I'm starting to look forward to Micro-hoo
As Microsoft continues posturing for a hostile takeover of Yahoo, my initial reaction of detached curiosity is actually giving way to anticipation. In Ed Tech, it's rare that I'd promote a Microsoft product when solid FOSS alternatives exist. However, in the case of a Yahoo acquisition, my excitement is for ways in which the industry could be transformed and the new products that could directly benefit our particular market.
Take Google Docs, for example. I use Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Presentations all the time to share information and collaborate with students and staff. It's extremely useful for what it does, meets my needs well, and is free. It's far from perfect, though, and there are many times when I need to break out a full-featured office suite, especially for spreadsheets. Similarly, while Google is working on offline content, there is quite a bit of work to be done.
Enter Micro-hoo, or Yahoo-soft, or whatever. Microsoft has already made significant strides towards integrating online and offline Office documents while Yahoo's extraordinary Web presence lends a fair amount of technological muscle. While this combination can have value on its own (obviously, hence the pending hostile takeover), driving new and improved products online and potentially mainstreaming Web 2.0-style productivity applications (among other apps from the new powerhouse), the real value will be in increased competition.
Nothing would push Google to innovate faster than new development out of Redmond/Sunnyvale. A shift towards increasingly online applications would drive other entrants into the market like Zoho, expanding choices and competition in online applications. I think there are quite a few of us here in Ed Tech who would be happy to see the death of the desktop office suite if really viable, robust alternatives emerged. Even nominal fees to access some of these services could still save money, improve student/teacher collaboration, and provide easy access to computing resources for students across the Web. No money for 1:1 initiatives? No problem: let students access there documents anytime, anywhere, from any Internet connection.
Both Google and Microsoft are pushing to enter new mobile markets, as well. What innovative solutions could emerge out of a competitive market for delivering content via wireless devices? We may find out sooner than later if Microsoft pulls off this buyout. Personally, I'd just like to see how much extra cool stuff will start flying out of Mountain View if Yahoo-soft is born.