“Office, not Windows, is Microsoft’s real killer asset,
according to VA Linux Systems CEO Larry Augustine. In an
interview with CNBC yesterday Augustine described MS Office as “the
one big application” in the desktop arena, and said Linux wouldn’t
make serious headway here until a strong enough rival
appeared….”
“Augustine is however possibly being overly pessimistic, because
although Microsoft’s control of the platform and its strong grip on
the OEM channel do make it difficult to shift the company off
desktop machines, various flanking moves will eventually help
rivals to erode its position. Increased use of Web-based
applications, for example, could allow StarOffice to grow via the
Star Portal system, while increased use of non-PC devices should
start making desktop-based applications suites look less
relevant.”