Clarification of Answer by
kyrie26-ga
on
28 Jan 2003 19:48 PST
Hi again aryaone-ga,
It is anyone's guess whether or not Sun Microsystems will replace
Microsoft as the new "dictator" in the desktop business software
arena. There is no such data. My gut feeling is, no, nobody can beat
Microsoft's "take over the world" syndrome. However, I've dug up the
following articles so that you can make an informed decision.
In answer to your question, I am a Web Developer and have very many
years of IT experience.
+------------------------------------------------------+
ZDNet Tech Update Enterprise Applications - Microsoft unveils new
Office plans
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2872074,00.html
[begin excerpt]
While Microsoft still dominates the desktop business software market,
customers may be taking a closer look at competitive packages, such as
StarOffice. One reason: a new licensing plan aimed at businesses which
takes effect on July 31.
Though the plan is intended to make revenue more predictable for
Microsoft, it could also significantly raise prices for customers,
according to market researcher Gartner. As of last month, two-thirds
of Microsoft's largest customers had not yet signed up for the plan.
Raikes said Microsoft has not seen any reasons to be concerned about
competitors. "Anytime there is a challenge in the marketplace, people
like to talk and write about it. But what we see is that today people
want a relationship with Microsoft to get the latest Office technology
to get their jobs done."
[end excerpt]
+------------------------------------------------------+
Survey: Anger at Microsoft's new licensing - Tech News - CNET.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-273953.html
[begin excerpt]
Conducted by market researcher Giga and Windows NT/2000 integrator
Sunbelt Software, the survey of 4,550 technology professionals found
that 80 percent of those polled expected to pay more for Microsoft
software under the controversial new programs. About 42 percent said
their Microsoft software costs would increase anywhere from 20 percent
to 50 percent. Of the remainder, 19 percent said their costs would
double or triple, while 7 percent saw no change and another 2.6
percent expected a decrease.
The survey also found that 36 percent said they would consider
alternative products in light of the changes.
The high number of potential defectors is likely an emotional
reaction, said analysts, but it's a further indication that Microsoft
may have blundered when it enacted new licensing provisions Oct. 1.
The new licensing program discontinued the most popular means by which
businesses buy Microsoft software for desktops and back-end computer
operations. Under the new programs, customers don't simply buy
software and worry about upgrades in the future. Instead, they are
placed in a program that commits them to upgrading every two years.
According to market researcher Gartner, the program will raise prices
anywhere from 33 percent to 100 percent. Microsoft has also peppered
the contract with contingencies that get customers to switch to the
new maintenance deals sooner rather than later.
[end excerpt]
+------------------------------------------------------+
USATODAY.com - A new way to fight Microsoft
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/2002/06/20/sinrod.htm
[begin excerpt]
In a letter dated June 4 to Mitchell Daniels Jr., the director of the
Office of Management and Budget, Nader, along with James Love, of the
Consumer Project on Technology, asserts that while "the Department of
Justice is spending years in court trying to restrain very modest
elements of Microsoft's monopoly abuses," Microsoft still "has an
astounding market share for desktop operating systems and office
productivity software." Nader and Love complain that there are
"serious problems with the Microsoft monopoly, including those
associated with harm to innovation, security and pricing."
Nader and Love further state that the federal government "spends
billions of dollars on software purchases from one company [Microsoft]
that is continually raising prices, making its products incompatible
with previous versions in order to force upgrades, deliberately
creating interoperability problems with would-be competitors, and
[engages] in many other anticompetitive practices." They suggest that
a private business in the U.S. government's shoes would not be a
"passive consumer" as apparently is the government up to this point.
[end excerpt]
+------------------------------------------------------+
Is StarOffice ready to take on Microsoft Office?: ZDNet Australia News
& Tech: OS
http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/os/story/0,2000024997,20259611,00.htm
[begin excerpt]
Perhaps the most significant opportunity for StarOffice is the recent
increase in Office licensing costs. Our analysis shows that IT
organizations are facing an increase of between 22 percent and 40
percent at the highest discount level.
