Re: [TCLUG:4711] Rumors of MS Office port to linux (why kid around???)

[Nate Carlson <natecars@infiniteloop.com>]

I really don't think most "real" linux users would buy ms office. I for
one prefer staroffice, and would keep using it. I doubt the GPL efforts
would be squashed either; everyone would be quite happy to have a good,
free office suite. 

----
Nate Carlson
the infinite loop
natecars@infiniteloop.com

On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Vince Platt wrote:

> No matter what you may think of Microsoft, I give them credit for thinking
> ahead.  An Office for Linux release would give them relief on the
> anti-competitive OS front and ensure a continued monopoly of Office (yes,
> paradox does abound).  Now, if they just did the same thing for VB, I'd be
> in hog heaven for my employment purposes.
> 
> Of course, the whole effort would summarily bulldoze quite a lot of GPL-like
> sentiment before it got a chance to build to critical mass, but from their
> point of view that would be a good thing.
> 
> >From the pro-Linux point of view, this rumor is a *VERY* bad thing and a
> *VERY* good thing.  Bad because it would ensure the indefinite continuation
> of Microsoft into the next generation of OS'es.  Good because Linux would
> take off like a greased pig now that everyone could continue to use their
> beloved Office on Linux (which is about all that holds back a good number of
> people).
> 
> BTW - Anyone thinking that Microsoft couldn't successfully pull off an
> Office port would do well to remember that they did port IE to several
> platforms.  Granted, it didn't become best of breed on those platforms, but
> just getting there was the goal, they reserved the effort for best of breed
> for the Windows version.  (Whether they succeeded or not is not something
> I'll broach.)  They've proven they have the wherewithal to do this.
> 
> Ultimately, I don't know what to think about it.  Should they announce
> anything though, I'll be watching the battle with a big grin and a sweaty
> fistful of each side's stock (providing VA Research and/or Red Hat cooperate
> with that plan).  :+)
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Tanner <tanner@real-time.com>
> To: tclug-list@listserv.real-time.com <tclug-list@listserv.real-time.com>
> Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 12:11 AM
> Subject: Re: [TCLUG:4711] Rumors of MS Office port to linux (you got to be
> kidding)
> 
> 
> >Quoting Serge M. Egelman (serge@egel2.med.umn.edu):
> >> Well this would make sense since Microsoft's main competition in terms of
> >> Office Suites is Corel (which has already ported to linux).  However, I
> >> would think this is rather sutpid of them with the whole anti-trust trial
> >> going on right now.  Also, most people who use linux aren't particularly
> >> thrilled with MS products to begin with (well I'm not anyway).
> >
> >I am not fond of MS products myself, but from a business perspective,
> >I'd be able to put a whole lot more of Linux out there if Office ran
> >on it.
> >--
> >Bob Tanner <tanner@real-time.com>       | Phone : (612)943-8700
> >http://www.real-time.com                | Fax   : (612)943-8500
> >Key fingerprint =  6C E9 51 4F D5 3E 4C 66 62 A9 10 E5 35 85 39 D9
> >
> >
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