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Microsoft just gave Google a swift kick in the balls

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Written on:June 8, 2010
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In typical fashion it seems, one of Microsoft’s best announcements in some time – especially when it comes to consumers – got slammed by all the Apple love that was going around yesterday.  However Apple isn’t really going to be affected by what went live yesterday, that honor is strictly Google’s.

What am I talking about?

Well that would be Office Live folks.

With one simple announcement that for the most part went unnoticed Microsoft has totally shifted the bar when it comes to online collaborative document writing and sharing. Not only that but three other main ingredients of their Office suite; which included one of my favorite Office applications, joined the party.

If you haven’t seen it yet you are missing out on a game changer and if you are an Office user you need to get your butt over to the Office Live and start experimenting.

Sure it’s an online wordprocessor, or spreadsheet program, or Powerpoint, or one of the best notebook that allows you to share your work with a single person or a whole group but that is only the surface. Where this really sets Microsoft apart is the integration of your online work with your desktop version of Office.

Each of the components of Office Live matches up with its desktop counterpart which means you can work on your documents, presentation slides, spreadsheets and your OneNote journal / notebook entries either online or offline and then sync them up. It is this abilities that sets Office Live totally apart from any of its online competitor, especially Google.

Talk about giving me a reason to pick up Office Home and Student 2010 when it goes on sale on June 15. For the price of $149 not only do I get the desktop version of Office that I can install on three computers I can now tie them all together with Office Live.

So Google, would you like that ice pack now or later?

Related posts:

  1. Microsoft Office Live Collaboration In The Google Cloud. No Need To Upgrade
  2. Microsoft please move OneNote to Live services
  3. Is Microsoft really in Google’s crosshairs?
  4. One of the things I would really like to see Microsoft do
  5. Windows Live Writer a dead man walking? Please say it ain’t so Microsoft.
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Joe

I guess I'm missing how Microsoft is kicking Google in the balls, when for a non student the price is drastically higher than $149, versus $0 for using Google Docs.

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Steven Hodson

First it is Home and Student which falls right in the prime area of the consumer market and f or the most part would cover small home businesses. Now take that $149 and spread it across three computers which you are allowed to do with this version and your price is $49 (plus change) for which you get the work horses of the Office suite and availability of support for the products. You ever tried to get support for any of the Google Docs / Google Apps products?

Now tie this is with a best of breed webbified version of these applications that are closely tied in together. So it doesn't matter whether you are offline or online you will be able to work with your documents no matter where you are and then be able to easily sync them up at a later point.

Add in total granularity when it comes to who can share those document with whether if be one person or a group and chat with those working on the documents.

As a complete package this makes Office and Office Live a real winner.

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John Case

Last I checked, Microsoft didn't include support for any products when you buy them. There's a special phone number that will take your credit card. Still don't think it beats Google.

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Joe

I guess I'm missing how Microsoft is kicking Google in the balls, when for a non student the price is drastically higher than $149, versus $0 for using Google Docs.

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Steven Hodson

First it is Home and Student which falls right in the prime area of the consumer market and f or the most part would cover small home businesses. Now take that $149 and spread it across three computers which you are allowed to do with this version and your price is $49 (plus change) for which you get the work horses of the Office suite and availability of support for the products. You ever tried to get support for any of the Google Docs / Google Apps products?

Now tie this is with a best of breed webbified version of these applications that are closely tied in together. So it doesn't matter whether you are offline or online you will be able to work with your documents no matter where you are and then be able to easily sync them up at a later point.

Add in total granularity when it comes to who can share those document with whether if be one person or a group and chat with those working on the documents.

As a complete package this makes Office and Office Live a real winner.

share
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  • disagree
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John Case

Last I checked, Microsoft didn't include support for any products when you buy them. There's a special phone number that will take your credit card. Still don't think it beats Google.

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