I.B.M. to Offer Office Software Free in Challenge to Microsoft’s Line

Polaris573 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:48 PM

I.B.M. plans to mount its most ambitious challenge in years to Microsoft’s dominance of personal computer software, by offering free programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.

The company announced the desktop software, called I.B.M. Lotus Symphony, at an event yesterday in New York. The programs will be available as free downloads from the I.B.M. Web site.

I.B.M.’s Lotus-branded proprietary programs already compete with Microsoft products for e-mail, messaging and work group collaboration. But the Symphony software is a free alternative to Microsoft’s mainstay Office programs — Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The Office business is huge and lucrative for Microsoft, second only to its Windows operating system as a profit maker.

Its offerings are versions of open-source software developed in a consortium called OpenOffice.org. The original code traces its origins to a German company, Star Division, which Sun Microsystems bought in 1999. Sun later made the desktop software, now called StarOffice, an open-source project, in which work and code are freely shared.

I.B.M.’s engineers have been working with OpenOffice technology for some time. But last week, I.B.M. declared that it was formally joining the open-source group, had dedicated 35 full-time programmers to the project and would contribute code to the initiative.

Free office productivity software has long been available from OpenOffice.org, and the open-source alternative has not yet made much progress against Microsoft’s Office. But I.B.M., analysts note, has such reach and stature with corporate customers that its endorsement could be significant.

I.B.M. executives compare this move with the push it gave Linux, the open-source operating system, into corporate data centers. In 2000, I.B.M. declared that it would forcefully back Linux with its engineers, its marketing and its dollars. The support from I.B.M. helped make Linux a mainstream technology in corporations, where it competes with Microsoft’s Windows server software.

Read the Full Story

Source: The New York Times

Helvetica · Sep 19, 2007, 07:00 PM

Well, the price is right - but I bet you get what you pay for - just like google Docs.

Sasqui · Sep 19, 2007, 07:03 PM

Yea, will be interesting to see where this goes (if anywhere). Good find Polaris.

Polaris573 · Sep 19, 2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helvetica

Well, the price is right - but I bet you get what you pay for - just like google Docs.

I don't know about that. Open Office is pretty good, especially for free, and this software is based on that.

Sasqui · Sep 19, 2007, 07:17 PM

Here's a pretty ranting insight on the whole thing (also an entertaining read): http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/09/18.html

"...Crazy story? Substitute “Google Gmail” with “Lotus 1-2-3”. The NewSDK will be the second coming of Microsoft Windows; this is exactly how Lotus lost control of the spreadsheet market. And it’s going to happen again on the web because all the same dynamics and forces are in place. The only thing we don’t know yet are the particulars, but it’ll happen...."

jydie · Sep 19, 2007, 07:24 PM

I agree with Polaris, OpenOffice is a very good alternative to Microsoft Office... especially for the casual users that do not need all the fancy options. PLUS, you can run OpenOffice under Windows and Linux!!!

Hopefully with IBM backing it, this will take a bite out of sales for the ridiculously priced Microsoft Office Suite.

panchoman · Sep 19, 2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polaris573

I don't know about that. Open Office is pretty good, especially for free, and this software is based on that.

yeah, agreed. open office does a really good job at doing the same functions as ms office and it can do somethings that ms office cant all for free. though i support all things that go againt microsoft so keep up the good work ibm

Sasqui · Sep 19, 2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panchoman

so keep up the good work ibm

IBM doing good work - when?

surfsk8snow.jah · Sep 19, 2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasqui

IBM doing good work - when?

daym. harshness lol.

I just hope this brings down the price-point on MS gouging us for legit Office.

Sasqui · Sep 19, 2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfsk8snow.jah

daym. harshness lol.

I just hope this brings down the price-point on MS gouging us for legit Office.

I agree - it's just unlikely that IBM will do it (unfortunately).

Polaris573 · Sep 19, 2007, 07:55 PM

I installed it. My initial impressions are that Open Office is superior.

Bob The Fish · Sep 19, 2007, 08:12 PM

My grandfarther still used lotus 123 for DOS. he hates office XP, maby he will like this?

WarEagleAU · Sep 19, 2007, 08:42 PM

yeah, I got open office as well as office 2007 so Im happy with both. Open office is snazzier and quicker and less intrusive. This looks to be a nice alternative.

panchoman · Sep 19, 2007, 08:44 PM

lotus notes is sick, my dad uses it on his laptop, hes got the whole lotus package, why isn't that free instead ??

Solaris17 · Sep 19, 2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

by offering free programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.

open office......

mdm-adph · Sep 19, 2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasqui

IBM doing good work - when?

Oh, only practically the entire evolution of computers up until about 1980 or so.

But don't worry about that.

Darkrealms · Sep 19, 2007, 10:54 PM

The question is "Is it free for businesses, education, and government?". If not I don't think the dent will be that big. If it is then can all the documents made in Microsoft Office be converted to this and vise versa??

