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Is it possible that next year more readers will be subscribing rather than purchasing standalone versions? Do you (Can you?) accept the idea that we are living in subscription-based software world?
And that I can install 5 copies, and, deactivate and reactivate from the web.
"This change by Microsoft is just a reflection of the times we live in - we are living in a networked, always on, cloud-based, software as a service world and we are going to have to come to terms with it - sooner or later."
Microsoft is not the be all and end all of software. There are other choices that for many will work equally well.
We don't have to get used to anything we don't like. We simply have to find a suitable alternative and these days, it's not that difficult and invariably, a lot cheaper.
The one thing you learn in this business if you are going to succeed, is to take the blinkers off and look around you.
The way Microsoft are going, what with Windows 8 and now this Office licensing issue, they won't have to worry about licensing in a decades time, as they won't have any business to speak of left.
Microsoft is not the be all and end all of software. There are other choices that for many will work equally well.
We don't have to get used to anything we don't like. We simply have to find a suitable alternative and these days, it's not that difficult and invariably, a lot cheaper.
The one thing you learn in this business if you are going to succeed, is to take the blinkers off and look around you.
The way Microsoft are going, what with Windows 8 and now this Office licensing issue, they won't have to worry about licensing in a decades time, as they won't have any business to speak of left.
I think you've misinterpreted the author. I didn't take that quote to mean "This is what Microsoft is doing so you have no choice but to suck it up and accept it because Microsoft are the only game in town". My reading of the comment is that the cloud and subscription based licensing are fast becoming the norm and that the old way of buying and thinking about software is slowly going to become the exception rather than the norm.
I for one completely agree with the author on this. To answer the authors questions - do I like the subscription-based model? My gut reaction is no. But I don't have a good reason for feeling that way. I do like having a CD with the software on it and knowing that if I want still run that software in 15 years time I can because I own it. Is that a practical view? Hell no. I think I'll be one of the people that are in the "prefer traditional licensing" camp now, but will be in the "prefer subscription licensing" camp in a couple of years time.
I for one completely agree with the author on this. To answer the authors questions - do I like the subscription-based model? My gut reaction is no. But I don't have a good reason for feeling that way. I do like having a CD with the software on it and knowing that if I want still run that software in 15 years time I can because I own it. Is that a practical view? Hell no. I think I'll be one of the people that are in the "prefer traditional licensing" camp now, but will be in the "prefer subscription licensing" camp in a couple of years time.
I was very specific in the quote I chose from the author, though I accept my comments could be taken in the way you refer.
The point is, as you can see from many of our contemporaries, there are still many for whom a reasonable Internet connection is unavailable. There are still many places in the world, where any Internet connection is very expensive and only available to the most wealthy. Clearly also for those, the cloud option is a non-starter.
If it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to download the software, in addition to the licensing costs, then one has to question whether it's still a viable option. Further, if you're terrified if your computer fails, you're going to have to buy the software again, is that a successful business strategy that instils confidence? Tying the software to a machine, instead of the licensee, is a very objectionable move on Microsoft's part to me. Others may view it differently.
Couple that with good quality alternatives with far fewer licensing issues, then is Microsoft treading the slow painful path to oblivion?
It is my belief they are heading in that general direction. Stop listening to your customer base at your peril.
Now, you could argue (justifiably) that you would have to download the alternatives. Yes, but it's a one off cost and providing you take reasonable measures to backup the software, you can use it on as many machines as you like with zero licensing issues. Hence my comment, you do not have to accept anything you don't like.
I hope that clarifies my post a little for you and my reasoning for suggesting Microsoft has got it very wrong.
The point is, as you can see from many of our contemporaries, there are still many for whom a reasonable Internet connection is unavailable. There are still many places in the world, where any Internet connection is very expensive and only available to the most wealthy. Clearly also for those, the cloud option is a non-starter.
If it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to download the software, in addition to the licensing costs, then one has to question whether it's still a viable option. Further, if you're terrified if your computer fails, you're going to have to buy the software again, is that a successful business strategy that instils confidence? Tying the software to a machine, instead of the licensee, is a very objectionable move on Microsoft's part to me. Others may view it differently.
