Better Solutions and More Product Options?
Better solutions would not be something you’d argue about consumers wanting in their software. Who’s not interested in things being easier and more user-friendly?
My question though is are consumers really interested in more product options. I’ve been reading more and more lately about less being more and “simple” software helps you get more things done than feature loaded and bloated software. I very much believe that Microsoft has turned a page of history with the pending release of the new Office software suite of products. The new “ribbon” user interface will surely improve the experience for users. And at the same time I am embracing more “simple” applications than I have in the past.
Yet, I believe what this “more product options” is referring to is the variety of flavors the Microsoft Office system will be available in as packaged units.
- Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007
- Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007
- Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007
- Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
For me, I read that list and I still couldn’t tell you which one I should look to buy. I know if I’m buying a product for home use, that’s pretty obvious, but what if I need more than that? What if I’m a business user that needs more than the Professional Plus version, but maybe not everything in what’s included in the others. I think it would make more sense to have a somewhat a la carte pricing for the various Office application options. Let’s say each application is $200 individually. Then for each additional application I purchase, I get a flat rate knocked off of it. That would allow me to mix-n-match the applications I really need for the best use of resources (read money). There would be some price variations because obviously some products are more valuable than others. But for every Microsoft application I buy, I should continue to receive a discount. Kind of like a Microsoft Frequent Shopper club.
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POSTED IN: General, Microsoft, New Products
1 opinion for Better Solutions and More Product Options?
http://miloriano.com
Feb 27, 2006 at 12:14 pm
That’s nice. But that would not happen anytime soon. It just don’t sound microsoft right to do that.
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