Microsoft Works to become free ad-funded software
I’ve taught a lot of classes using one version or the other of the Microsoft Works program. Back in the days of DOS, I even used it as my primary word processor and spreadsheet program. However, in many ways Works became an orphan program, overshadowed by the more powerful Office suite. The great virtue of Works for ordinary home PC users is its relative simplicity. A full-blown Office suite has far more features than most home PC users ever need or even want to know about.
Now it seems that Works, already about to enter its ninth version, is to become a free ad-supported program. Mary Jo Foley gives some details here and writes:
Microsoft’s next version of its small-business/home productivity suite, due imminently, will be free and ad-funded.
Microsoft Works 9.0 — which will be the new product’s name, if Microsoft opts to stick with its current nomenclature — might also debut at some point as Microsoft-hosted low-end productivity service, as many have been speculating. A hosted version of Works would give Microsoft a head-to-head competitor with Google Docs & Spreadsheets and other consumer- and small-business focused services, analysts have said.