Page "Network effect" Paragraph 33

Take, for example, Microsoft Office.

For many people choosing an office suite, prime considerations include how valuable having learned that office suite will prove to potential employers, and how well the software interoperates with other users.

That is, since learning to use an office suite takes many hours, they want to invest that time learning the office suite that will make them most attractive to potential employers ( or consulting clients, etc.

), and they also want to be able to share documents.

( Additionally, an example of an indirect network effect in this case is the notable similarity in user-interfaces and operability menus of most new software-since that similarity directly translates into less time spent learning new environments, therefore potentially greater acceptance and adoption of those products.