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ThinkFree Takes Office Suite Offline

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

June 19, 2007, 2:28 PM

While Google is busy building a Web-based productivity suite and Microsoft dips its toes into the online waters, ThinkFree is moving in the opposite direction, releasing a beta version of its online office suite that works offline as well.

ThinkFree was one of the first developers of Web-based office tools, but its offerings have largely failed to catch on among businesses. In turn, the new "Premium" version of the software will enable editing Microsoft Office documents from Word, Excel or PowerPoint both online and offline. The suite utilizes AJAX and Java to accomplish this task, and will be sold as a monthly subscription for $7 USD, or $75 annually.

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By The Dave

posted Jun 20, 2007 - 4:35 PM

With this and Open Office I see no reason for people to still pay for Microsoft Office. It's just bloat.

Score: 0

By Metshrine

posted Jun 21, 2007 - 12:51 PM

Bloat eh? Works fine here, fast, responsive, easy to use, but whatever, I guess all that bloat is the reason I have no problems using it.

Score: 0

By WeezulDK

posted Jun 20, 2007 - 11:36 AM

Why is it that many companies have been trying to move towards a "rental" or "subscription" base for software? Isn't it enough that you're paid once for your work, and provide a product, instead they have to try to continually gouge us?

Does anyone else find that a subscription model for software is usually a ripoff? Whatever happened to buying a product one time and then that's that?

The only software subscription I have is for Stardock's product, Object Desktop, which is probably the first and only non-gaming based subscription for software (monthly access fees for playing something like EQ, WoW etc. don't apply here) that I've ever even considered buying.

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jun 20, 2007 - 2:24 PM

Depends on how much is being charged. In some cases, over something like a two- or three-year period, I find "rental" to be cheaper than buying. This is especially the case when significant upgrades [could] require additional layouts of cash with the purchase model.

(In sum and other words, it's merely the classic buy-lease problem found/taught in any MBA program. Do the math and let the numbers decide.)

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted Jun 20, 2007 - 4:02 AM

With Open Office, it seems kind of lame to charge a premium to be able to work with MS docs.

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jun 20, 2007 - 10:10 AM

For varied reasons, OO isn't everyone's cup of tea. Even worse, too many of those same people learned [a little] M$ and will die before they willingly learn anything else.

ThinkFree is merely charging people for their own stubbornness and/or ineptitude. One can't blame them for that.

Score: 0

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