Microsoft fires back!

Microsoft fired back at Google today in what is sure to the start of The Great Geek War of the 21st century.

Today Microsoft offered details for Office Web. Office Web will feature lightweight versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. Office Web will be delivered in three modes: FREE to Office Live users (400 Million strong) on the Internet, via a subscription model for Office, or part of their enterprise, on-premise offering.

Office Web is a shot across the bow of GoogleApps. The online offerings of Google (and others) pale in comparison to the feature-rich local applications. Obviously, both ends of the spectrum have the points. Local applications tend to become bloatware. Online offerings are limited in user interface features. The Great Geek War is a race to see who can create the best balancing act between features and ubiquity of access.

In another post, I will discuss the real tripping point in this battle for user eye balls: data security.