R.I.P. Microsoft Office.

[JMH]

What we know as Microsoft Office is quickly coming to an end. As more and more applications hit the cloud and become universally available, compatible, and always-on, the client side version of Microsoft Office is bound to come to an early end. Although Office will live on for many more years on older computers, diehard fans, and stubborn upgraders, Microsoft Office’s online presence will become increasingly more important and embraced by the software giant.

Source -
R.I.P. Microsoft Office | Windows 7 News

 

[tw33k]

Cloud based software may reduce the level of piracy but, as I posted over at The Eight Forums I'm still unsure how I feel about having all my data available on line.

 

[Brian6121990]

So what happens to Office 2010 Beta?

 

[CarlTR6]

I am not sure businesses will want their data available on line, either.

 

[FuturDreamz]

no doubt they will still keep their offline software for a long time...

until it is possible to make a web act act completely like a native app (task bars, multiple windows act the same), I doubt that clientside processing will ever go away.

 

[Dragonfly]

"Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated"
- Mark Twain

 

[Lee]

I agree with those who doubt the cloud. Sorry, it just isn't going to happen for me. I know they (who ever they are) will tell you the cloud is safe. My answer to that is B.S. The cloud is still a computer system, hence, once it becomes popular enough the bad people will be looking at a way to bring it down, and again, sorry, albeit I have no doubt they will accomplish just that.

 

[MadMaxData]

I agree with those who doubt the cloud. Sorry, it just isn't going to happen for me. I know they (who ever they are) will tell you the cloud is safe. My answer to that is B.S. The cloud is still a computer system, hence, once it becomes popular enough the bad people will be looking at a way to bring it down, and again, sorry, albeit I have no doubt they will accomplish just that.

Ditto.

 

[whs]

Smoke makes clouds. I think this guy is far off base. Reminds me the 80's when Unix was supposed to be taking over the world.

 

[MattRainier]

Sorry, the cloud will never work for me. What if I can't get a connection, for whatever reason? I'm screwed if I don't have the files and applications on my machine. That would never work for me.

 

[CarlTR6]

I agree with those who doubt the cloud. Sorry, it just isn't going to happen for me. I know they (who ever they are) will tell you the cloud is safe. My answer to that is B.S. The cloud is still a computer system, hence, once it becomes popular enough the bad people will be looking at a way to bring it down, and again, sorry, albeit I have no doubt they will accomplish just that.

Well stated, Lee.

 

[seekermeister]

Although I don't have the security needs of most businesses, and some other users, I shall never want to use an online service such as this, but then most of my online activity is limited to downloading files. About the only thing that I ever upload is a post, such as this.

I really can't imagine that many would want to deal with an online service such as this, when their local software packages generally suffice quite nicely. If MS Office is ever buried, it will be by something like Open Office.

 

[Lee]

I really can't imagine that many would want to deal with an online service such as this, when their local software packages generally suffice quite nicely. If MS Office is ever buried, it will be by something like Open Office.

And, to say the least OO.O has a long way to go; even iWorks can't compete with MS Office (though Office for the Mac is a crappy program, trust me on this one).

 

[FuturDreamz]

I really can't imagine that many would want to deal with an online service such as this, when their local software packages generally suffice quite nicely. If MS Office is ever buried, it will be by something like Open Office.

And, to say the least OO.O has a long way to go; even iWorks can't compete with MS Office (though Office for the Mac is a crappy program, trust me on this one).

It is, but the next version of Office is supposed to be a lot more native.

 

[whs]

Sorry, help a poor foreigner. What is this supposed to mean: " a lot more native ".

 

[Lebon14]

Cloud is meant to die quickly, imo. Why? It's not private, it's pirate-prone and becomes useless if you don't have an Internet connection.

So, Office "offline" has a beautiful life in front of itself.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Maybe the OP should just step back a little --instead of being a sort of "Pseudo RSS news feed" he should perhaps THINK a little before posting some of his news stories.

I suspect that the OP has probably never had to work in a SECURE environment where some computers are either NOT NETWORKED AT ALL or only networked over a HIGHY SECURED INTERNAL LAN with 100% NO access to the internet.

Of course the CLOUD will become more important and online apps increasingly available and used - for example office type apps on smartphones and "Blackberry" type devices - but for certain applications you will ALWAYS require some type of stand alone computer.

I don't think that remote ONLINE data storage will become the norm either -- you've only got to look at the recent incidents in even supposedly advanced Western countries where sensitive data has been left on public Train Carriages or in Taxi cabs (DEFENCE stuff BTW in the UK) to realize that the only sensible way to secure your data is to have it yourself.

With Cost cutting endemic regardless of whether it actually delivers the intended benefits TO THE CUSTOMER the chances are that your vital data and applications are going to be handled in some third world off-shored location with no guarantee of reliability or security.

I think I've seen enough of the scathing cutbucks made in the last few years in the I.T industry where nearly everything has been offshored -- and whether it's Call centres or Customer service in general I can't actually see its delivered ANY BENEFIT at all except delivering a very fleeting short term gain to some Industry Fat cats and large share holders.


Being able to access apps and data from anywhere is of course a MUST in the majority of cases but this is by no means required in ALL cases and needs to be very carefully managed.

Recent experience with large scale IT projects and poor management in general doesn't actually fill me with a lot of confidence and as a CONSUMER I would be very careful before embarking totally down this road -- it could cost you a LOT more than you thought. MS and others are of course looking for an income stream --- do you really want to pay a Monthly fee to use say an online version of EXCEL or have your screen cluttered with commercials.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[smarteyeball]

Maybe the OP should just step back a little --instead of being a sort of "Pseudo RSS news feed" he should perhaps THINK a little before posting some of his news stories.

I suspect that the OP has probably never had to work in a SECURE environment where some computers are either NOT NETWORKED AT ALL or only networked over a HIGHY SECURED INTERNAL LAN with 100% NO access to the internet.

The OP just posts links to the articles, they don't write them - nobody needs to step back at all :sarc:


***************


The premise behind the Cloud would be very beneficial in a Utopian society.

However since many on this planet do not fit the prerequisites to exist in said society, the cloud concept is fundamentally flawed since it is open to far too much abuse.

 

[swarfega]

Sorry but I just dont want to be in the cloud.

 

[DarkStar GT]

... If the cloud has all my data, does it really need me?