Is there a point in buying an office productivity suite? For the longest time, free software like the Open Office suite provided more-than-enough functionalities to rival Microsoft Office for the average user. If an office demands only the bare minimum for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations Open Office can do the job.
No stiff license costs, no worries for budget projection for upgrades.
Google has entered the market a couple of years ago with Google Docs. These web-based applications offered the bare minimum for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation but being web-based means one can access his/her documents via the web and a browser. No installations necessary.
Google has launched a new ad campaign dubbed “Going Google” which covers both virtual and real-world advertising (through billboards). Basically, it promotes Google Apps and Docs as replacements for office suites. This does take the fight to Microsoft who will be launching Windows 7 and the 2010 version of Microsoft Office.
Google previously announced that they will be launching Google Chrome OS next year. Like most Google services, that will also be free. With Microsoft sales dropping, maybe it’s time for Microsoft their product philosophy. The bells and whistles found in Microsoft software are much appreciated by some power users but oftentimes, these featres are beyond the average user who are actually better off with the free alternatives.
There is going to be some interesting legislation with Google. They have a great business model for consumers. How can they be a monopoly when everythunt is free