Innovating on legacy platforms: a case of google docs and MS word?
August 11, 2018 5:03 AM Subscribe
I'm guessing within the last 24 months or so I read an article on why it is so difficult for organizations with legacy software platforms to be agile and innovate. The article used Google Docs and MS word as a comparative case study. Know it?
The central idea was Google docs grew quickly from a feature set perspective when it was young, but now it's much harder because of the stuff they've done--and have to integrate 3 + competing platforms (Writerly anyone?) I'm looking for that original article? I tried Google, Hacker News and O'Reilly Ideas (then Radar) and my search skills are failing me. MeFi to the rescue? Thanks!
The central idea was Google docs grew quickly from a feature set perspective when it was young, but now it's much harder because of the stuff they've done--and have to integrate 3 + competing platforms (Writerly anyone?) I'm looking for that original article? I tried Google, Hacker News and O'Reilly Ideas (then Radar) and my search skills are failing me. MeFi to the rescue? Thanks!
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We’ve seen this pattern repeat itself dozens of times. Microsoft Word for DOS, with only 70 features upon launch, beat down the 1700-feature WordPerfect. Now we’re seeing Google Docs doing the same thing to Microsoft Office (despite Microsoft’s attempt to port desktop Office to its SaaS-version of Office 365).
posted by toamouse at 5:47 AM on August 11, 2018 [1 favorite]