Organisations that would happily budget for a new version of Office
every three to four years are not happy about being asked to pay as if
they upgraded every two years. As they plan desktop strategies for the
next five years, more organisations are considering whether Office on
the desktop is what they really need.
That is not to say that they would replace Office for all users, but
the price increase is forcing organisations to ask new questions: What
is it their users do; what are their productivity processes, and what
do they really need? Is there a better application to do their core
task? Is there a better approach than one-size-fits-all?
[end excerpt]
+------------------------------------------------------+
[begin excerpt]
8023 StarOffice[TM] Software Offers Alternative to Microsoft Office
Suite
http://gmi.systemnews.com/system-news/jobdir/submitted/2002.12/8023/8023.html
17.Oct.02--Feeling a bit disgruntled about Microsoft's new Volume
Licensing 6.0 Program, particularly that dreaded Software Assurance
component? You know, the part that requires you to pay in advance for
an upgrade you may or may not need, whether you're ready or not. Well,
you're not alone as many CIOs and IT managers grapple with how to
handle Microsoft's latest "the more money we can extract from our
customers the better" sales scheme. In a recent survey by Microsoft
Windows consulting company Sunbelt Software, Inc. and Information
Technology Intelligence Corp., of the 1500 technology managers polled,
36 percent reported they don't have the necessary funds to upgrade to
the Microsoft Volume Licensing 6.0 Program; separately, 38 percent
said
they are actively seeking alternatives to Microsoft products. (1) In
another survey of corporate technology buyers, conducted by a well
known financial firm in September 2002, only 7 percent of customers
are
pleased with the licensing changes, and 37 percent signed up
Furthermore, industry analysts estimate that 60 percent or more of
eligible customers chose not to sign up for the Software Assurance
program before its July 31, 2002 deadline. (3) If you're one of these
60 percent and are looking for a lower-cost alternative, now may be a
good time to make the switch to a new office productivity suite, such
as Sun's StarOfficeTM software. Sun has made a concerted effort to
provide a desktop package that virtually eliminates vendor lock-in and
proprietary formats and puts you, the customer, in control.
True to its philosophy, Sun makes it simple. The StarOffice software
has no confusing or complex licensing or software assurance programs
that dictate upgrade cycles. Whereas Sun offers the flexibility to
skip
versions of the StarOffice software, or to upgrade when you've
determined you're ready, Microsoft's Software Assurance program
ignores
customers'--your--needs by requiring you to pay up-front for rights to
future upgrades that may offer little in the way of compelling,
productivity-enhancing functionality. Yes, that's right. You must make
a financial commitment to a product that is not yet deployed in your
environment.
Sun believes that customers want and need a choice. The StarOffice 6.0
Office Suite--SunTM Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) software offering
(StarOffice Office Suite) delivers the increased freedom that helps
enable customers to make smart, cost-effective decisions that will
protect their employees' productivity and lower their total cost of
ownership. Featuring rich functionality, open source foundation and
interoperability with Microsoft Windows, and most importantly cost
sensitivity, the StarOffice Office Suite proves it is the right
alternative to Microsoft Office. The StarOffice Office Suite has
growing momentum, both in the corporate world and elsewhere. In fact,
as a signal of Sun's commitment to the StarOffice Office Suite
software
and of its support of students and educators worldwide, Sun has
donated
more than $6 billion worth of the StarOffice 6.0 Office Suite
software--reaching 240 million students worldwide--to academic
institutions throughout the world. (4)
[end excerpt]
+------------------------------------------------------+
Google search terms :
microsoft office raise OR raising OR increase OR increasing prices
microsoft office staroffice raise OR raising OR increase OR increasing
prices
I hope this is sufficient information to make an informed decision.
Let me know if you still need further clarification. Thanks!
Regards,
kyrie26-ga
,
0 Comments
)