Microsoft still can't decide if it can commit to a world that's not about Windows alone Credit: Thinkstock [Updated 5/2/17] Microsoft seems to want Office 365 to be its new Windows, the universal personal computing platform. Windows sales have declined for years now, as users switched a lot their computing to mobile devices and, to a lesser extent, Macs. Positioning Office 365 as the common platform across the new reality of a multidevice world makes sense. But Microsoft’s execution on—and commitment to—that vision is highly uneven. Some parts of the company clearly believe in that cross-platform vision. Some parts see mobile devices as junior adjuncts to computers. Some parts see mobile as near-equal partners, given Microsoft’s failure to have its own successful mobile platform, but they can’t get behind Mac support because that platform directly competes with Windows. How that tentative internal state translates is Microsoft execs and spokespeople using empty phrases like, “We’re always listening to customer feedback and have heard this,” and “It’s on our road map, but we can’t go into any more detail.” In other words: Dream on. The result is that any multiplatform user—and many, if not most, enterprises—can’t actually adopt Office 365 as that universal computing platform system, only some pieces. As my parent company’s IT support manager says, “We have done a few pilots here with mixed platforms, and it’s getting a bit old to have to continually point out the differences, include the workarounds and mention that the feature you are missing is ‘in the road map.’ Just another kink that does not help with getting clients to transition to a new solution.” The table below shows you what each Office 365 component supports, so you know when you can actually rely on Microsoft as your solutions provider and when you can’t. Related content news analysis Within two years, 90% of organizations will suffer a critical tech skills shortage Along with AI skills, skills in IT ops and cloud development are severely lacking, IDC reports. By Lucas Mearian May 31, 2024 7 mins Generative AI IT Jobs IT Skills news analysis Google partners with Magic Leap on mixed reality development The Magic Leap collaboration follows Google’s partnership to develop mixed reality devices with Samsung last year. By Matthew Finnegan May 31, 2024 3 mins Augmented Reality Virtual Reality Emerging Technology how-to Microsoft OneDrive cheat sheet: Using OneDrive in Windows If you have Windows 10 or 11, you have OneDrive. With this quick guide, you can learn how to sync, back up, and share files in OneDrive with built-in Windows tools. By Howard Wen May 31, 2024 15 mins OneDrive Cloud Storage Windows analysis Apple's mutating supply chain sees winners and losers Shifting manufacturing centers are generating fresh challenges. By Jonny Evans May 31, 2024 5 mins iPhone Manufacturing Industry Apple Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe