Microsoft may release free version of Office 14

[Resler]

Read on MaxPC today that Microsoft that they would release a free/ad supported version of Office 14. Office 14 is also now supposed to be non-linked to Vista/7 meaning you should be able to install it in XP.


I have mixed feelings on this. Being able to use Office without facing Microsoft's prices sounds good but what exactly does "ad supported" mean? Will it display an ad when you open an Office program or nag you to buy a better version or what? And what features will they cut out of a free version to make people want to buy Office?


http://www.maximumpc.com/article/ne..._version_office_14_will_still_work_windows_xp

 

[Methical]

Meh... Office is too bloated these days as it is. Mind you it is a great word processor I must admit.

But for me, its OpenOffice

 

[Resler]

I like OpenOffice myself but Im sick of my family bitching about how "its not the same" or "it doesnt work right" and I keep saying that I don't see how its worth buying MSOffice when I can use OpenOffice for free.

 

[ProTech Support]

I just setup a terminal server for a client. We originally planned to use Microsoft Office, but after presenting the licensing fee's they quickly changed there minds. At that point I decided to pitch OpenOffice and they absolutley love it. Most of the employees have been using MS Office for years now and have not complained once about OpenOffice.

Yea it may take a couple of minutes to get used to, but for free, how can you complain?

 

[camp.cool007]

Knowing microsoft, I wouldn't trust them. Just buy office 2007

 

[purple_minion]

I like OpenOffice myself but Im sick of my family bitching about how "its not the same" or "it doesnt work right" and I keep saying that I don't see how its worth buying MSOffice when I can use OpenOffice for free.

That's when you tell them that's fine, they can buy office, but you are not supporting it. You will however support openoffice. Then if they have issues they want you to fix you can say no dice, you don't support monopolies etc. Perhaps once they realize they lost tech support they'll try it out for longer then 3 seconds and learn a bit about it and then "Hey, it's not so bad!"

 

[14049752]

I refuse to use any Office product beyond 2003, as long as they use that horrible ribbon interface. Free or not, it's not worth spending time looking for things like "Undo" and every other simple function beyond changing the font.

I keep Office 2003 installed on my laptop for Access, but otherwise it's all OpenOffice from this point forward.

 

[Leztek]

I like OpenOffice myself but Im sick of my family bitching about how "its not the same" or "it doesnt work right" and I keep saying that I don't see how its worth buying MSOffice when I can use OpenOffice for free.

I love this comment... I use OpenOffice for 200 plus PC's at my full time job. None of the users use it more than a word processor or basic spreadsheet functions, but they continue to say it's not the same as MSOffice...

lol...

Just my 2 cents for today...

 

[purple_minion]

I love this comment... I use OpenOffice for 200 plus PC's at my full time job. None of the users use it more than a word processor or basic spreadsheet functions, but they continue to say it's not the same as MSOffice...

lol...

Just my 2 cents for today...

Well you are right, it's not the same. It's frickin' free and good enough. How much would it cost just for the licensing of 200 users!!! I don't like a lot of the crap at my job but that's too bad cause it's a job and you use what they provide.

(Not directed at your obviously)