With my recent new computer, the free period on Microsoft Office was expiring, and I thought about buying the license for it. Except, I already had Open Office. I was using Open Office more. Open Office is a better, more intuitive program.
I can't quite understand how Microsoft can maintain such a near-monopoly when much less expensive programs (AbiWord, OpenOffice, etc) are so much, much better without the high price tag.
The company asks for hundreds of dollars for software that isn't as good as the free stuff. And, the expensive software is ubiquitous, while the fee stuff is obscure.
What the heck is that about?
Corporate support. Big companies see freeware as riskier, regardless of how established they've become. The bulk of the revenue for Office comes from ten thousand dollar contracts with big companies, rather than the independent consumer here and there that buys it.
ReplyDeletePlus office got it's foot in the door early, and people creatures of habit. Le sigh.