Couple that with good quality alternatives with far fewer licensing issues, then is Microsoft treading the slow painful path to oblivion?
It is my belief they are heading in that general direction. Stop listening to your customer base at your peril.
Now, you could argue (justifiably) that you would have to download the alternatives. Yes, but it's a one off cost and providing you take reasonable measures to backup the software, you can use it on as many machines as you like with zero licensing issues. Hence my comment, you do not have to accept anything you don't like.
I hope that clarifies my post a little for you and my reasoning for suggesting Microsoft has got it very wrong.
As someone with a poor internet connection and costly bandwidth the lack of media is a major concern. That also has implications for some like myself who often carry a software kit to fix others computers. (I have not looked into the full details, hopefully you can create a DVD once downloaded).
Personally I install my apps on a home built pc that has occasional hardware updates, new CPU's, new graphics controllers, occasionally a new motherboard. Which of those changes are going to break the MS Office licence?
The note above said that if your PC breaks down or is replaced "while in warranty" you can get a new key. What has warranty got to do with it?
Personally I install my apps on a home built pc that has occasional hardware updates, new CPU's, new graphics controllers, occasionally a new motherboard. Which of those changes are going to break the MS Office licence?
The note above said that if your PC breaks down or is replaced "while in warranty" you can get a new key. What has warranty got to do with it?
That's MS speak for saying that within the first 3 months, 6 months, or whatever arbitrary time limit MS choses to grant after buying your subcription, you will be 'in warranty'. After that, if you need to reinstall, you'll be forced pay for a new subcription. That's what I read between the lines anyway.
Nope, someone below has already posted more complete details. You get to install it on multiple computers and access is controlled through your Microsoft Live ID. I take this to mean product keys aren't needed.
In the dim and distant past, for mainframes software we paid for "Support" and as part of this we received updates and new releases and had stable software, as if it wasn't fixed we didn't pay.
In some ways subscription based software returns us to thoses days. You pay a subscription without an upfront charge, and you get updates to the software "for free".
This means that for companies like Microsoft they no longer need to keep producing new versions to sell upgrades. If they don't fix the ones in the software we are using then its easier to stop paying Microsoft and go elsewhere.
In some ways subscription based software returns us to thoses days. You pay a subscription without an upfront charge, and you get updates to the software "for free".
This means that for companies like Microsoft they no longer need to keep producing new versions to sell upgrades. If they don't fix the ones in the software we are using then its easier to stop paying Microsoft and go elsewhere.
Where is that 'elsewhere'? If there was an acceptable elsewhere to go to, don't you think most people would have already saved their money and gone there?
LibreOffice is an excellent office suite, and its free. Also, there's nothing to stop individuals from using Google Docs, Google Drive or Zoho Office.
People haven't "already saved their money and gone there" because they are creatures of habit, and they HATE change.
People haven't "already saved their money and gone there" because they are creatures of habit, and they HATE change.
But when the other professional software you use integrates only with Microsoft Office, you are going to buy Microsoft Office.
Our two most vital production software packages are designed to work with Microsoft Office. And not on the web, either.
Our two most vital production software packages are designed to work with Microsoft Office. And not on the web, either.
I remember a time a long while ago where Word Perfect was the Must Have Word Processor.
Everyone used Word Perfect and if you wanted to share your documents you had to have Word Perfect or at the very least something that would read Word perfect acceptably well.
Guess what Word was considered by all Business as Domestic and nothing more than Cheap Rubbish that simply didn't work all that well.
What changed was not Microsoft making Word better they combined it with Excel, Access, Power Point and so on so that you could EASILY move your data between different applications. previously this was not possible and you had to reenter your data that needed sharing into several applications individually. So you had a Mailing List in Word Perfect and a Customer List in Lotus 123 both of which most times where the same and when you produced something in Lotus 123 you couldn't simply Copy & Paste it to Word Perfect.
