re:
'Word Perfect was easily knocked out by Word well before Microsoft's products were regarded as the solid.'
Yup! I think WP was 'knocked off' by Microsoft, the company ... using superior marketing and sales execution not by superior product. And this happened before Novell sold WP to Corel. The install base, and sheer number of users familiar with the WP product set is still very impressive, it's the revenue that stinks.
It looks like MSFT marketing and sales execution will be seriously hampered for the next few years ... I'm not sure what all the effects will be. But, the 'tricks' that worked for the last 10 years probably won't work starting now ... and MS might be so pre-occupied with fighting the DOJ that they will be 'handicapped' in their competitive effort for quite some time to come.
I agree with your observation that the Office SW is 'done' and 'new' features won't be a compelling reason for new purchases of product. MSFT's current 'trick' seems to be a variation of 'bundling' that probably won't continue much longer. If the competition ever moves back to 'low price, high volume' ... WP Office costs about 25% of MS Office, and the current 'restriction' on WP sales/revenue (not lack of function) is distribution channels that MSFT seems to have been able to lockout Corel from ... Corel's poor execution is probably just as responsible for this as MSFT's deliberate actions.
Current Corel Mgmnt doesn't seem to inspire confidence that they are capable of executing either marketing or sales plans effectively nor able to convince most of the real 'buyers' (I don't think that they even try to find the majority of them) that their products are a good match for requirements. I have met quite a few of the Corel people, and believe them to be capable ... but, not managed properly. They seem too concerned about supporting the 'plan de jour' and looking like 'good Corelians' than actually listening to and responding to current and potential customers. Changing just one person in senior management ... or having that one person 'wise up' could produce amazing results. Corel just 'replaced' most of the 2IC Sales & Marketing folks ... maybe Corel wasn't content with results either ... what do you think will happen if the results still don't improve?
It would be kind of nice to see some 'new' blood in senior management ... it might even improve both the planning and execution results for marketing and sales. Do you think that some of the INPR management would make a difference to the results accomplished? I'm not sure ... but, it probably couldn't get any worse.
re:
'That's nice, except that you can import and export files to Word Perfect so I suspect it's a matter of choice that you have Microsoft Office.'
It's not as easy to exchange files between WP and MS Office suites as either of the Vendors would have you think. It does work 'OK' (usually) for 'final form' when ready to publish but often results in unexpected format changes that cause additional (unwanted late night) editing. I have not been very successful at exchanging files of work in progress, so ... I use MS Office products when working with customers that use MS Office, which is most of them. It's just a lot quicker and easier than sorting out the many little 'glitches' caused by the conversion process. I use WP when producing invoices, proposals, etc. or doing work when I do not have to share source files.
As for shareholder interest ... I own both MS and Corel, not INPR (maybe I will if the merger really does happen).
What do you own? or short? |