Sasqui · Sep 19, 2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdm-adph

Oh, only practically the entire evolution of computers up until about 1980 or so.

But don't worry about that.

Unfortunately it ended there in the 80's

They are doing great in the sever market... well good at the moment. But that's hardware, and most of it runs MS software. IBM has an intrinsically horrible track record in software, - going back 20 yrs!!!

I am not an MS (monpoly) fan, trust me.

POGE · Sep 19, 2007, 11:29 PM

I don't think its really needed since open office is around.

niko084 · Sep 19, 2007, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polaris573

I don't know about that. Open Office is pretty good, especially for free, and this software is based on that.

Exactly and in a lot of ways open office is superior to MS office... Doesn't have the help guides and all the fancy templates but its more powerful.

I'll be checking it out for sure.

panchoman · Sep 19, 2007, 11:50 PM

open office is superior, and lets see if ibm can make their own version of open office even better the then current open office, a free office suite that can do more functions then ms office and is exactly like ms office(which open office isn't fully, lots of differences, will take the general public time to adjust) will definently put a dent into microsoft considering office 2007 is like 600 bucks.

Polaris573 · Sep 20, 2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Unfortunately it ended there in the 80's

They are doing great in the sever market... well good at the moment. But that's hardware, and most of it runs MS software. IBM has an intrinsically horrible track record in software, - going back 20 yrs!!!

I am not an MS (monpoly) fan, trust me.

Bill Gates would disagree.

Gates sees IBM as top Microsoft rival

panchoman · Sep 20, 2007, 01:05 AM

ibm's doing preety good, though they're really into research and server stuff now. they helped build and produce the cell cpu used in the ps3, and other things like that. my dad works at ibm research and that place can get really scary if you back through the back end of the building alone, theres like hissing nitrogen pipes and all kinds of weird stuff doing over your head. its really weird, its like a scientific lab while its a workplace while its got like rooms full of servers and servers and servers. and they're probably the biggest threat to ms since most apples are running windows now a days. due to the european case thing microsoft has to reveal all of its server stuff to ibm and other companies in europe and it wont take very long for ibm to beat microsoft in the server market.

Sasqui · Sep 20, 2007, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polaris573

Bill Gates would disagree.

Gates sees IBM as top Microsoft rival

Would you quote Bill Gates? Hahahahaaaa...

Polaris573 · Sep 20, 2007, 02:14 AM

Since he's one of the richest people on the planet, yes, I think I would. I guarantee he knows more about what goes on at IBM than you do. As well as whether they're a significant competitor to Microsoft.

Sep 19, 2007, 06:48 PM	#1
Polaris573 Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Little Rock, USA Posts: 3,284 (1.09/day) Thanks: 68 Thanked 765 Times in 451 Posts System Specs	I.B.M. to Offer Office Software Free in Challenge to Microsoft’s Line I.B.M. plans to mount its most ambitious challenge in years to Microsoft’s dominance of personal computer software, by offering free programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. The company announced the desktop software, called I.B.M. Lotus Symphony, at an event yesterday in New York. The programs will be available as free downloads from the I.B.M. Web site. I.B.M.’s Lotus-branded proprietary programs already compete with Microsoft products for e-mail, messaging and work group collaboration. But the Symphony software is a free alternative to Microsoft’s mainstay Office programs — Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The Office business is huge and lucrative for Microsoft, second only to its Windows operating system as a profit maker. Its offerings are versions of open-source software developed in a consortium called OpenOffice.org. The original code traces its origins to a German company, Star Division, which Sun Microsystems bought in 1999. Sun later made the desktop software, now called StarOffice, an open-source project, in which work and code are freely shared. I.B.M.’s engineers have been working with OpenOffice technology for some time. But last week, I.B.M. declared that it was formally joining the open-source group, had dedicated 35 full-time programmers to the project and would contribute code to the initiative. Free office productivity software has long been available from OpenOffice.org, and the open-source alternative has not yet made much progress against Microsoft’s Office. But I.B.M., analysts note, has such reach and stature with corporate customers that its endorsement could be significant. I.B.M. executives compare this move with the push it gave Linux, the open-source operating system, into corporate data centers. In 2000, I.B.M. declared that it would forcefully back Linux with its engineers, its marketing and its dollars. The support from I.B.M. helped make Linux a mainstream technology in corporations, where it competes with Microsoft’s Windows server software. Read the Full Story Source: The New York Times Last edited by Polaris573; Sep 19, 2007 at 06:57 PM.

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Sep 19, 2007, 07:00 PM	#2
Helvetica Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 158 (0.08/day) Thanks: 7 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts System Specs	Well, the price is right - but I bet you get what you pay for - just like google Docs.

Sep 19, 2007, 07:03 PM	#3
Sasqui Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Manchester, NH Posts: 6,066 (2.22/day) Thanks: 827 Thanked 913 Times in 746 Posts System Specs	Yea, will be interesting to see where this goes (if anywhere). Good find Polaris.

