Vote it up!

What do you use MS Office most commonly for? If it’s just day to day word processing, spreadsheet number crunching or simple presentations then you are the ideal candidate to convert to the free software movement. And if the work is something more arcane then do stay put. If you find Google Docs more appealing than MS Office, then you are one of the tribe of computer users who are shifting loyalties from Microsoft to other platforms.

The world of Microsoft is populated with more than 500 million users, but rapidly developing technologies and availability of high speed net access is creating islands of independent and free software suites. Linux as an OS is probably the champion from the other side, but even before its advent their have been many 'pretenders'.

It is now that the Open Source movement has gathered momentum with greater development in technologies. High speed access and remote technologies has birthed server hosted applications. You don't even need to install the program on your machine. All you need is a browser, an internet access and a place to sit down.

The OpenDocument format is also now on charge. With Google Docs you can create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations. You can also share and collaborate with others over the net. The files can be saved in multiple formats and some have multiple language support. Though it has some security and size limitations, for many it is a free and viable option to the paid software’s.

Pierre Avignon, a Graphics Designer has given up on MS Office entirely.

“It is free. It is a great deal."

Pierre uses Symphony, a free office suite downloadable from IBM's website.

Rebecca Wettemann, an analyst says that these free suites cannot perform sophisticated functions but the people who do high end data crunching are in the minority.

Rob Tidrow, a computer programmer who has written several guides to using Microsoft Office says a program like Symphony has a lot of advanced features which are their in MS Office.

Now, Google Docs and other programs of its ilk like OpenOffice.org, Symphony, ThinkFree Office and Zoho are drawing the attention of business users too. An entry level business version of MS Office retails at $325. Companies keen to cut technological costs are looking at these alternatives with new found eyes. With Microsoft tightening their licensing terms more and more, the costs could only keep on increasing.

With each incremental version the gap between paid software’s and free software’s is closing and in some features free applications have even surpassed their paid rivals. Gradually, the small fight could turn into one big ugly brawl. But for the moment we can be happy that Microsoft cannot claim its de facto right on one tiny corner of our computer.