Why Microsoft Sold a Cheaper Version of Office

Microsoft Works was a product I installed for many customers over the years. Surprising, really, because it was actually a perfectly capable word processor, spreadsheet and database. But more often than not, the power and perception of Microsoft Office meant that it was the suite businesses chose instead. In this video, I explore why Microsoft Works existed in the first place, how it fit into Microsoft's broader strategy, and what ultimately led to its quiet disappearance. On this channel, I look at the real story behind legacy Microsoft products, why businesses adopted them, and sometimes, why they didn't. This video is part of a series explaining why business technology works the way it does:    • Why Business Tech Works the Way It Does   00:00 Intro 00:06 Microsoft in 1984 01:29 Home Computers 03:36 Charles Simonyi 05:07 Lotus Jazz 06:31 Works 1.0 for Macintosh 08:22 Works 1.0 for DOS 10:48 WYSIWYG 11:49 - 1995 13:45 Works 2000 16:10 Hardware Comparison 17:05 Customer Confusion 20:53 Word 2000 Included 21:45 File Formats 25:37 ClarisWorks 27:00 OpenOffice 28:00 Star Office 29:08 Works Demise