I was an early adopter of Microsoft Office in the late 80s. While the development underground was busy hating Redmond – and demonstrating their lack of effection by exploiting countless Windows security holes, I was busy admiring Bill Gates, the man behind the empire. I demonstrated my admiration by throwing licensing fees his way each time I upgraded to a new Office Professional version or when I bought a new laptop. Sometimes I paid for the exact same version again, just because for one valid reason or another I was unable to locate my CD or serial number when I bought a new computer. (I still can’t find the missing socks from the dryer and yet Microsoft wants me to find the installation CD from two years ago?)

There were many logical reasons for staying with Office: learning curve, functionality, compatibility, lack of viable alternatives, just to name a few. But truthfully, there was an emotional reason that made the financial pill easier to swallow: I admired Bill and his wife Melinda for their pledge to give the bulk of their fortune away during their lifetime, through the Gates Foundation.  I still admire that about them and always will. I also think Microsoft is full of lots of good, intelligent, hard working people who deserve to reap their just rewards. The only change – and this is a killer for them when multiplied times 50 or 60 million people like me –  is that I’ve finally decided to stop contributing to their fortune. I will never again willingly pay a MS Office license fee.

Why? Glad you asked: 

1. Re-License Fatigue: I think I’ve repurchased the same product enough for one lifetime (listen up Beatles - I feel this way about the White Album too!)
2. Viable Alternative: Now there’s viable alternatives: Google Apps, and to a lesser extent, ZOHO apps.
3. Better Alternative: Now there’s a better alternative:  With Google Apps and other online solutions, there are no more software upgrades or viruses
4. Less Headaches: With “cloud computing” I”m finally out of the application hosting business! Google handles all software updates, security, and backup issues for me.
5. Less Cost (Considerably): Now there’s a cheaper alternative. Google apps cost me $50 per year, which is way cheaper than all the software upgrades, not to mention the cost of my time to install and update new software and patches for myself , my family, and our less technical friends. (some corporate studies have concluded it costs about $1,250 annually per desktop to maintain MS Office).
6. Better Collaboration: Collaboration with Google Apps is hands down easier – and promises to get easier and more effective still – with the impending release of Google Wave.
7. Always Available: Well, at least anytime I need it. Now I can access my stuff at work, at home, from my wife’s computer, from my friend’s computer, on my phone, and anywhere else with an Internet connection. I can also edit offline, though frankly I don’t do this, EVER. (If I’m without an Internet connection these days, I simply thank God for the serenity. Then I crack open a book, write notes on paper (I know, archaic isn’t it?), or (don’t think I’m weird for this) talk to the people around me.

Could Microsoft have created Google Apps before Google?  Sure they could have. A good time would have been about 2002. Why didn’t they? Who knows, but one would suspect that the threat to their short term earnings was just too great for investors and therefore management. Affiliates had a hand in it too. All those heavily invested types such as Microsoft Certified companies and resellers and other influencers have been throwing mud against the tide instead of using their leadership legacy to move their customers forward with better solutions. Too bad if this is true, because users and investors not to mention MS employees will suffer in the long term.

But isn’t this the way of nature? The old gives way to the new. The marketplace in time will correct inefficiencies. In my opinion, that time for MS Office has just arrived.