Allowing Data Sharing between different applications was what made Microsoft Office so useful to business as it reduced the need to employ and pay extra staff to do what was effectively the same thing by entering the same details into different programs. Suddenly you made the cost of doing business considerably cheaper and for that reason alone Microsoft Office was a success.
Right at the moment Microsoft Office is the Default Office Productivity Suite but that could change if someone else was to release something else which made the cost of doing business cheaper or Microsoft upset their customers enough for them to move to something different.
Word didn't open Word Perfect Documents properly unless they where basic and didn't have any major formatting included in them but it was still in Business Best Interests to move to word and rewrite the documents that simply failed to open properly in Word.
If you look at a lot of Legal Form Letters available to download from the Courts and the like many are still in WP Format because that was how they where originally written.
Some may have been changed and any new ones will be in the Original Word Format .doc but the vast majority are still in Word Perfect Format and will remain that way for the foreseeable future if not for ever.
So if there was something new released that made business costs cheaper Business would adopt it and eventually it would become the default that you must have to continue to do business effectively. Sure not everyone is going to Jump Ship Immediately just as not everyone moved from Word Perfect to Microsoft Office immediately when it was first released but just like Word Perfect eventually was left behind by the bulk of Business Microsoft Office can as well.
Col
Everyone used Word Perfect and if you wanted to share your documents you had to have Word Perfect or at the very least something that would read Word perfect acceptably well.
Guess what Word was considered by all Business as Domestic and nothing more than Cheap Rubbish that simply didn't work all that well.
What changed was not Microsoft making Word better they combined it with Excel, Access, Power Point and so on so that you could EASILY move your data between different applications. previously this was not possible and you had to reenter your data that needed sharing into several applications individually. So you had a Mailing List in Word Perfect and a Customer List in Lotus 123 both of which most times where the same and when you produced something in Lotus 123 you couldn't simply Copy & Paste it to Word Perfect.
Allowing Data Sharing between different applications was what made Microsoft Office so useful to business as it reduced the need to employ and pay extra staff to do what was effectively the same thing by entering the same details into different programs. Suddenly you made the cost of doing business considerably cheaper and for that reason alone Microsoft Office was a success.
Right at the moment Microsoft Office is the Default Office Productivity Suite but that could change if someone else was to release something else which made the cost of doing business cheaper or Microsoft upset their customers enough for them to move to something different.
Word didn't open Word Perfect Documents properly unless they where basic and didn't have any major formatting included in them but it was still in Business Best Interests to move to word and rewrite the documents that simply failed to open properly in Word.
If you look at a lot of Legal Form Letters available to download from the Courts and the like many are still in WP Format because that was how they where originally written.
Some may have been changed and any new ones will be in the Original Word Format .doc but the vast majority are still in Word Perfect Format and will remain that way for the foreseeable future if not for ever.
So if there was something new released that made business costs cheaper Business would adopt it and eventually it would become the default that you must have to continue to do business effectively. Sure not everyone is going to Jump Ship Immediately just as not everyone moved from Word Perfect to Microsoft Office immediately when it was first released but just like Word Perfect eventually was left behind by the bulk of Business Microsoft Office can as well.
Col
Spent years with alternatives and "dealing" with it. Then Office 2010, no more hassles.
I agree though that the majority of users are fine with the alternatives (including the free Office that comes on most PC's that's limited) as long as they don't have needs that require sharing and formatting issues.
I agree though that the majority of users are fine with the alternatives (including the free Office that comes on most PC's that's limited) as long as they don't have needs that require sharing and formatting issues.
but the device based licensing is dumb. But reality says most people would never know the difference, how often do you actually change?
With the storage and ease of 365 it is compelling, it's excellent for students . . . but then I paid $100 for a 3 seat license of Office 2010 and that was two years ago.
With the storage and ease of 365 it is compelling, it's excellent for students . . . but then I paid $100 for a 3 seat license of Office 2010 and that was two years ago.
it for at least three more years for the same cost. Instead OF $500 for the subscription. Most people skip versions rather than upgrade at every version. Your choice is the better one.
