Users can now run Office XP on Linux, but if they have problems they will get little sympathy from Microsoft technical support
Microsoft said on Thursday it would not offer full technical support to customers running Office XP on Linux using intermediary software such as CodeWeavers" CrossOver Office package.
Tony Wilkinson, product manager for Office at Microsoft Australia, said the company would only assist customers running Office XP on Linux platforms using intermediary software if they can prove that the glitches they experience occur on the Windows platform as well.
"If there is an issue that"s reproducible on Windows then we will help to resolve it but if the issue only exists when you"re running Office with CrossOver on Linux, then that"s a problem with their implementation and we"re not going to resolve it -- it would be up to them". The onus for proving that an issue affects both Windows and Linux would lie with the customer, says Wilkinson.
Microsoft does or did not issue documentation or an agreement explicitly stating the support condition with copies of the Office XP, but maintains relevant licensing information concerning its after-market service on the company"s Web site. Microsoft"s Wilkinson added that supported platforms are listed unambiguously on packaging for boxed consumer versions of the Office XP.