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It is hard to say
Currently, MS Office has >90% user base, OpenOffice has <9% user base(mainly used by IT professionals).

Sun's model is freeware(OpenSource) + shareware(StarOffice $34.99) + donate. This model works not very well because number 1 user base is not big enough, number 2 most existing users only uses freeware instead of pay a penny. Unless more than 50% OpenOffice fans donate or pay, otherwise it is hard to grow.

I worked in Sun before. Internally Sun considered ad-supported model two years ago, when Microsoft leaked this idea in 2007. Because of license and other concerns, SUN dropped this idea eventually.

Think about how much money MS earned from office. But SUN did not make enough. It proves freeware + shareware model doesn't work well. Not sure if Oracle will consider to use ad-supported model to fight back. Larry is a smart and strong guy. He may.

Posted: 05/05/2009 @ 12:02 AM (PDT)
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Will free Microsoft Office kill OpenOffice?hason_hu@... | 05/04/2009 @ 10:00 PM (PDT)
It's not freeboxfiddler | 05/04/2009 @ 10:02 PM (PDT)
And bandwidth.seanferd | 05/04/2009 @ 11:45 PM (PDT)
And what other cr@p would be built inThe Scummy One | 05/04/2009 @ 10:06 PM (PDT)
I agree about Oracle....NotSoChiGuy | 05/05/2009 @ 11:49 AM (PDT)
Is MS Office better ?j-mart@... | 05/04/2009 @ 10:56 PM (PDT)
OO is better is a few ways that aren't used every dayDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:31 AM (PDT)
Open Office verses MS Officej-mart@... | 05/08/2009 @ 10:09 PM (PDT)
It's prettier and, hate to say this, bloatware or not, Office 2007's ribbonHypnoToad72 | 05/07/2009 @ 07:33 AM (PDT)
It is hard to saydonbaker | 05/05/2009 @ 12:02 AM (PDT)
The only reason a lot of people use MS officeDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:24 AM (PDT)
This is Adware not Freeware JackOfAllTech | 05/05/2009 @ 02:19 AM (PDT)
Don't limit your statement to FLOSS supporters.Palmetto | 05/05/2009 @ 05:13 AM (PDT)
I agreeJackOfAllTech | 05/05/2009 @ 10:50 PM (PDT)
Be fair to Adwareleealvin2@... | 05/05/2009 @ 10:22 AM (PDT)
:^0 :^0 :^0boxfiddler | 05/05/2009 @ 10:26 AM (PDT)
Adware should play fairJacemg@... | 05/05/2009 @ 10:29 AM (PDT)
"How many of you refuse using it?"Palmetto | 05/05/2009 @ 11:12 AM (PDT)
Agreed, but MS always tries to bend the truthSinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 11:15 AM (PDT)
Nah, it will be like "Windows 7 Basic"Palmetto | 05/05/2009 @ 01:12 PM (PDT)
Prolly diff file format tooSinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 01:14 PM (PDT)
Got your pointleealvin2@... | 05/05/2009 @ 11:38 AM (PDT)
I don't think you doboxfiddler | 05/05/2009 @ 11:51 AM (PDT)
"prefer to put to other use"NotSoChiGuy | 05/05/2009 @ 12:33 PM (PDT)
I wonder...SinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 12:53 PM (PDT)
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch"Palmetto | 05/05/2009 @ 01:23 PM (PDT)
Fair enoughleealvin2@... | 05/05/2009 @ 01:56 PM (PDT)
as long as it is not like MSNSinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 02:06 PM (PDT)
I don't use Yahoo either, nor ANYTHING...JackOfAllTech | 05/05/2009 @ 10:52 PM (PDT)
I avoid all adware and especially yahooDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:34 AM (PDT)
um, you do know that, technically speakingJaqui | 05/06/2009 @ 01:44 AM (PDT)
Technically, yes but...JackOfAllTech | 05/06/2009 @ 10:33 PM (PDT)
History Repeats itselfJacemg@... | 05/05/2009 @ 10:27 AM (PDT)
Am I the only one that thinksSinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 10:44 AM (PDT)
I'm not following you.Palmetto | 05/05/2009 @ 01:43 PM (PDT)
nah, not ligitSinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 02:05 PM (PDT)
Ahh, so it is The Scummy One | 05/05/2009 @ 03:52 PM (PDT)
Not my fault...SinisterSlay | 05/05/2009 @ 08:18 PM (PDT)
:^0 -- but that still doesnt change the factThe Scummy One | 05/05/2009 @ 08:35 PM (PDT)
lucky youJaqui | 05/06/2009 @ 07:28 AM (PDT)
student/teacher ed on saleThe Scummy One | 05/06/2009 @ 08:22 AM (PDT)
which shows you should haveDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:41 AM (PDT)
OpenOffice does not includeThe Scummy One | 05/07/2009 @ 08:07 AM (PDT)
No Outlook on OO, gee that really worries me, now let me seeDeadly Ernest | 05/08/2009 @ 06:37 AM (PDT)
:^0 -- 'ceptThe Scummy One | 05/08/2009 @ 07:00 AM (PDT)
$crew M$FT and their damn profit motives.scott@... | 05/06/2009 @ 08:56 AM (PDT)
Well actuallySinisterSlay | 05/06/2009 @ 09:06 AM (PDT)
:^0 -- while I agree Scott, The Scummy One | 05/06/2009 @ 09:21 AM (PDT)
hah don't be an jerk scummy :pSinisterSlay | 05/06/2009 @ 09:33 AM (PDT)
A Jerky Scummy :0 :^0 :^0The Scummy One | 05/06/2009 @ 09:45 AM (PDT)
Scummy Jerkyshasca | 05/06/2009 @ 10:10 AM (PDT)
Refreshingly repugnant either way.santeewelding | 05/06/2009 @ 10:26 AM (PDT)
"Refreshingly repugnant"Palmetto | 05/07/2009 @ 07:59 AM (PDT)
Good, and good for you.seanferd | 05/07/2009 @ 08:40 AM (PDT)
using older software isn't piracyDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:21 AM (PDT)
It is in this case.Palmetto | 05/07/2009 @ 10:23 AM (PDT)
Yeah, that came up AFTER I posted my responseDeadly Ernest | 05/08/2009 @ 06:43 AM (PDT)
Free MS Office ???ggreenwood4@... | 05/06/2009 @ 10:30 AM (PDT)
Free MS Office ???ggreenwood4@... | 05/06/2009 @ 10:30 AM (PDT)
Free MS Office ???ggreenwood4@... | 05/06/2009 @ 10:31 AM (PDT)
hey, here's a cute idea for thisDeadly Ernest | 05/07/2009 @ 06:19 AM (PDT)
Was that you?Ed Woychowsky | 05/07/2009 @ 06:59 AM (PDT)
You couldn't have seen me at that convention asDeadly Ernest | 05/08/2009 @ 06:39 AM (PDT)
A list of once-"professional" freebies:HypnoToad72 | 05/07/2009 @ 07:31 AM (PDT)
Free MS Office!seanferd | 05/07/2009 @ 08:42 AM (PDT)
Free the Indianapolis 500!Palmetto | 05/07/2009 @ 10:26 AM (PDT)
Vegetable rights!seanferd | 05/08/2009 @ 07:26 PM (PDT)

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