get this: Microsoft – the king of paid software – will announce today that it is going to give a version of Office away for free online. Both the online and desktop versions are scheduled to arrive in the first half of next year. Yes, you read that right. The latest version of its ubiquitous productivity software, dubbed Office 2010, will come as both a piece of software you can buy for your computer, and as a service you can access in your browser. [UPDATE: Microsoft says it will support the Firefox and Safari browsers as well as IE.]

For free. From Microsoft.

[Grentz]

Not surprising at all.

First, MS is really not as bad as many software companies as far as their pricing. Anyone that has seen software packages from companies such as Sage, Oracle, and even Cisco know what I mean :eek: Yes, they have expensive corporate software too, but it is not HORRIBLY priced.

Second, and the biggie, they are competing with services like Google Docs, Zoho, etc. that are good, but could really improve as far as more advanced editing.

They have also already shown interest in this with services like office live which is a free collaboration service.

[SayWhat?]

Given the present state of web (in)security I don 't see this as the time to be putting too much faith into such applications.

[Stuart Sweet]

The way I read it, the free version will be available to those who have paid for one license. The benefit will be using it anywhere.

[Lee L]

The way I read it, the free version will be available to those who have paid for one license. The benefit will be using it anywhere.

That would make more sense. I certainly would be surprised if they literally started giving it away. This would also get people used to using Office over the web and maybe the next version will offer a subscription/web only model in addition to a retail like this time.

[LarryFlowers]

Also the web versions are not "fully functional" or in other words they won't do everything that the desktop versions will do.

That would make more sense. I certainly would be surprised if they literally started giving it away. This would also get people used to using Office over the web and maybe the next version will offer a subscription/web only model in addition to a retail like this time.

[Hansen]

I see the web version as more of a marketing driven product to compete with Google rather than a substantive, functional driven product.

[Marlin Guy]

The trailer looks interesting :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUawhjxLS2I

[Marlin Guy]

Also the web versions are not "fully functional"


Well, it is Microsoft, so that's pretty much expected.

[LOCODUDE]

So true.....

[MIAMI1683]

I have been using Offie Live for a little bit. Just as test to see. So far everything i upload from home. i can pull down at work and print. Without any issues. I think it will be a nice service. Especially nice if you upload a files as a "just in case" and then forget to grab your disc or thumb drive on the way in. It still available without going all the way back home! good job Microsft!

[ncxcstud]

this last semester, I used office live exclusively for all my papers at seminary... a GREAT feature and I love that it is streamlined into Office 2007 and will continue to be included in future versions. Sure, Google has GoogleDOCs, but I think the setup of it isn't nearly as good as Office Live.

I don't use flash drives anymore (or e-mail my papers to myself) for my papers...I upload it...go to school and print it off... I save every document to Office Live now (in addition to saving it on my PC).