Microsoft has a web version of its popular office product. This is an attempt to be competitive against other popular cloud based office suites like Zoho and Google Docs which are on the internet for free after registering an account.

Here are some ideas on how Microsoft might improve its offering so that it can complete more effectively with other online office suites.

Add keyboard support for the Mac. Most Mac users are using the command key in place of the control key for many popular shortcuts. On the online version of Office, Mac users are required to use the control key for things like copy and paste which just isn’t the way it’s normally set up.

Enhance the spreadsheet capabilities. The Excel portion of the office suite should add additional complex features as other cloud based applications. Change the way the charts work.

Improve formats. Currently Microsoft Office Online is limited to the proprietary Office formats for Office 2007 and beyond. Many users can’t open these documents on older version of the program. It’s harder to share these types of formats with friends, family, or business contacts as well. Other office suites have multiply formats as well as open formats to choose from.

Add protections for saving work. When your work is not saved, you can close the window or tab without an alert about your unsaved work. Microsoft should consider adding a pop up box that confirms you want to shut the window without saving.

Move away from the ActiveX framework. Mac and Linux have some issues with the software as well as a variety of popular browsers that do not use this technology.

By addressing these issues we think that Microsoft could really improve Office Online.