__/ [ Larry Qualig ] on Sunday 12 March 2006 15:17 \__
>
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>> __/ [ rapskat ] on Saturday 11 March 2006 22:48 \__
>>
>> > On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 13:00:05 -0600, Linønutlinønut wrote:
>> >
>> >>> OpenOffice, by the way, is a fine tool which obviates dependence on
>> >>> Office and annuls data lock-ins. Unless you heavily depend on cruft
>> >>> like 'table drawing', nothing will be missed. Such stupid extensions
>> >>> remind me of the following:
>> >>
>> >> The answer is simple, Roy. I need to emit documents that don't cause
>> >> messages or hangup in the Word program that our client uses to read
>> >> (and tweak) them.
>> >>
>> >> Maybe OpenOffice will eventually do that.
>> >
>> > I understand your points here 'Nut, however I agree with what Roy is
>> > saying; if you absolutely need to use Windows software, then just use
>> > Windows.
>> >
>> > The ultimate goal should be to totally remove the need for any Windows
>> > software whatsoever, therefore removing the need for Windows or
>> > emulators.
>> > Until then, just think of the ideal vs. the practical.
>>
>> I think Linonut suffers from customer-driven lock-ins, but for that very
>> particular reason, I suggest asking the cutomer to migrate to OpenOffice
>> or to save documents in a more standardised format. It is possible even in
>> Word.
>
> This simply isn't practical in the real world. For starters if American
> Express, Visa Internation or Citibank sends me a word document, they
> are not going to change their entire company to OpenOffice simply
> because I ask them too. The person sending the email isn't the person
> responsible for this. Large companies and governments are huge
> beuracracies and the person emailing me a document is simply a cog in
> the wheel... even if they agree, they won't be able to change anything.
>
>
>> I still refuse to accept Microsoft Office file by E-mail, even though I
>> can open them in OpenOffice. I won't even open them. It is a matter of
>> principle. If you never voice dissatisfaction, it /won't/ stop.
>
> This <sarcasm>pragmatic</sarcasm> approach will work fine in the
> real-world for about 5 seconds. Once your employer gets enough
> complaints or loses their first account because you refuse to open
> email based on some silly principal you'll be back out on the street
> looking for your next job.
>
>
>> Append one of the following to your reply (it's a quick cut-and-paste
>> job):
>>
>> ,----[ Borrowed quotes (source unknown) ]
>> | I do not have a copy of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
> Interpreted as your employer fails to provide employees with basic
> tools.
>
>> | I have no plans to buy one.
> Interpreted as your employer is a rinky-dink shop that forces employees
> to buy their own software.
>
>> | Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
> Interpreted as you are not capable of knowing how to open an
> attachment.
>
>
>> | Word, Excel, and PowerPoint use proprietary data formats,
>> | encouraging consumerism by forcing us to purchase new licenses
>> | every time they "upgrade" their secret formats.
> 99% of people in the real world simply want to get their work done.
> They are not interested in your personal politics.
>
>
>
>> | Send plain text, rich text format, html, or pdf instead.
>> | See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
> They are not interested in doing extra work or taking extra steps just
> for you.
>
>
>> | Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
>> | Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are unreliable, unmaintainable, and unsafe.
> People simply want to get their work done. They are not interested in
> your personal politics.
>
>
>> | Send plain text, rtf, pdf, or W3C html instead.
>> | See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
>> `----
>>
>> You should /never/ be told off for doing this. You have the right to
>> request data which requires less than $500 worth-of-software to become
>> readable.
>
> Have you ever had a real job Roy? Have you ever worked for a
> Fortune-500 company? Your post is nice in theory and altruistic but it
> is simply unrealistic in the corporate world.
I did not appreciate or even cared for some of your comments, Larry. Mind
you, yesterday I resigned from a job I have had for 3.5 year. They needed me
more than I needed them and I have another job, as well as a full-time Ph.D.
in my hands. For that last mean remark of yours, I lost some respect for
you, Sir.
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