Couldn't let this
story pass without comment.
Tesco are targeting the home market with office, security and photo software.
I heard a related joke on the TV the other night. It goes something like " ...
wherever you go in a city you are never more than 50 metres from a
Tesco Metro!". Well, they are diversifying, with a strap-line that
would make
Google and
Yahoo proud.
No mention of formats or compatibility, and lets face it there are dozens of office suites that aren't quite
Microsoft, and its hard to see how they can compete with
free software such as
Open Office.
Interesting though that they aren't concentrating on the online/live software offerings of
web 2.0, with its advertising opportunities. Apparently the software will sell for £20 per title.
My feeling is that schools could do a lot worse than give every family a free copy of
Open Office on a CD, or offer them the
download link on their web site! Of course this would mean them having to adopt
Open Office themselves ... probably a step too far. France, and indeed most of our continental neighbours have already bitten the bullet and give every student the free
Open Office or Sun Microsystem's
Star Office software. My wife is now very familiar with it, as it came free with her
Open University Course. Saves a fortune! It's well
supported.
Microsoft really do need to recognise the
open document formats, or they may lose business. There is a real added value to institutions using
Microsoft products, but education has a public service remit. Interestingly though, I understand
Microsoft charges the health service far less for its software than it charges education ... why? Perhaps now that we have health as part of our children's services we can get them to buy it at their rate. There's a thought!