""This is what Microsoft is doing so you have no choice but to suck it up and accept it because Microsoft are the only game in town""
Funny, but that's how M$ thinks.
Funny, but that's how M$ thinks.
""This is what Microsoft is doing so you have no choice but to suck it up and accept it because Microsoft are the only game in town""
Funny, but that's how M$ thinks.
Yep, one thing for sure and that is that they stopped listening to their client base a long time ago. If not true then there would have been no ME, Vista, and now Windows 8. Yet, the keep cranking out all this substandard code and people keep buying it. Go figure. I can't.
Funny, but that's how M$ thinks.
Yep, one thing for sure and that is that they stopped listening to their client base a long time ago. If not true then there would have been no ME, Vista, and now Windows 8. Yet, the keep cranking out all this substandard code and people keep buying it. Go figure. I can't.
"This change by Microsoft is just a reflection of the times we live in - we are living in a networked, always on, cloud-based, software as a service world and we are going to have to come to terms with it - sooner or later."
Mark Kaelin's comment is rubbish! I have no intention of going where MS tells me to go - I am not a sheep. Most of the licensing deals on offer for Office 2013 do not appeal to me as options, especially the Cloud options. It's about time MS realised that Office is no longer the only seriously viable productivity suite out there.
Mark Kaelin's comment is rubbish! I have no intention of going where MS tells me to go - I am not a sheep. Most of the licensing deals on offer for Office 2013 do not appeal to me as options, especially the Cloud options. It's about time MS realised that Office is no longer the only seriously viable productivity suite out there.
C;mon Mark,
We're all turning to subscription, for a lot of good reasons. Mobile phones (smart and not), TV, music, cloud services, anti-virus, netflix, radio, on-line streaming, pay-per-view, water cooler, coffee service, maintenance plans and on and on. It seems like iTunes was the thin edge of the wedge, but now I;m sure I must license more products than I buy. And seriously, you WANT software delivered on DVD, when you can just click on a link? Who keeps DVDs, keeps them labeled and sorted, and why?
It makes perfect sense for businesses, because they don't have to commit scarce capital up front, and they never have to worry about different version or release levels. In fact, businesses have been working this way for years.
You've totally overlooked that O365 also throws in the equivalent of a Small Business Server, running on ultra-stable (guaranteed SLA with cash penalties} Microsoft cloud server, with all-out MS ForeFront security. You get:
- SharePoint Server (not on your charts) - with SkyDrive, a brilliant data-anywhere manager,
- Real, painless Remote access,
- Web Apps so that you can work on any document from anywhere, even if you don't have the desktop apps, or (more important} if your device (Android, iOS) is not secure. By leaving all of the documents on the server, your smart-phone, tablet, or public or home PC can be hacked, but never give up your data.
- You can collaborate on-line from anywhere to anywhere, with Lync (also not on your charts). In fact, Lync Server comes free with O365, but was never in SBS.
- Oh, and before I forget, Microsoft Exchange, so that you can move over to a proper and secure email system with full control.
For all the same reasons, we should rejoice that home users are moving to subscriptions. Not only can they work safely from home, but work the same collaborative, secure way within their family. And no one has to worry who's got what version, because everyone is always up to date. I got pretty tired of "what can I send to Jenny; does she have Office 2000, '03, '07, '10 or Mac? Can I down-convert? What function will be lost? What will print correctly and what will blow up?" Now, Jenny's on subscription so we're both the exact same (yes version upgrades are free). Why was Jenny on such an old version? Well she paid her $600 for Office Pro once, and was not going to pay it again every three years to get just a little more function. Even the upgrade price was prohibitive, but now it's zero.
So c,mon. It's 2013. Sign up, log in, and enjoy everything all the time.
We're all turning to subscription, for a lot of good reasons. Mobile phones (smart and not), TV, music, cloud services, anti-virus, netflix, radio, on-line streaming, pay-per-view, water cooler, coffee service, maintenance plans and on and on. It seems like iTunes was the thin edge of the wedge, but now I;m sure I must license more products than I buy. And seriously, you WANT software delivered on DVD, when you can just click on a link? Who keeps DVDs, keeps them labeled and sorted, and why?
