Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office

pyowomaniac · 12-02-2005, 12:31 PM

Shouldn't it come with Microsoft Office? It's a given that most people will need Microsoft Office. I don't understand why it doesn't come already installed on XP. Both software programs are extremely expensive.

Maybe I'm just venting, but XP does not seem like it's worth the money.

Will.Spencer · 12-03-2005, 03:27 AM

Ahh... the joys of economics.

Prices are set, not by the cost of production, but by how much consumers are willing to pay.

The main "consumers" of Microsoft Office are American corporations. These corporations are willing to pay more for Microsoft Office than for alternatives such as OpenOffice, WordPerfect Office, and Lotus SmartSuite.

The corporations are willing to do this because they save money by not having to train their employees -- because it is assumed that everyone already knows how to use Microsoft Office.

In addition, document sharing with vendors, customers, and business partners is easier because no document format translation needs to be done.

Eventually, something will unseat Microsoft Office as the king of the office suites. Until that time, it seems that we are all going to be stuck paying a great deal of money for this huge pile of bug-ridden bloat-ware.

pyowomaniac · 12-03-2005, 02:45 PM

No wonder they are so rich because you're right - most people are willing to buy Microsoft Office regardless of the price. It's still annoying to upload Windows XP and only have "Paint". They could put more of a treat on there.

Will.Spencer · 12-03-2005, 11:18 PM

I believe that I will try Gimp for Windows for working with bitmap graphics.

My dependence upon Microsoft is based on Visio, Project, and PowerPoint.

Bender · 12-04-2005, 03:41 PM

There is free photo editing software called IrfanView.
Im unsure how limited its features are, however I know you can do the basic resize/crop etc of photos.

n3rdych1ck · 12-09-2005, 11:13 AM

yes, XP is frustraiting. Mine came with this weird WordPerfect program instaed of MSWord. it's not that bad though since you can save your files in MSWord format

brenda003 · 12-09-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

I believe that I will try Gimp for Windows for working with bitmap graphics.

My dependence upon Microsoft is based on Visio, Project, and PowerPoint.

I'd love to hear how Gimp is holding up nowadays and if it can compare to the other major graphics applications.

kelp · 12-10-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenda003

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

I believe that I will try Gimp for Windows for working with bitmap graphics.

My dependence upon Microsoft is based on Visio, Project, and PowerPoint.

I'd love to hear how Gimp is holding up nowadays and if it can compare to the other major graphics applications.

It's up a tier than any other "paint" application. I guess it could be rated a little under par with paintshop pro. It depends how good the user is, I guess.

Bender · 12-11-2005, 05:02 PM

Yes its alot better than Paint.
I would rank it a little under PaintShop pro, i really like that program while at the same time I found Gimp harder to use.

Still, I prefer photoshop out of all those

compnut · 12-17-2005, 11:14 AM

I think it is sad that MS Office doesn't come with XP. That just means that they make even more money because you have to buy it separately, and yes, it is expensive. It used to be with Windows 98, you got ALL the CDs with Office programs and everything, but with XP, they make it even more costly on you. I have two versions of MS Office that I keep, and one is MS Office 2000, so you're not limited on the license. Wonder what the new Vista will come with?

jess · 12-18-2005, 02:23 AM

The thing with software is that people are just paying for licences.

Microsoft makes millions, if not billions, of dollars per year from businesses renewing licences for the OS and Office etc etc.

There is a ton of money to be made there, but as we know, Microsoft has the monopoly.

bear · 12-18-2005, 05:37 PM

Tell me about it. I work for an IT company who makes millions per year renewing MS licensing contracts.

Its big business. Hence why Mr. Gates is the richest person in the world.

kamesh · 12-19-2005, 01:24 PM

AAAHhHHHAAA . you want every thing for free... . Microsoft has already given many facilitie..more over you want microsoft office installed in it..
I dont say that your idea is bad.. its really good but they need to get their expenses..

moonstar54 · 02-24-2006, 03:24 PM

I have been having trouble doing a RUN or save download ...
what it does when i hit RUN or SAVE it starts the download but it blinks of and on so i can not see the download as it finshes .. i had let it run and when it was done it just started the download all over again.... and for me to get it stop i have to shut off my pc and turn it back off..
Can somebody PLEASE try and help me .. with this problem.. i been told it macrosoft problem..
but is there a way i can go into my files and try to correct it with out takeing it in.. do i have something blocked so the download will not take place for me..PLEASE HELP i am so :( and fraustrated about this