An interesting (if that’s what we could call it) take, by an established publication on how and why Microsoft should create a version of Office to run on Linux.

Here’s a solution, a tad radical, perhaps, but one that Microsoft really ought to consider: How about selling a proprietary, low-cost version of Office designed for computers running the Linux operating system? As open-source software, Linux is free to anyone who wants to can download its source code and run it. While prepackaged versions sold by Red Hat and others that are easy to use and offer support cost extra, in the realm of PC operating systems and desktop applications, Linux-based products cost much less than their Windows counterparts.

Admittedly that would be pretty cool, but then admittedly that would be complete suicide. Microsoft has two cash cows: Windows and Office. This guy is suggesting they cannablize one because the cost of a Windows license is “minimal” to what other costs, like insurance, are per employee.

In this world, Redmond could have its cake and eat it, too. It could continue selling high-priced Office software with all the bells and whistles to wealthy corporate customers. And it could sell a stripped-down version of Office for Linux targeted at emerging markets without immediately cannibalizing its lucrative corporate accounts.

This guy has to be hanging out with the dumbest CIOs in America or something. People don’t need Windows. They need the software that runs on Windows and the major argument has always been that Office doesn’t run on it. Now we get Office and it is compatible with the Windows and Mac versions of Office and you want us to stick with Windows? Hmmmm, no.