It makes perfect sense for businesses, because they don't have to commit scarce capital up front, and they never have to worry about different version or release levels. In fact, businesses have been working this way for years.
You've totally overlooked that O365 also throws in the equivalent of a Small Business Server, running on ultra-stable (guaranteed SLA with cash penalties} Microsoft cloud server, with all-out MS ForeFront security. You get:
- SharePoint Server (not on your charts) - with SkyDrive, a brilliant data-anywhere manager,
- Real, painless Remote access,
- Web Apps so that you can work on any document from anywhere, even if you don't have the desktop apps, or (more important} if your device (Android, iOS) is not secure. By leaving all of the documents on the server, your smart-phone, tablet, or public or home PC can be hacked, but never give up your data.
- You can collaborate on-line from anywhere to anywhere, with Lync (also not on your charts). In fact, Lync Server comes free with O365, but was never in SBS.
- Oh, and before I forget, Microsoft Exchange, so that you can move over to a proper and secure email system with full control.
For all the same reasons, we should rejoice that home users are moving to subscriptions. Not only can they work safely from home, but work the same collaborative, secure way within their family. And no one has to worry who's got what version, because everyone is always up to date. I got pretty tired of "what can I send to Jenny; does she have Office 2000, '03, '07, '10 or Mac? Can I down-convert? What function will be lost? What will print correctly and what will blow up?" Now, Jenny's on subscription so we're both the exact same (yes version upgrades are free). Why was Jenny on such an old version? Well she paid her $600 for Office Pro once, and was not going to pay it again every three years to get just a little more function. Even the upgrade price was prohibitive, but now it's zero.
So c,mon. It's 2013. Sign up, log in, and enjoy everything all the time.
SHCA, you make a strong argument for complete central control by Microsoft. If we're all happy with "big brother" watching over us then you have a point. Oops....you mean someone might think independently? Yep, it can happen, SHCA. In my humble opinion, you and Microsoft have the attitude that is best expressed by saying, "You WILL go to the party and you WILL have fun because I say so". As was pointed out by "LastChip" and "LK" , there are viable and lower cost alternatives available which I am sure that a goodly number of users will embrace. Not everyone likes being blindly controlled by the "Microsoft puppeteer." However this all comes down to freedom of choice, which is what our way of life thankfully is all about. Thank you all for the varied opinions. Its really interesting and educational to be able to experience them. I appreciate it.
I hope you were being sarcastic.
BTW, is anyone else having problems replying to comments using FF (I had to use IE9 for this reply)?
I can make stand-alone comments, but the "Reply" function hasn't worked for a few weeks (my PC: W7 + FF)
BTW, is anyone else having problems replying to comments using FF (I had to use IE9 for this reply)?
I can make stand-alone comments, but the "Reply" function hasn't worked for a few weeks (my PC: W7 + FF)
and continues in FF 18.1 and .2 As a work around, don't click the 'Reply', 'Flag', etc. Instead, right-click and open in a new tab. If you're a serious TR user, you may want to downgrade to 17.
TR is aware of this and has reported the issue to Mozilla.
TR is aware of this and has reported the issue to Mozilla.
...and to this point, who responds quicker...MS or Mozilla? Just asking, don't know the answer, but perhaps it is relevant to the entire discussion?
Mozilla doesn't make an office suite, and Microsoft's licensing policies have nothing to do with the FF / TR incompatibility. Comparing their bug response time is no more relevant than comparing the buildings they work out of.
See Pally just because you don't agree with someone completely you get Down Voted.
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me regardless of the fact that what you said was Perfectly Correct and that the argument made/implied or whatever against Monzilla/FF is totally spurious.
You should know by now that Microsoft is Perfect can do no wrong and if you are warped enough to even question them in the slightest the Microsoft Fan Boys/Sheepies will complain as bitterly as they can.
On TR Disgusting Threads that involves Down Voting any comments that they don't like and then quite often Stalking that poster and Down Voting every comment that they dare to make regardless of what it is about.
