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Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed May 29, 2013 11:38 pm
by ryanvade
By Alex Williams

Now this is a watershed moment — Microsoft is looking at offering a Linux version of Office in 2014.

According to ExtremeTech, Microsoft is taking a “meaningful look” at releasing a full Linux port of Office in 2014. That would be quite something and it makes perfect sense. It’s apparent that Office, as proprietary software, will not regain the luster of its enterprise glory years. Open sourcing Office gives the company a window, no pun intended, into collaborating with a developer community outside the .NET universe.

Extreme Tech reports that rumors of the Linux version of Office surfaced last weekend at FOSDEM, the open source conference held annually in Brussels. Sources there told ExtremeTech that the meaningful consideration is prompted by Microsoft’s realization that Linux may be a viable commercial opportunity after all.

It also stems from Microsoft’s plans to develop a version of Office for Android to work on mobile devices. According to ExtremeTech:

Android, as you may already know, is a Linux-based operating system, meaning a lot of the porting work will have already been done — it shouldn’t take too much effort to take the next step and bring Office to Ubuntu, or whichever distro Microsoft favors.


Microsoft has never offered a Linux version of its software.

Here’s what I think about this development: Stuff it all you <censor> who say Linux does not have commercial viability. Microsoft is looking at open sourcing its crown jewel.

A Note: Several people have remarked that software can be ported to Linux without open-sourcing it. That is true but still we have no clear idea what Microsoft plans to do. It may not open-source Office or it may decide to open it up to one and all. We just don’t know. Stay tuned.

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:59 am
by BBOSAK2143
This is what should have been thought about 3 years ago or more. People begged and begged for MS Office to come to Linux. Now after all this time, it reminds me of a Pat Benatar line in a song "It's a little to little it's a little too late" Linux strove to meet its people's needs with major improvements to Libre Office. To be honest why would anyone want to go backwards to MS Office??? Oh, I get it so they can buy more games for their X-Box and pay for tidbits of information MS will give them! No thanks, is a bunch of junk that is outdated and overated! Continually, I keep saying the problem with MS is they are worried where to get more people that can do head spins playing with surface to make more commercials. Now if they would head back to development and start creating things that are equivalent to Linux, maybe they would be where they were years ago! I do not see it happening! I see them to continue blanketing the airways with their poor commercialism promoting their outdated junk! I also see in 2 or 3 years time a headstone for them that reads "R.I.P MS, We thought we were great, so we were greedy, did not advance and now we are dead!" I sound terrible towards MS, why? I was once a sucker for them and bought into their commercialism. Every day I am happy I finally came to see the true light and greatness of Linux! All Linux developers are beating their heads in working day in day out, to move forward. Do they sit there resting on their laurels???? No, not even for a second! They look at what they created and insist it can be better!!!! Take TheeMahn for instance! Past OS's run like a dream, still he will make another that even runs better! That is the person I would rather look up to then some fools that think they can keep running Win95 for a thousand years. Just pretty up the rusted out car and let it roll!!!! Not! Everyone begged for MS to advance after Win7 as they casually blew that advancement off! Tortoise and the hare here, folks! They are the foolish braggard hare and Linux is the tortoise. Well we all know who won that race!!! Take a look around on Linux and you will see what I say is right! Is the most exciting adventurous place to be, continually changing, continually improving!!!! Bye Bye MS! Just use you when I am forced to and until business wakes up to who the real leader is!!!!

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 11:14 pm
by pam
Sorry but i must defend linux.
I mean the hate to Microsoft is just lame.
All credibility to linux is a sham. Its developed by software programmers, chip engineers, architects etc etc.
There is no politicking or show business. Its just plain bland and i like it just like that. Btw, wine still runs office like a champ.

Apart from legalities Microsoft has done swell of a job on Win 8, thinking out of the box. The devs do the real work not the company or the advocates. Im not surprised with/when office comes to linux. I wont be surprised when MS takes a good look at the monolith versus its own microkernel. I'll be happy if they make a closed-source microkernel/exo-kernel out of linux's monolith, but still modularised. I need to see if they are really willing to accept their take on things is wrong and maybe change... just to survive also.

I'll never believe in perfection.

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:43 am
by BBOSAK2143
First response I gave a bit too demeaning and do not need to sound as cheap/low as other forums. Yes, Blackwolf I have seen this stuff there did not care for it and now I did it! Is just I feel more deeply for all on Linux from developers down to user. There is simply more togetherness. We all know with that togetherness comes strength and great friendships. This is how life is really meant to live! Let's just keep pushing forward and prove we can all make this world a better place to live in! Whatever you use is your choice and vica versa for myself. No need to fight about anything as is better to just work to improve things to make it better for everyone!

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:43 am
by ryanvade
I will stick with kingosft office...cheaper and uses less disk space.

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:23 am
by Xanayoshi
I love Windows so much I use it every day. I even paid a thousand dollars for the privelige of waking up every day, driving 30 miles, just to see
img0.jpg
BEHOLD!!!



In fact,that wallpaper is just so awesome that on my personal version of Windows on my Netbook you can't even change it. Microsoft knew that they had reached an epitomical barrier with that wallpaper that was just so strikingly beautiful they had to make sure it remained untouched, not unlike the Mona Lisa. It is a vision of perfection, a representation of the personal triumphs of humanity over the centuries.

Office is just another extension of the paradise that is a Microsoft OS. It is so amazing and powerful that everytime I start it it asks for a twenty-five digit code. I gave it the one that came with my computer but it is simply not good enough. So to prevent terrorists from gaining access to my Office software and destroying civilization as we know it I have no choice but to never let my Windows PC go online. What if they get my wallpaper too?!!!

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 2:38 pm
by BBOSAK2143
Xan, you are as awesome as ever! Almost fell over on that one :lol: !!! Ryanvade would love to know what the differences are between Libre and Kingsoft a link or two would be great!!!! I remember years back we were able to change the boot screens in XP, but soon as the service pack came out that was done! Ah so much for fun, who needs that anyway, just like screensavers! Nothing like coming back to the computer is all black keep hitting enter and nothing happens! More fun to have it that way than seeing the screensaver jiggle the mouse and back up ready to go! So much for production, when you can go for a lack of!!!!!

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:33 pm
by ryanvade

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:47 am
by BBOSAK2143
Ryanvade is a download link. Really would like to know the difference and also if Kingsoft comes somewhere near Access and could save to that format. At one time was going to try and run both to see what the differences are but found out I could not. So just curious if you have a bit of time to spare can send a link that would tell of the differences, so I will know what to do and what to use, next OS I assemble or download. Thanks will be greatly appreciated!

Re: Microsoft Considering A Linux Version Of Office In 2014

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 4:54 pm
by ryanvade
Okay, Kingsoft office has three programs.
Writer Presentation and Spreadsheet

There is no page I could find that had the differences between the office suites. I am using Kingsoft because the company is trying to add full Linux support.

In comparison to Libreoffice, I think kingsoft office has a more user friendly interface. A more modern interface, similar to MS Office. This is nice since most people get training on MS Office, and then when they try Libreoffice get confused.

I know that Kingsoft office on Linux is still very much in alpha, so some key features are not yet available. I still cannot make graphs in Kingsoft Spreadsheets.

Kingsoft does not support the latest MS file formats on Spreadsheets. The programs also do not support ODF (Open document format) file types.