Sep 19, 2007, 07:17 PM	#5
Sasqui Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Manchester, NH Posts: 6,066 (2.22/day) Thanks: 827 Thanked 913 Times in 746 Posts System Specs	Here's a pretty ranting insight on the whole thing (also an entertaining read): http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/09/18.html "...Crazy story? Substitute “Google Gmail” with “Lotus 1-2-3”. The NewSDK will be the second coming of Microsoft Windows; this is exactly how Lotus lost control of the spreadsheet market. And it’s going to happen again on the web because all the same dynamics and forces are in place. The only thing we don’t know yet are the particulars, but it’ll happen...."

Sep 19, 2007, 07:24 PM	#6
jydie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 208 (0.08/day) Thanks: 18 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts System Specs	I agree with Polaris, OpenOffice is a very good alternative to Microsoft Office... especially for the casual users that do not need all the fancy options. PLUS, you can run OpenOffice under Windows and Linux!!! Hopefully with IBM backing it, this will take a bite out of sales for the ridiculously priced Microsoft Office Suite.

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Sep 19, 2007, 07:55 PM	#11
Polaris573 Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Little Rock, USA Posts: 3,284 (1.09/day) Thanks: 68 Thanked 765 Times in 451 Posts System Specs	I installed it. My initial impressions are that Open Office is superior. __________________ Lector benevole, legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam Fold for Techpowerup!

Sep 19, 2007, 08:12 PM	#12
Bob The Fish Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada Posts: 117 (0.04/day) Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	My grandfarther still used lotus 123 for DOS. he hates office XP, maby he will like this? __________________

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Sep 19, 2007, 08:42 PM	#13
WarEagleAU Bird of Prey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gurley, AL Posts: 9,994 (3.98/day) Thanks: 3,810 Thanked 557 Times in 521 Posts System Specs	yeah, I got open office as well as office 2007 so Im happy with both. Open office is snazzier and quicker and less intrusive. This looks to be a nice alternative. __________________ =-TheEagle-= http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=62454 “You crazy? Surfing any website without an antivirus is like freaking with a dirty woman without protection” -OzzmanFloyd120 - Edited for content and clarity

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Sep 19, 2007, 08:44 PM	#14
panchoman Sold my stars! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,650 (3.11/day) Thanks: 339 Thanked 1,227 Times in 1,036 Posts System Specs	lotus notes is sick, my dad uses it on his laptop, hes got the whole lotus package, why isn't that free instead ?? __________________ Need any Graphics Made? Visit Graphic Artists United! R.I.P Megan--Heaven has a new angel

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Sep 19, 2007, 10:54 PM	#17
Darkrealms Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 843 (0.37/day) Thanks: 52 Thanked 23 Times in 20 Posts	The question is "Is it free for businesses, education, and government?". If not I don't think the dent will be that big. If it is then can all the documents made in Microsoft Office be converted to this and vise versa?? __________________ ISP F@H TPU RANK

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Sep 19, 2007, 11:29 PM	#19
POGE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In banjo's Goats. Posts: 1,387 (0.50/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 35 Times in 23 Posts System Specs	I don't think its really needed since open office is around. __________________ pogeybait

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Sep 19, 2007, 11:50 PM	#21
panchoman Sold my stars! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,650 (3.11/day) Thanks: 339 Thanked 1,227 Times in 1,036 Posts System Specs	open office is superior, and lets see if ibm can make their own version of open office even better the then current open office, a free office suite that can do more functions then ms office and is exactly like ms office(which open office isn't fully, lots of differences, will take the general public time to adjust) will definently put a dent into microsoft considering office 2007 is like 600 bucks. __________________ Need any Graphics Made? Visit Graphic Artists United! R.I.P Megan--Heaven has a new angel

Sep 20, 2007, 01:05 AM	#23
panchoman Sold my stars! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,650 (3.11/day) Thanks: 339 Thanked 1,227 Times in 1,036 Posts System Specs	ibm's doing preety good, though they're really into research and server stuff now. they helped build and produce the cell cpu used in the ps3, and other things like that. my dad works at ibm research and that place can get really scary if you back through the back end of the building alone, theres like hissing nitrogen pipes and all kinds of weird stuff doing over your head. its really weird, its like a scientific lab while its a workplace while its got like rooms full of servers and servers and servers. and they're probably the biggest threat to ms since most apples are running windows now a days. due to the european case thing microsoft has to reveal all of its server stuff to ibm and other companies in europe and it wont take very long for ibm to beat microsoft in the server market. __________________ Need any Graphics Made? Visit Graphic Artists United! R.I.P Megan--Heaven has a new angel

Sep 20, 2007, 02:14 AM	#25
Polaris573 Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Little Rock, USA Posts: 3,284 (1.09/day) Thanks: 68 Thanked 765 Times in 451 Posts System Specs	Since he's one of the richest people on the planet, yes, I think I would. I guarantee he knows more about what goes on at IBM than you do. As well as whether they're a significant competitor to Microsoft. __________________ Lector benevole, legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam Fold for Techpowerup!

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