But just to Pi$$ off the poster who questioned the response time between Monzilla and Microsoft I'll add this bit of information.
If you use the Enterprise Versions of Red Hat or SUSE on IBM Blades part of the Service Guarantee is that if you experience any issues with the Coding of the Kernel the IBM/SUSE/Red Hat team will correct it within 48 hours. Not really relevant to the above but none the less is perfectly correct.
At this point in time Microsoft offers nothing similar despite IBM offering to be involved and put in a heap of money to achieve the same service for their business users.
As for the Bug Response Times from Monzilla I would expect them to be similar to what Microsoft provides. It all depends on How Serious the Issue that you have reported is as to how long it takes to fix it.
In early 2002 I reported a Bug to Microsoft involving a Kernel Issue and a potential Security Breach under certain conditions. That Bug Report is yet to be actioned. But it's only been 11 years so far.
Now watch the Negative Votes Rack Up and just maybe some Rancid little M$ Sheepie will actually post a complaint about my above comment but it's far more likely that they will report it as Spam/Offensive or whatever and Down Vote this post. 
[/maniacal laughter]
Col
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me regardless of the fact that what you said was Perfectly Correct and that the argument made/implied or whatever against Monzilla/FF is totally spurious.
You should know by now that Microsoft is Perfect can do no wrong and if you are warped enough to even question them in the slightest the Microsoft Fan Boys/Sheepies will complain as bitterly as they can.
On TR Disgusting Threads that involves Down Voting any comments that they don't like and then quite often Stalking that poster and Down Voting every comment that they dare to make regardless of what it is about.
But just to Pi$$ off the poster who questioned the response time between Monzilla and Microsoft I'll add this bit of information.
If you use the Enterprise Versions of Red Hat or SUSE on IBM Blades part of the Service Guarantee is that if you experience any issues with the Coding of the Kernel the IBM/SUSE/Red Hat team will correct it within 48 hours. Not really relevant to the above but none the less is perfectly correct.
At this point in time Microsoft offers nothing similar despite IBM offering to be involved and put in a heap of money to achieve the same service for their business users.
As for the Bug Response Times from Monzilla I would expect them to be similar to what Microsoft provides. It all depends on How Serious the Issue that you have reported is as to how long it takes to fix it.
In early 2002 I reported a Bug to Microsoft involving a Kernel Issue and a potential Security Breach under certain conditions. That Bug Report is yet to be actioned. But it's only been 11 years so far.
Now watch the Negative Votes Rack Up and just maybe some Rancid little M$ Sheepie will actually post a complaint about my above comment but it's far more likely that they will report it as Spam/Offensive or whatever and Down Vote this post.
[/maniacal laughter]
Col
Microsoft is, IMO, alienating its user base in a number of ways including but not limited to this latest issue of licensing for Microsoft Office. The simple truth of the matter is that we have LibreOffice, Open Office, Kingsoft, and Softmaker FreeOffice that are either opensource or low cost options to replace Microsoft Office. Any of these will do 95% or greater of what most users need to be completely productive in the retail, corporate, and educational communities. They are all also completely Microsoft compatible. The same thing proves true with operating systems. There are viable no-cost or low-cost alternatives available that function just as well if not better than Windows 8. When a company stops listening to the communities that put them where they are today then they begin the slow but sure descent down the slippery slope. That, of course, takes time but without a change of mindset and corporate philosophy it will eventually happen.
The only reason I still have Office 2007 on my machine is that my Wife has a hard time with software changes AND I need Outlook to manage my emails.
I have tried a couple of other programs but they (IMHO) quite frankly STINK!
If you have an alternative to Outlook out there, PLEASE tell me, I'm already using Chrome instead of IE9, (I only have IE8 still on my machine because Win 7 NEEDS it to exist).
Thanks
I have tried a couple of other programs but they (IMHO) quite frankly STINK!
If you have an alternative to Outlook out there, PLEASE tell me, I'm already using Chrome instead of IE9, (I only have IE8 still on my machine because Win 7 NEEDS it to exist).
