Re: [libreoffice-users] m$ office to gnu/linux rumour

Hi :)
I doubt they would manage to port it.  Going in that direction is a major pita because they 
suddenly have to deal with being serious about security from the ground up rather than botching a 
patch on after-the-fact or they would have to try to break the OS down somehow into allowing them 
to run as Root/SuperUser/AdminUser all the time.  Porting from Gnu&Linux or Bsd to Windows is much 
easier.  Porting is pretty much a one-way street without getting into totally re-designing.  

Plus their efforts would not make economic sense.  They continue to claim that Gnu&Linux is only 1% 
of the desktop market so why would they put so much effort into breaking into that market?  Plus 
they keep saying the desktop is dead and that Cloud and mobile is the future.  So why put tons of 
resources into 1% of a dying market??

If they are aiming for mobile devices then surely they would sort out touch first and then use that 
to try to rescue their own mobile devices.  Mobile devices are 1 area  where Gnu&Linux dominates.   
Android, Blackberry, Chrome and others are Gnu&Linux.  Apparently iPad and IPhone are 2nd place 
with Android in the number 1 spot.  So it might make sense to aim for those markets except that 
would somewhat destroy their own devices' chances of penetrating the market better.  Their office 
is often considered a killer app that keeps people locked in Windows.  Porting it to other 
platforms dilutes their marketing of their devices.  

So, why would a profit-making company sink tons of resources on trying to capture 1% of a market 
that would resist them quite heavily even if they made it?  

The games industry is being welcomed and people are buying games and things for Gnu&Linux systems 
and that is creating a radical re-think for corporate software producers.  However even though all 
other companies could enjoy profitable success on Gnu&Linux MS would have serious problems trying 
to gain any sort of traction at all.  


One of LibreOffice's top selling points is that it works on all platforms.  Any rumours of MS 
getting onto Gnu&Linux is purely to detract from that.  They couldn't really make a version that 
worked.  Generally called "vapour-ware".  It's a good tactic.  

Regards from
Tom :)  





> ________________________________
> From: e-letter <inpost@gmail.com>
> To: users@global.libreoffice.org 
> Sent: Monday, 25 February 2013, 6:37
> Subject: [libreoffice-users] m$ office to gnu/linux rumour
>
> Readers,
>
> Rumours (kool-aid for the internet!) abound that m$ considering office
> 2014 for gnu/linux.
>
> Any substance anyone?
>
> Nice competition for LO?
>
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