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I don't know if it will really happen, and if it does happen whether it would be good or bad for Linux, but it appears that Microsoft may be considering releasing Linux versions of their office software:
[Phoronix] Microsoft Looking At Office For Linux In 2014
It's very doubtful that I'd ever install it, but how about the rest of you... would you replace your current Linux office software with that created and sold by Microsoft?
No need to. If it was really good, met my needs better than Libreoffice and open source then I'd consider it.
If they do go through with it, I'm guessing the chances of them releasing it as open source are slim to none, but I'd be more likely to consider checking it out if they would.
Why would anyone want to do that? Quite apart from anything else, you'd have to pay for it and LO comes free.
Don't know, but it would seem to me that if the following criteria were met, some might consider it:
- released as open source software
- higher quality than current Linux office software
- free or sold at a very low price
On the other hand, even though it's doubtful that any of the above would happen, I have a feeling that some might give it a go, and maybe even stick with it for reasons that only they could explain.
It will be interesting to see how it all develops.
I doubt I will try or use it ... at zero cost I prefer to use an open source product, and would use libreoffice in preference. I don't trust M$ and don't have the time to review the source code even if it was made available.
Not only NO, but H**L NO
Well
No Microsoft, open source software really is cheaper, insists Munich | ZDNet
I guess the proof is in the pudding as we say down south here.
I believe them because you can tell just by looking at the picture of that city that they are very well organized, and they know exactly what they are doing! :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by rokytnji
I may be in the minority, but I would most definitely use it.
See, I go to college, and 90% of my classes release documents in .doc or .docx format. MS word opens these perfectly, while other programs do not. Same goes with spreadsheets and power points.
The FOSS programs may be a viable alternative, if everything was created by them. Like it or not, most do not open MS office documents with very much grace, and formatting is almost always off.
So until my college changes over to Libre Office (which isn't happening because they have a license to use and give out free MS software), I see this as a welcome addition. FOSS is nice, but I don't mind a few closed source programs if they are better than their FOSS counterpart.
Of course, this is only perspective. Your situation may be different.