Thanks
Thunderbird. - no it does not look like office, but it works damn well.
I am afraid that you will have to bite the bullet on change and new user interfaces at some stage, staying with Office 2007 is not a long term option.
Personally I hated the Office 2007/2010 interface but eventually got used to it. When I recently had to use Office 2003 I realised how much I had adapted.
I am afraid that you will have to bite the bullet on change and new user interfaces at some stage, staying with Office 2007 is not a long term option.
Personally I hated the Office 2007/2010 interface but eventually got used to it. When I recently had to use Office 2003 I realised how much I had adapted.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll take a look @ it and if I think I can use it, I'll jump, I refuse to give MS any more money what with this new licensing system and not being able to x-fer it to another machine if my main machine should go belly-up on me in the future (KNOCK-WOOD)
It is very hard to move your emails out of Thunderbird if you decide to move to something else.
Well, thanks for all the information you folks have provided, and I have to say, I'm not enamored with the idea of this program from this.
Is there any other programs out there that work like Outlook (for a Windows environment) that anyone knows of?
Thanks to all for the comments (and advice both past and in advance).
Is there any other programs out there that work like Outlook (for a Windows environment) that anyone knows of?
Thanks to all for the comments (and advice both past and in advance).
I was playing with Zimbra Desktop. I do not have a feature by feature comparison though. I am currently using Thunderbird, but it has become as sluggish as Outlook, I am thinking of switching back. I also heard that Mozilla is not going to continue to develop Thunderbird?
At the risk of sounding like a 20 gripes with Thunderbird I must say its only just usable.
I use Thunderbird on GMAIL for most of my non-business computers and frankly its pathetic. If I sort the inbox by "Subject" I can't jump by pressing a key like I can in Outlook. I can't figure out how to get it to move to the next messsage, not the "next unread" message. Ok when going forwards but when going back? It keeps asking be if I want to read un-read e-mails in gmail's "all mail" folder when they just haven't yet synced.
I am so desperate for an Outlook replacment that I have thought about writing my own....
I use Thunderbird on GMAIL for most of my non-business computers and frankly its pathetic. If I sort the inbox by "Subject" I can't jump by pressing a key like I can in Outlook. I can't figure out how to get it to move to the next messsage, not the "next unread" message. Ok when going forwards but when going back? It keeps asking be if I want to read un-read e-mails in gmail's "all mail" folder when they just haven't yet synced.
I am so desperate for an Outlook replacment that I have thought about writing my own....
Thunderbird is an alternative to Live Mail, I dumped TB because it destroyed about 8 months of email. Live Mail is nearly as good and more stable. Plus I thought I read it was not going to be supported?
Another free MS Office replacement is Symphony from IBM. I have used it for years on machines that I didn't have MS Office on. I like the interface better than OpenOffice. It is the same code base as a previous release of OpenOffice, but I don't remember which one.
We were looking at an IBM email server solution and Symphony solution came up. I remember enjoying using the product, however I also remember long load times. I will have to give it another look as my Thunderbird is slowing down..
******IBM Lotus Notes (Domino?) email server******
******IBM Lotus Notes (Domino?) email server******
Is it Capex?
Is it Opex?
Well, no matter how we calculate it up to 4 years, we lose money any which way over the old scheme.
We might as well use paper. Goodbye trees, MS didn't save the environment by wiping out install cds.
Is it Opex?
Well, no matter how we calculate it up to 4 years, we lose money any which way over the old scheme.
We might as well use paper. Goodbye trees, MS didn't save the environment by wiping out install cds.
There are so many Opensource options that we do not need MS Office. Kingsoft Office and OpenOffice are just 2 of them. For mail you can use eM Client.
I think I'll give that a go. Getting my Calendar in one place would be a real boon.
then what do you say to your software vendors that require you to have MS office installed for there software to work?
And personally I believe that when the Software Companies who write that Type of Software see a number of Potential Customers say that what they are being offered is of no use to them and that they are not in the running for a sale of their Software they will rewrite it to suit what they are seeing in the
Current Market.
