This is a really interesting discussion. Personally, I can't stand Publisher - it has the most awful interface I've ever seen, especially if you're trying to edit someone else's document. And I have even come across misguided individuals doing webpages with it! It either produces a page
Ack! Never do webpages in Publisher. :-)
The only reason it is popular (IMHO) is that it was bundled with so many PCs, people started using it, they got used to the interface, and then they find other interfaces "difficult" (as one does). A far better app for the
Not for me at least. I *picked* Publisher when I was still in Windows, because it simply did what I needed. I can pop out designs that make people say "wow" (not trying to brag here) in just minutes on Publisher. My purchased a different low end DTP for her home computer a while back and nearly gave up on it. However, I talked her into getting Publisher, and now she loves working on DTP again.
I also think the points about the Office interface are related to the same phenomenon. You get an app, tussle around with the interface for a while, finally figure out how it works, and then everything else seems to have a "weird" interface. I came to Word via WordStar (sadly no longer in existence) and various wps on other platforms, and believe me, Word's "intuitive" interface is anything but. (Aside: I've never yet come across
I might argue here again. Please show me a modern word processor that you can set someone in front of (who has never used it) and can learn it as fast as Word. Honestly, I started out with WordPerfect, and HATED it. But I started using Word, and things seemed much better. :-) Remember, I'm saying this all as a person who grubles constantly when I'm stuck in Windows for more than a few moments. I am no fan of Microsoft, yet they do do somethings right.
So I think that even if Office competitors implement a sizeable subset of the features, many Office users will continue to use Office. The reason is that human beings take the line of least resistance, and here that means "keep using the apps I'm used to unless something else (stability of platform, cost of licenses, lack of interoperability, etc) forces me to relearn some of what I already know." This will be rationalised as Office has better features, a more intuitive interface, etc than other office suites, but that isn't the real reason.
You may have a point, but first show me a decent word processor with a more intuitive interface, that can do the kinda of things Word can do. Mail Merge? Grammer Checking? Light Publishing? A dozen different ways to format typefaces?
well use that one". They've used the same approach with Winsock (remember Trumpet, anyone?),
Well that one only makes sense. If Microsoft *didn't* integrate winsock, I can just hear all of us sneering right now at how Microsoft's OS doesn't even have built in internet connectivity! Seriously, every modern OS has an IP stack built in.
the browser,
Uhhhh, are you saying KDE shouldn't have Konqueror?
connection sharing, etc, and they're now doing the same with sound software and CD-burning software.
I agree with these, especially the latter two.
added a couple of missing components .... well, Geoff might think that the inital package was pretty good, but he would be starting to have his doubts about the phrase "long-term value for money".
I'm with you fully here.
My apologies for departing from the initial "Publisher" point, and I have no hassle with anyone using that or other MS sw (I've been there myself for the four years prior to this one), but I would say that whether or not Office gets replaced on people's desktops will have very little to do with
Trust me, if StarOffice or any other Linux wp or DTP program was 85% as good as Microsoft Word and Publisher, I wouldn't complain. Granted the WPS's are approaching that realm, but DTP is still a vacuum in Linux. -Tim -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy R. Butler | Universal Networks | http://www.uninet.info tbutler@uninetsolutions.com ICQ: 12495932 AIM: Uninettm Christian Portal and Search Tool: http://www.faithtree.com Open Source Migration Guide: http://www.ofb.biz ============== "Christian Web Services Since 1996" ==============