Why the Microsoft Office Monopoly Must, and Can, Fall

First of all, this video is hilarious (at least in my opinion).  It portrays two important issues. Companies bash each other almost as much as Obama and Romney bash each other on national television, blurring the line between business and politics (some would say all politics is business).  Secondly, people are afraid of change, especially when one of the most powerful businesses in the world stands to loose a lot.

Microsoft Office really has a monopoly on the document creating world.  Now there's no arguing that Microsoft Office is AMAZING. You can do almost everything imaginable (in the realm of documents, power-points and spreadsheets at least), and that's precisely the problem.  I would love to see a study that quantifies how many consumers use just 50% of the features of the Office suite.  I would bet money (a few bucks at least) that only about 10 percent of all people who buy Office use more than 50% of the features.  

So why do we all throw away $130 every time we buy a new computer?  It's not because we ourselves  need Microsoft Office to function in our academic and work lives.  It's because schools and businesses relish uniformity and are deathly afraid of change. 

I would say 80-90% of people, students and workers alike, don't need Microsoft Office and all its features.  There are at least 2 great alternatives to Office that range from $0-$60.  I am talking about iWork from Apple and Google Docs. 

My only in depth experience with iWork is Pages for iPad, so I am not the authority on comparing key features and differences between iWork and Office, but I am confident that iWork is just as good for the vast majority of people at half the price.  I really enjoy using Pages on my iPad because it works so intuitively.  A full version of Pages would surely be just as satisfying as Microsoft Word.  The only issue (and it's a big one) is that iWork only works on Apple devices.  

Luckily, Google heard my cries for help and has offered a wonderful solution. Google Docs.  

Google is so confident in the functionality of their web based document creator that it began dishing out the 'Google Chromebook,' a radical design idea where the entire device is just a conduit for web based applications. This makes the device itself inexpensive and slim, but it also makes it less functional than a traditional laptop....or does it?

Let's explore this more.  There were three main issues raised by the comical Microsoft attack on Google.

Lack of software complexity
Trouble with revisions while on the road
Automatic software changes

Those issues may have been troublesome a year ago when Google Docs was making its big push, but today these arguments are weak.  Yes, Google Docs is not as complicated as Microsoft Office, but who wants complicated software?  You can download Google documents for revision on the road and, with the current level of success, there is no fear of dramatic software changes or complete collapse.

Whenever you write an essay in school or submit a document to your boss, they all expect when you were typing, you saw the above screen.  Because of this we all suffer and are forced to dish out $130 for software we could get for free.  Yes, uniformity is important, but there can be standards that do not require the exact spacing and font size of Office.  In the end, I believe font size and spacing uniformity is the only general reason for buying Microsoft Office.  

I fully admit there are exceptions.  Big businesses may not want all their important and confidential documentation on the internet or they may actually need the Office suite for more than just department memos and scheduling.  

Let me write my final essay for the seminar in Google Docs. Let me create a PowerPoint without using PowerPoint. Let me be a productive for free. GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME......choice.  

Let's end this article with a productive look at the Google Chromebook, the device that makes Google Docs truly powerful.

Here are the specs for the new Google Chromebook:

• Display Size: 11.6 inches
• Display 1366 x 768
• Weight 2.43 pounds
• Thickness 0.8 inches
• Battery Life 6.5 hours
• Processor Samsung Exynos 5250
• Memory 2 GB
• Webcam
• 16 GB internal storage with 100 GB online storage
• HDMI port, USB 3 and USB 2 ports

And it costs only $250.

How can you say 'no' to something this sexy?

These specs are almost as impressive as Google Docs itself.  But people will complain there is no compatibility for iTunes, Photoshop, Microsoft's stuff, Skype or Netflix (for now).  And with only 16 GB of internal storage, this will not be a good place to store those home movies and pictures.

WRONG! 100 GB of online storage is actually the safest and most productive place to store all your important media.  It's always accessible wherever you go and there is no worry of loss or destruction of your files.  I do concede, however, that you don't need a Chromebook to use Google Drive to store files. 

I want to play around with the Chromebook, but I probably won't buy one myself. My laptop is still hanging in there and I am too far down the path to the Darkside to make my next computer anything but a Macbook.

My main point, trust Google. It's just as good as Microsoft, but humanity is afraid of healthy change.