Some will be slower than others and some will not even bother but they are the ones who chose to limit their possible customers and as such that is their decision.
Col
Current Market.
Some will be slower than others and some will not even bother but they are the ones who chose to limit their possible customers and as such that is their decision.
Col
well in a perfect world that would be great a software vendor that listens to its customers.
here is the world i live in 400 desktop 250 ms office and a 2 million dollar software package (CPSI) that requires MS office for nurse documentation.
CPSI will not listen when we ask to make availible with other office suites.
and
Microsoft will not listen when we tell them that new licensing model does not work for us.
so when will the "Current Market" swing in the favor of our little world?
here is the world i live in 400 desktop 250 ms office and a 2 million dollar software package (CPSI) that requires MS office for nurse documentation.
CPSI will not listen when we ask to make availible with other office suites.
and
Microsoft will not listen when we tell them that new licensing model does not work for us.
so when will the "Current Market" swing in the favor of our little world?
You live in the Medical World with very little choice in what you use. Here the medical profession has the choice between 2 programs neither of which suit their needs all that well.
To make things worse they are not rewritten all that regularly either so they tend to require older software meaning OS's as they are not Certified to run on the newer software.
It was very recently that the Main Medical Package here was rewritten to run on Vista from XP, at the time I was testing a RTM Version of 8 so it's hardly the Latest and Greatest and a bit before that it was finally certified to be used on Server 2008.
The company who uses that is currently Testing the Free Nix Option where the Practice Owner is running on a Nix Box and Server to see if it's good enough for their needs or if it's worth the time & effort to change.
The reality however is that with any Specialized Software and all Medical Software falls into that group you are as far behind the Bleeding Edge as it is possible to get so you are always following the trend never leading it.
Col
To make things worse they are not rewritten all that regularly either so they tend to require older software meaning OS's as they are not Certified to run on the newer software.
It was very recently that the Main Medical Package here was rewritten to run on Vista from XP, at the time I was testing a RTM Version of 8 so it's hardly the Latest and Greatest and a bit before that it was finally certified to be used on Server 2008.
The company who uses that is currently Testing the Free Nix Option where the Practice Owner is running on a Nix Box and Server to see if it's good enough for their needs or if it's worth the time & effort to change.
The reality however is that with any Specialized Software and all Medical Software falls into that group you are as far behind the Bleeding Edge as it is possible to get so you are always following the trend never leading it.
Col
In 2007, VMS celebrated its 35th year.
I don't know how it's done since then.
I wouldn't be surprised if applications written for it in 1980 still run.
I don't know how it's done since then.
I wouldn't be surprised if applications written for it in 1980 still run.
You mention that you can see potential benefits for the individual and corporation, but don't tell us what they are. That seems to be the line from MS. It's better because we say it is, but we're not going to tell you how.
I'm looking for a clear and complete statement from MS that addresses specific design choices and the reason for them. Number one is why are the ribbon titles in all caps?
I'm looking for a clear and complete statement from MS that addresses specific design choices and the reason for them. Number one is why are the ribbon titles in all caps?
In Australia? Yeah,right. Living in Westmead, I can barely get a reception on the mobile, let alone wireless BB. If the program doesn't install, run & save locally - it's useless to us and those living close by.
Win 8, happily only on 1 PC, was a waste of money. I'd have been better off giving the same amount to Canonical (Ubuntu's producer) than MS - at least I'd have something easy to use.
I am NOT paying monthly or yearly for bug ridden software. Not for OS, Office type suite or financial. The only reason MS change the program save type each time is to force upgrades.
Starting to look more and more like freeware/open source is the way to go.
Win 8, happily only on 1 PC, was a waste of money. I'd have been better off giving the same amount to Canonical (Ubuntu's producer) than MS - at least I'd have something easy to use.
I am NOT paying monthly or yearly for bug ridden software. Not for OS, Office type suite or financial. The only reason MS change the program save type each time is to force upgrades.
Starting to look more and more like freeware/open source is the way to go.
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