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The question is...
How well would it compete with OpenOffice.org which is a free download, has nearly all the same features as MS-Office and doesn't have any ads?

Methinks MS is shooting itself in the foot. An ad-supported version isn't going to win back any users that have decided they can live without MS-Office (too many alternatives that aren't ad-supported) and isn't likely to keep many existing customers from defecting (a price cut will, though). Best it is likely to do is to encourage those running illegal copies to get legal (which cutting the price will also do), but those users might still defect in the future as OOO and other free alternatives become better known.

The secret to making money by selling proprietory software is still to make it worth paying the price you charge. Gimmicks like ad-supported software are likely to drive more customers away from MS than they will attract.
Posted by: John L. Ries   Posted on: 11/14/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Another leaked memo  Chad_z | 11/14/05
?  LinuxHippie | 11/14/05
Didn't you know?  NonZealot | 11/14/05
 nomorems | 11/14/05
More musing..  Richard Flude | 11/14/05
Microsoft always seems to be..leaking..  Jeff Spicoli | 11/14/05
Criminal advertising  Real World | 11/15/05
One serious question for all.....  Laff | 11/15/05
Would never be in the office  voska | 11/15/05
I don't know Voska.....  Laff | 11/15/05
You bet  Mihi Nomen Est | 11/15/05
I would hope not -- Open Office!  LibraryGeek | 11/17/05
clunky product  us_forums@... | 05/28/07
This Memo Brought to You By,,,  schneb | 11/14/05
As if...  X Marks The Spot | 11/14/05
Don't Worry  djc1309@... | 11/17/05
That'll work  doctordawg | 11/14/05
There goes the neighborhood ?_?  feralcherub@... | 11/14/05
Amen, and then some...  jamuller3 | 11/14/05
Ad-versions of Office  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 11/14/05
John, do you know where I want to go today?  ordaj@... | 11/14/05
The question is...  John L. Ries | 11/14/05
Office w/ Ad will sink OOo  scsi commando | 11/14/05
Don't think so.  Cardinal_Bill | 11/14/05
Will it?  John L. Ries | 11/14/05
You'd be surprised  scsi commando | 11/14/05
Question to SCSI  voska | 11/15/05
ad-suported Office will sink OpenOffice  us_forums@... | 05/28/07
Ad-supported Windows  John L. Ries | 11/14/05
An even better idea would be...  jamuller3 | 11/14/05
Co-opting by subsidizing..  Jeff Spicoli | 11/14/05
Is this a bad Joke?  wiskyjon | 11/14/05
Snork!....  Cardinal_Bill | 11/14/05
Windows Advertisments  DLG_z | 11/14/05
It depends on how it works  jpurcell | 11/14/05
you already do...  linuxoverwindows | 11/14/05
same with other browsers  scsi commando | 11/14/05
same with other browsers  scsi commando | 11/14/05
Ad supported software  Evaine | 11/14/05
Then you pay for the software  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 11/14/05
Or you look for something else (NT)  John L. Ries | 11/14/05
Who might that be though?  voska | 11/15/05
Pretty irrelevant  j.m.galvin | 11/15/05
Or Switch To Linux  itanalyst | 11/15/05
that's ridiculous  scsi commando | 11/14/05
You're already using this product.  carlito408@... | 11/14/05
Operating System Experience  us_forums@... | 05/28/07
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA  dkwiatkowski@... | 11/14/05
Who cares  viator | 11/14/05
Adware - that undoubtedly tracks how you use your computer.  HypnoToad | 11/14/05
Ad supported Windows  jack@... | 11/14/05
Free Explorer Destroyer  IT-sys | 11/14/05
Free Desktop Apps  X Marks The Spot | 11/14/05
ad supported sofware worht the price?  hotcana | 11/15/05
Yes it can.  scsi commando | 11/15/05
sure go on why not  toxicfreak | 11/15/05
Don't miss the opportunity Apple!  scoobyJ | 11/15/05
your right but but also  toxicfreak | 11/15/05
Apple? Miss oportunities?  Real World | 11/15/05
Microsoft Adware  dmkays | 11/15/05
THIS is the year!!  NonZealot | 11/15/05
Not anymore  Real World | 11/15/05
Why does everyone care?  ju1ce | 11/15/05
MS and Ads  davkel1 | 11/15/05
Misleading title  voska | 11/15/05
Ok, a system with Spyware built in by default...  BitTwiddler | 11/15/05
AntiSpy will remove it  us_forums@... | 05/28/07
Windows Advertisement Supported Software happy  mosquiton | 11/15/05
I am working on complimentary software ...  Gonna_Snap | 11/15/05
Microsoft is full of crap, no wonder they  tedman | 11/15/05
They better not even think about it !!!  johns_z | 11/15/05
get a grip!!! happy  scsi commando | 11/16/05
Another reason to switch to Liunux or MAC  kokuryu | 11/15/05
Yeah, Free Windows. Windows98  John Zern | 11/15/05
Another Nail in the Coffin  zclayton2 | 11/15/05
ad supported software  billsues | 11/15/05
Mars Colonization Mission 2018  raymarc001 | 11/15/05
Why don't they simply reduce their margins?  birinha59 | 11/15/05
Re: Why don't they simply reduce their margins?  harrisharris | 11/15/05
Micro Soft  nmharrison69@... | 11/16/05
Free Software with Ads.  bob-moenich@... | 11/16/05
Microsoft adds on Windows  tkc@... | 11/17/05
Paid-up Users of Windows OS!!!  mikescorpio | 11/29/05
We've already taken the pill, amigos.  silverscanner | 12/02/05
still wondering  us_forums@... | 05/28/07
Does this work?  silverscanner | 12/02/05

What do you think?

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