No Microsoft plan: software competition returns to desktop

No Microsoft program: software competition returns to desktop-general Linux technology-Linux technology and application information. The following is a detailed description. Author: Sun Yongjie

Recently, IBM has partnered with Linux publishers such as RedHat, Novell, and Ubuntu to launch the Microsoft-Free (no use of Microsoft software) program, that is, the IBM Lotus Foundations software (Lotus Foundations series) is an all-in-one service solution preinstalled in a PC with a Linux system, it includes Lotus Domino Mail and collaboration platform, file management, directory service, firewall and office software ). It is said that IBM has reconfigured the Lotus Foundations software so that it can be pre-installed in Linux versions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and Suse, the goal is to eliminate the need for Microsoft software for desktop systems. In fact, in addition to IBM, Google recently integrated its Google Gadgets and its online documents, calendars, emails, and other software into the gOS 3 operating system. As a cloud computing advocate and pioneer, IBM and Google made every effort to promote their online application software model last year, and claimed that traditional desktop applications are outdated, my online software has a high download rate. Why did I return to the desktop again this year? What does this phenomenon mean?

As we all know, with the popularity of cloud computing in the web era (even the founder of Google thinks that cloud computing is only in its infancy), there are some opinions in the industry, the pre-installed model of traditional desktop applications represented by Microsoft will be replaced by online application software. The most typical example is Google Apps launched by Google and Lotus Symphony of IBM. It is true that compared with traditional desktop software, online software has advantages such as low cost, easy upgrade, and simplified installation steps. However, due to the impact of many factors such as network restrictions, security, functionality, and usage habits, online software applications have not been recognized by most users, and even the promoters seem to be aware of this problem, it also proves that the application model of traditional software is still the main source for obtaining market, users and profits. This is evidenced at least by Google and IBM's recent initiatives. This also raises questions about whether the popular SaaS model can eventually become the mainstream of the software application model.

So when companies like Google and IBM leave the network and take the pre-installation path, will their claimed advantages still exist? Here, I believe that, for Google, because it is an Internet company, it is certainly not its advantage in the development of traditional application software. Previously, some users chose to use Google Apps mainly because they are free or inexpensive, and do not have high functional requirements. More importantly, users do not need to install Google Apps offline, everything is done on the Network (which is essentially different from the traditional software application model ). After the network is detached, the usage mode has completely changed, because there is no network restriction, this makes users' usage habits and functional requirements naturally magnified. At this time, Microsoft's advantages are undoubtedly obvious. It can be said that Google has almost no advantages in the traditional pre-installed software application model. For IBM, the lack of Microsoft plans to push its own Lotus Foundations software in this cooperation with Linux vendors shows that it is competing with Microsoft, it is actually the competition between Lotus Foundations and Microsoft's Office Systems.

As we all know, Microsoft's new version 2007 Microsoft Office System covers desktop and server software from the front-end to the back-end. 2007 Office System Includes Office SharePoint Server 2007, Office Project Server 2007, Office Form Server 2007, Office Groove Server 2007, and other software, complete the organization, system, process, and information sharing of an enterprise. Similar to Microsoft's Office Systems, although IBM's Lotus Foundations focuses on collaboration, it is offered to users for free or at a low price. But from the actual effect, it is not very successful. That is why, despite the competition for various free software packages, Microsoft still occupies the world's major OS and Office markets today. In addition, from the operating system based on the application software, Windows + Office is the most effective and customary application mode for the market and users of traditional desktop software. In addition, to cope with price competition, Microsoft is developing products with basic functions, the price of which will be lower than the standard version, this will have an impact on the free or low-cost IBM Lotus Foundations software. Finally, whether hardware partners will accept the Linux + Lotus Foundations application model together is still variable. Perhaps, if there are partners, this is more symbolic. It can be seen that IBM's no Microsoft plan can break Microsoft's dominant position in the desktop market, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprise market, as expected in the industry.

To sum up, the fact that IBM and Google's software businesses return to the desktop shows that the so-called cloud computing software application model has not been widely accepted by the market and users, traditional software business models will remain mainstream in the future, and will be the focus of competition. Who will win in the end depends on its innovation and its influence in the industrial chain. However, it is a good choice for users.