Microsoft: The Reason I Still Cuss

From Cross the Breeze, I learned that Microsoft launched a web app, called "Live Writer," to compete with Google Docs. I was excited to try this out, as I still believe Microsoft to be a great organization still valiantly trying to find its sea legs in a rapidly changing business environment. The overview I read of the program looked promising, but to my chagrin, the application, which requires downloading software, won't operate without Microsoft Windows. I don't have that installed on my G5 Mac at home.

This comes just as Matt Dickman wrote about the future of desktop applications, in praise of web apps such as Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Microsoft's attempt is still in Beta, so hopefully they'll support Mac in the next run.

This myopic view Microsoft has that only people running Windows should be allowed to run their software has got to go.

Note to Microsoft: You exist to serve your customers. Your customers don't exist to serve you.

They already lost (for the time being, at least) the search wars because it failed to understand that. It gave up a great deal of the browser market to Firefox because of that view. Now will it lose the office applications race as well? - Cam Beck

P.S. Microsoft is not a stranger to innovation. It recently demonstrated this with the announcement of "Surface," which may have some interesting applications in retail environments.

P.S.S. I also realize Apple has Mac-only software applications that, from many standpoints, beat the pants off of Microsoft Windows counterparts. However, considering Apple's market share, this strategy makes sense -- for Apple. It shows the benefit of switching. What compelling reason does Microsoft give to switch from Google Docs to Live Writer?

Comments

[Kris Hoet]

First of all, if there was one application from Windows Live that definitely should go to the Mac it is Live Writer, agree with you there.

I would like to add though that Live Writer is no competitor for Google Docs. It's an offline/desktop blog writing tool that works with all major blog services out there. So if I'm not connected but I want to write a post for my Wordpress blog, I can use Live Writer for it and post it when I'm back online.

[Cam Beck]

Kris - Thank you for weighing in... We talked about this a bit on Matt's blog, but in some respects, it's a false question. Live Writer doesn't need to take market share from Google Docs, not only for the reason you mentioned, but also because the penetration of Google Docs isn't that great.

However, even though the programs differ in the way you described (Note: Gears is coming out soon, which will, as I understand it, make Google Docs closer to the Live Writer than it is now), at their core they are word processing/text editing programs. Since both are built primarily (exclusively, in Google's case) for Web users, having an always-available application to build blog posts as Writer does has marginal benefits, and mostly for mobile users who often find themselves without an Internet connection.

Am I off base or missing anything?

[Kris Hoet]

Hey Cam - I still think Writer is quite different. Google Docs (and especially with Gears) is competing in the area of office. And I tried out Gears today with Google Reader and that's a pretty interesting development to say the least.

Live Writer is a tool purely for blogging to let you write blogposts out of your online blog dashboard so to say. Why is that interesting?
- if you write on many blogs, many platforms you can use Writer for all
- the API allows addins to be created, like there's one that makes it easy to add pictures from Flickr for instance
- etc

I really should find a way to show you :), as said it's definitely a tool we should get on the Mac

[Ann Handley]

One quick comment: THAT is a great headline!

: )

[Cam Beck]

Ann - Thank you! You know, I wouldn't even bother cussing (or, as was true in this instance, think the cuss words in my head) if I didn't have high expectations for Microsoft in the first place. :)

[Roger von Oech]

Macintosh.