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Who will win the workplace productivity suite war -- Microsoft or Google?
Office isn't giving up on installed applications -- they can't, not with that kind of profit margin -- but with Office 2010 we will see Microsoft's first foray into Web applications. All of the primary applications -- Word, Excel, Access -- will have web-based counterparts, and so far they look good.
But is it too little too late? Will Google's expertise in the arena be enough to keep abreast of the massive amount of capital Microsoft's about to plough into web services? Google offers a great package to businesses -- $50 per person, per year -- but are their nascent web apps enough to satisfy the businesses that utilize the wider gamut of Office's capabilities?
Are the two million businesses already with Google the less-demanding ma-and-pa small-business sector? Though Office revenues have dropped in the last year (no doubt losing some customers to Google) I would expect Microsoft to gain back everyone they've lost -- and then some.
Neither Microsoft or Google are in the business to lose money, after all, and Microsoft surely has an advantage when it comes to office productivity. But will that edge give them enough to beat off Google's superior web savvy? Let's not forget this war will be fought on the mobile phone too: you'll be able to edit your Office documents on your iPhone or BlackBerry!
4.5 million people have tried the Office 2010 beta (it's available for download again, if you haven't given it a go yet!) -- so far, reviews have been very complimentary, but as always it will be the consumers that decide whether Google or Microsoft win this next war. Choose wisely!
Comments
14
Subscribe to commentsdownloadsquadFeb 19th 2010 2:22PM
Google appears to be in a win/ no lose scenario. They either win the productivity suite war, and seriously reduce the profits on a once Microsoft cash cow.
sodapopFeb 19th 2010 3:55PM
I beg to differ. Business needs customer service. Google has none for these apps/ Its all community driven support... Its a huge waste of time to have to sift though forums for answer - especially when 9/10 answers to a question are completely useless or irrelevant.
Additionally, using Google's system your data is stored in the loud, on someone else's server - which you have absolutely no control of and can lose access to simply by not having an internet connection. Plus, Google is a bigger target for hackers than relatively anonymous businesses. Or, Google might simply kill the service leaving users either without their data or without a substitute.
Google docs are a little easier to use than Open Office, but both lack significant features users are accustomed to - like compatibility. That, next to customer service/tech support, is a huge feature.
Microsoft Office has this one won hand-down. The only thing that could change it is if Windows OS loses its dominance. And even then, Office is still available for OSX - and Linux will follow shortly. Office is Microsoft's money maker. They will port it to any OS necessary - and they are already developing an online version of Office.
downloadSquadReaderFeb 19th 2010 4:11PM
First off, apologies on my name in post #1. It should read downloadSquadReader, not downloadSquad. I am affiliated with download squad and don't claim to speak for them.
As for my response... This would be the not lose scenario. Even if they do get the bulk of the users, the per user profit will go down. They can't charge too much more than Google. Hence, MS cash cow is lessoned.
ahbiFeb 19th 2010 2:17PM
Well, until Google offers a version of Docs that can be kept 100% confidential and in the businesses sole and total control lawyers, doctors, accountants, etc. are legally barred from using Google Docs (unless they get an explicit waiver from their clients).
Many other companies, while not legally bound, will feel the same way.
Sinani201Feb 19th 2010 2:40PM
I am very loyal to Google Docs, which I currently use as my main word processing. Microsoft will win, but only because they win the popularity contest. Not many people know about Google Docs.
gojedaFeb 20th 2010 8:15PM
It is popular because it is an excellent product.
When you find something better, get back to us.
Sinani201Feb 20th 2010 8:19PM
It is a great product. But Google Docs is free, and OpenOffice can do most of the things that Word can do, and it has extensions.
ShawnFeb 19th 2010 3:09PM
I think MS is shedding users left and right to alternative products. I also think that Google Docs is getting a bit of that shed. However, I think that the real competition is between OpenOffice.org and MS Office. Google Docs is being used to share documents, in my experience, more than it is being used to create them.
sodapopFeb 19th 2010 3:58PM
MS is not losing Office users according to a recent chart I saw on Slashdot
gojedaFeb 20th 2010 8:12PM
Care to cite a source that supports your view that MS is shedding users left and right to alternative products?
ShawnFeb 20th 2010 8:24PM
The widely publicized adoption of F/OSS by the France. C'mon... the better part of an entire country from the schools to the fire houses to the parliament switch to Linux and OpenOffice.org...
Perhaps the phrase "left and right" was a bit over the top.
However, focusing on that particular phrase and ignoring the gist of the comment - that OpenOffice.org is an alternative to both MS Office and Google Docs - is rather silly.
bjsguessFeb 19th 2010 5:35PM
As a heavy user of Office I can say that Google docs has it's place. For simplistic tasks Google Docs is just fine. Small business that only needs light spreadsheet/doc writing - sure Google might fit the bill.
However, for more advanced functions you simply cannot compare the two. Office is much more powerful and robust. Throw in concerns around deployment, security, and sustainability and Office simply can't be beat.
Also, the cost for Google docs isn't cheap. Assuming an average business keeps their copy of Office for 4-5 years (we just migrated to 2007) you are looking at $200-$250 for that licensing. Not all that different than the volume licensing we pay to MS.
DeoWulfFeb 22nd 2010 3:48PM
Not exactly related, but I'm a bit miffed that Microsoft has chosen to release Office 2010 just a *little* too late for me to grab it for college. Perhaps I can survive the first week or so with Open Office, but it would really behoove them to consider the fall semester start times in their launch.
firefliesMar 8th 2010 8:32AM
Microsoft. Maybe some people consider me as old-fashioned but I use products from Microsoft as long as I use computers/laptops...
Yes Microsoft does not always make the right decisions, yes I also have third-party products (Free-PDF-Converter for my word documents, lookeen to search my mails in Outlook) because Microsoft doesn't improve certain things, but I have a sort of link to this enterprise and of course such a huge enterprise has its problems but they wouldn't have survived for such a long time, if all what they do is bad. Just my opinion.