[geeks] Open office expansion (formerly bridging networks)

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

On Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 08:26:10AM -0400, John Francini wrote:

I wrote:

> >A friend of mine has an idea for  "killer app" for Open Office. It will never
> >go anywhere because no one will fund it. It's too big a project for people
> >to tackle at home.
> 
> Like the Linux kernel?  Like Apache?  Before they were 'adopted' by 
> for-profit concerns, they were originally developed (and still are) 
> by hundreds, if not thousands, of contributors world-wide working in 
> their bedrooms, basements, or dens, or living rooms.

The Linux kernel was an academic project that took off. Apache was an
already existing product that people just started expanding. Wasn't it based
on the work done at the NSCA which would also make it an academic product?

This is an add on to Open Office that would replace several very expensive
proprietary programs. The development work is considerable, both the systems
analysis and the programing. 

No one, nor any group would take it up, it's too narrowly focused. If people
were paid to develop it, the cost would be under $500k (which is quite cheap)
and it could be sold as an add on to Star Office. It would replace software
which goes for about $500 a computer on up. 

If it were to be taken on by a corporate sponsor or VC, it could be given
away if you sold 10,000 support contracts at $100 per year each. Considering
the sales of the proprietary products, it would be quite possible. 


Geoff.
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