But you might be able save money other ways. For example, you might be offered different application bundles, much as you get to choose levels of cable TV service. A low-cost bundle might have word processing and personal finance apps, while a premium bundle might throw in presentation packages and spreadsheets. Occasional users could be offered the option of paying only by the day or minute. And in workgroup situations, people who now have their own copies of a desktop suite may be able to share fewer rental accounts.
Office suites bring up the rear in a long parade of applications headed online.
Still, traditional shrink-wrapped packages won't disappear anytime soon. Online software savings probably won't suffice to discourage larger businesses from purchasing packaged software. Corporate IT departments already handle upgrade and administrative hassles. Meanwhile, smaller businesses and individuals with low-bandwidth connections won't tolerate the performance hit. But occasional users will want to consider online alternatives.