The main problem for Microsoft is that every new product takes many years to deploy. Right now, Office 97 is the most widely deployed Office suite, and Office 2000 is probably getting closer. But Office XP is still nonexistent in terms of deployment. License sales might be something else.
This means that Linux runs the most widely used Office suite from Microsoft around, and will do so for at least 2-4 years. By then, Office XP might also run on Linux, extending this period with a couple of years.
If Microsoft wants to change this, they would have to lower the price for new Office versions a lot (a lot more than 50%). And they won't do that.
Remember, that StarOffice 5.2 competes with Office 97, OpenOffice.org 1.0 competes with Office 2000 and Red Hat Linux 7.2 competes with Windows 2000 and Windows 98. There is no computer that I use, that doesn't run the latest Linux version. Including a Pentium Pro 200MHz that I use at one of my customers - it's too easy and free to upgrade. And there is not a single computer anywhere in my professional life that uses Windows XP. There are lots of Windows 98/NT4/2000 and a few Windows Mes around, but no XP. Our nuclear powerplant doesn't use it, Nestlé doesn't use it, danish postal organization doesn't use it, the internet providers I support don't use it, our local governments don't use it etc. I simply don't see it anywhere.
Dybdahl. |
