begin oe_protect.scr
B Gruff <bbgruff@xxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
> On Thursday 06 July 2006 07:24 Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>> | Microsoft said it plans to sponsor an open-source project to create
>> | software that will convert Office documents to OpenDocument, a rival
>> | format gaining ground, particularly among governments.
>> `----
>>
>>
> http://news.com.com/Microsoft+bends+on+OpenDocument/2100-7344_3-6090912.html?tag=nefd.top
>> http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060706/sfth055.html?.v=65
>>
> http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060706:MTFH34101_2006-07-06_05-53-16_N06394529&type=comktNews&rpc=44
>>
>> Thanks to Peter Quinn?
>
> Oh indeed - and many others that were already moving quietly that way.
>
> This is going to be bloody interesting now, and I'm really looking forward
> to the developments. For example, in MA we have some high-up guy claiming
> that the decision to use ODF was illegal, etc. - the dept. was not
> empowered to make that choice (though presumably he thinks they DID have
> the power to choose to CONTINUE to use other specific formats!), and that
> "those with disabilities" were being put at a disadvantage.
> Given that this move would free everybody to choose whichever Office suite
> they wished, it will be interesting to see how that guy in particular
> reacts?
>
> No doubt it will take some time for the votes to come in. As I said when
> they told me "Quinn is toast" last year (Boston Globe story re. expenses),
> this still has a LONG way to run:-)
>
This has gone past the tipping point now. Clearly MS have recognised
that their customers now know enough to realise that they don't need MS
Office at all. MS are now trying to hold onto that, or some of that
customer base by sponsoring some translation software. It's interesting
to note that they're promoting this as an 'open source' effort - I
wonder why they don't do it internally, as usual? Perhaps it's so that
any problems in translation can be blamed on the open-source component,
not their own buggy office suite, say?
An alternative take on this would be to say that they're trying to kill
ODF with more vapourware - they declare an intention to sponsor some
software development, in the hope that it'll persuade a wavering
customer base to stick with MS office just that little bit longer?
I suspect that these are both true.
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
-- Francis Bacon
|
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