StarOffice No Longer Part of Google Pack
While Google Docs has been ramping up recently, it seems the Google Pack has been cutting back. Sun's $70 productivity suite StarOffice, which was added to the free Google Pack just over a year ago, is no longer available as part of the Google Pack download.
With no formal announcement from Google, StarOffice seems to have quietly disappeared into the night. Other products, such as Norton Security Scan, Adobe Reader, Skype, Spyware Doctor, Real Player and Google's own products remain part of Google Pack.
While this is yet another blow to Sun Microsystems, which reported dismal sales last month, it is one more small step on Google's part to remove the option of desktop applications and take consumers into the cloud.
As Google's Dave Girouard declared at the Web 2.0 Summit last week:
"It's Google's mission to bring users "entirely into the cloud" and not just to create a "cloud-like" experience."
Thanks: Digital Inspiration
Comments
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They should really include Gizmo Project since it works their Grandcentral product.
Posted by: Sal | November 8, 2008 9:57 AM
You're right. Probably, the other thing they should include is Chrome; makes sense - you need a browser to get to the cloud ;)
Star office is just not used. I rekon, my personal opinion from my own experience, they removed it because it just takes too much space in the distribution AND most people still end up using MSOffice. Common this is an enterprise aimed product after all.
They need to move to a configurable download that lets consumers click what becomes part of the package then it dynamically creates the package before sending it down to the end user!
Posted by: John Mitas | November 8, 2008 12:22 PM
Screw the cloud and screw Google for trying to get everyone into the cloud.
Posted by: Krystalo | November 8, 2008 1:52 PM
Thnx for the info :)
Posted by: charbelbou | November 8, 2008 10:31 PM
I do not like Google one bit.
Posted by: bob e | November 9, 2008 11:38 AM
I have mixed feelings here: on one hand, I think that Google have done a good work with their cloud office - we are working in a small software development team and the spreadsheet sharing is just great. On the other hand, it looks like Google is forcing us to use only the model that will serve Google the best - and it sounds to like the story of another company that starts with M... mixed feelings ;-)
my comments at http://www.commentino.com/orim
Posted by: Ori Matalon | November 9, 2008 3:03 PM
Nice declarations he did.
Let's hope this is for user's good.
Regards...
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 9, 2008 4:55 PM
I think that Google is doing the right thing. Of course I'm not happy about it, but if Google decides to remove software from their Pack, there is nothing wrong with it - especially if it is to promote their own products (Google Apps).
Posted by: Joshua Issac | November 10, 2008 8:28 AM