AjaxWrite to "Compete" with MS Word

prostoalex writes "Michael Robertson (of MP3.com, Linspire, SIPPhone, GizmoProject and MP3Tunes.com fame) is launching a Web-only competitor to Microsoft Office by creating a suite of applications replicating Microsoft Office look and feel. From the posting: "But ajaxWrite is just the start. We have a library of applications we have been working on to replace most of the standard PC software titles. Every week we will launch a new sophisticated program on Wednesday at 12:00 PST on ajaxlaunch.com. These programs will push the boundaries of what people believe is possible today with web-delivered software. These programs look and operate much like their traditional software cousins, but are cross-platform, loaded dynamically, and are available to users at no charge. I'm convinced if you try a few of these products you will understand how the software business will fundamentally change." ajaxWrite is the first launched product."

still some work to do.

[yagu]

Well, this guy may think he's replaced WORD(tm) but I was unable to:

• find the clippy help guy
• find the shifting winding twisty changing menus (think chevrons)
• get ajaxWrite to inexplicably put me in different viewing modes from which I could not find an escape
• randomly start numbering stuff because I indented

Until they get at least some of these features write, I'm forking over my $499.

Oh wait, did I just say that out loud?

All seriousness aside, one feature this really doesn't have (at least I couldn't find it) I absolutely must have is spell check. I'm kind of surprised, cuz it seems everyone is introducing some form of spell check instantiated in their latest ajax offerings (including other web word processors... e.g.,

• Writely [writely.com] (not currently taking new registrations, but soon!)
• Zohowriter [zohowriter.com]

)

Re:Not likely

[AKAImBatman]

On top of everything, I just realized that this is a XUL application. i.e. It's not going to run in anything but Mozilla-based browsers. Still, you've got to love the spin:

ajaxWrite is a streamlined word processor, comparable to Microsoft Word. To keep the program lean, we left out some obscure advanced features

Apparently, spell checkers, word counts, arbitrary font sizes, find (there's a menu item, but it's disabled), and hyperlinks are all "obscure advanced features". Here, let me fix that for you, Mike:

ajaxWrite is a streamlined word processor, comparable to Microsoft Wordpad.

See? Much better. =D

Wow - they are Already Competing !

[bushboy]

I just tried it and it crashed!

That's a great first start to compete with Word.

Now all we need is an animated paper clip which says :-

"You seem to be writing a letter, would you like to :-

a. Punch your monitor
b. Scream
c. Smile a crazy smile and run around the office, naked and screaming"

Sounds great and I'm all for it but

[future assassin]

I've never seen MS Word do this

Service Temporarily Unavailable

maybe they need an animated can of Ajax holding a Service Temporarily Unavailable sign when the service goes down.

Also I'd like to say that BSOD reads and sound much better then STU

Re:Man, I dunno.

[Anonymous Coward]

Two Words: Paragraph Breaks.

Thank you.

AjaxWrite not available

[WeaverBen]

I clicked, and I promptly discovered the grand flaw of Web-based apps: If you want to do something NOW, and the server is swamped, you are SOL.

AjaxBrowser

[Arandir]

I'm still waiting for the AjaxBrowser. Then I can dump Internet Explorer, and do all of my browsing, like my word processing, online.

Re:The Power of the Web in your Hand!

[DaFallus]

"Click on the ajaxWrite icon to launch an MS Word-compatible word processor in seconds".

Many seconds. Many, many seconds.

You insensitive clod! Of course it takes forever to load. What exactly did you think they meant by MS Word-compatible?

OMG! My word processor is slashdotted

[Gax]

It looks like I can't write that term paper. I can't connect to my word processor.

Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at 207.67.194.7.
*The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
*If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection.
*If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

Microsoft Word 1. AjaxWrite 0

Re:Man, I dunno.

[StikyPad]

I swear to God, I was 90% done with my paper and then my sister picked up the phone.

Heh

[mfh]

Strange that we on Slashdot go gaga for anything AJAX while deriding Java as a slow, bloated pig.

I calls 'em like I sees 'em.

Re:AjaxBrowser

[Mr. Underbridge]

I'm still waiting for the AjaxBrowser. Then I can dump Internet Explorer, and do all of my browsing, like my word processing, online.

That's a really bad idea. You don't want to be tied to a net connection to depend on the availability of your browser. An online browser will never replace a standalone browser. You're still always going to want to have your Internet stored on your hard drive. ;)