[plug] Need Help convincing Dad he doesn't need M$ Office 03

[Ben Jensz]

MS Office 2003 is seriously flawed.  I mean Microsoft are spouting all 
these new features, but reading between the lines, a few of them are now 
being controlled server-side (i.e. you need to now definitely have a 
Windows server in your network to get the full features).  Its the same 
thing they did with Outlook XP versus Outlook 2002, they made the 
calendar and task sharing functionality in XP only function with a 
Windows server running Exchange, when previously in 2000 you could share 
calendars and tasks in a peer-to-peer style that sent updates via email. 

MS Office 2003 is another update that is trying to ensure vendor lock-in 
even more.  I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft's next tactic would be 
to try and bundle all PCs at the OEM level with Windows *and* MS Office 
as a mandatory feature.

Its a constant and expensive upgrade cycle that Microsoft is trying to 
force people into and its not a good thing.


/ Ben


Tim White wrote:

> In a fairly windows dominated network I am striving to have my voice 
> heard. I am using OOo (1.1.0 and 1.1.1) on my computer currently and 
> 1.1.0 on one other computer. The 1.1.0 has had a few problems with 
> integrating with other users on the network, i.e. sharing files that 
> can be read in word and reading file from word. I am trying to 
> convince my Dad that he doesn't need to buy M$ as OOo will do the job. 
> Must of the users are students so he wants to buy a students version 
> of Office 03. Price isn't going to tie him over. If I can convince him 
> to stay with OOo then a transition to Linux will be easier.
> What I am look for from this list are 2 things:
> 1) Arguments to convince him to stay (Probably with an upgrade to 1.1.1)
> 2) Some tips on how to easily update 1.1.0 to 1.1.1 on both Win and Linux
> Thanks
> Tim
> p.s. If you have tips on convincing him that Office 03 is really bad 
> then that would be cool as well (i.e. how seriously flawed it is)
>