Same game, different pitch?

I certainly agree that the gradual increase in functionality of alternatives to Excel, and Microsoft Office in general, is significant. Though perhaps, as Dennis indeed suggests in his own analysis, more in terms of how Microsoft will respond rather than any direct effect.

However, in a sense it's a bit disappointing. In my life before accountancy I spent a bit of time studying revolutions and revolutionaries. It struck me that many revolutions only succeeded when there leaders had become near replicas of those they were striving to overthrow. I'd see a real 'game' changer as something that did away with the complexities in technology that lead to a lack of reliability and to user confusion. I sometimes wonder how much of the time that technology saves on tasks (and indeed it can save a great deal of time in many cases) is then lost again through some trivial error or problem that takes hours to sort out. Also, how much time is wasted using functionality because it's there, rather than being satisfied with an equally effective but maybe not so perfectly polished result? I think a major challenge for Microsoft will be to use the new Office 2007 ribbon interface to further simplify and speed up the use of Office, as much as making it easier for users to discover the full functionality of each application.

As I've mentioned here before, I see the Asus EEE PC as an excellent example of a move away from increasing complexity. In some ways it forces you to work more effectively because it does lack a great deal of the functionality that you'd otherwise encumber yourself with.

Maybe Dennis can reassure me that this is indeed what these changes in Zoho achieve rather than just moving the existing goalposts to a different pitch.

@Simon - I think you're missing my point. The sharing aspect alone has value. If they can position (as I think they will) as a 'what Microsoft Office + Money should have been' plus some decent reporting into the bargain then that's has game changer potential from where I'm sat.

Microsoft still has to figure out how to deal with these threats which are becoming increasingly real.

The Office 2007 ribbon interface is a disaster. They did a LOT of user testing but clearly it wasn't enough, It's almost a change management project in its own right.

Here's the 'object browser' of what is currently supported:

http://sheet.zoho.com/vbaobjectexplorer.do

Use the drop down to switch between 'Excel Classes' (object model) and VBA Modules (VBA properties and methods -- seemingly no events).

"Users can import Excel macros into a Zoho spreadsheet. The Excel functions are converted into Java and executed in the backend" (http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9929979-2.html)

I would guess there is no support for running code in other libraries i.e. no GetObject/CreateObject (late binding) or references (early binding). No class modules either. I think these omissions will rule out any 'serious' Excel VBA coders.

I'd have preferred native Java macros with a VBA migration tool :)

Jamie.

--

>> The Office 2007 ribbon interface is a disaster.<<

Personally, I like the ribbon, especially when you consider the alternative i.e. hundreds of panes and toolbars. The 'intellectual property' issue has disaster potential IMO (http://afreshcup.com/?p=749).

>>It's almost a change management project in its own right.<<

Can't disagree with you there :)

The pre-2007 menu structure was a disaster e.g. in Word paragraph setup is under Format but page setup is under File? You had to be familiar with the layout because it was unintuitive, therefore I'm not surprised they folk got upset when it changed but I think the change was a good one.

Also contrast the 'modal dialog' paradigm (open dialog, possibly child dialogs too, make changes, OK to commit then if not happy with results choose Undo then open those dialogs again...) with the Office 2007 Galleries (mouse over to see it applied instantly, move mouse away to remove).

I look forward to further enhancements to the ribbon: more functionality relocated from dialogs (e.g. Find a la Forefox), user customisation, etc.

Jamie.

--