While an eventual version of Microsoft Office 2013 for the Mac is a near certainty, the company now says it is looking at a Linux version of its productivity suite, too, says open-source proponent Michael Larabel, citing an unnamed someone with ties to Microsoft.
"According to this source, who is presumably one of Microsoft's open source developers, Microsoft is taking a 'meaningful look' at releasing a full Linux port of Office in 2014," writes ExtremeTech.
"The sudden change of heart is apparently due to Linux showing 'commercial viability,' and because Microsoft is reportedly already working on Office for Android."
If true, that means Office for Linux could hit the market around the same time as Office for Mac (presumably both version would be named for their release year, whether 2013 or 2014). The last Mac version of Office was released a year after the Windows debut.
The additional port might not take much effort on Microsoft's part, either. "Android, as you may already know, is a Linux-based operating system, meaning a lot of the porting work will have already been done -- it shouldn't take too much effort to take the next step and bring Office to Ubuntu, or whichever distro Microsoft favors," says ExtremeTech.
Of course, with Linux such a small percentage of the market, why would Microsoft bother, especially considering most Linux users get LibreOffice for free (not the mention the significant portion of users who moved to Linux to get away from Microsoft in the first place)?
Perhaps this is a savvy ploy to build clout in the open-source community. Or perhaps Microsoft is just keeping its enemies closer.
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