__/ [ High Plains Thumper ] on Sunday 03 September 2006 00:32 \__
> B Gruff wrote:
>
>> I guess most of you will already have seen it, and heard how Richard
>> Stallman first returned his information re. the meeting (because it was
>> in MS format - he demanded it in something proper!) and then shouted at
>> the MS guy in the meeting....
>>
>> http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/
>>
>> I must admit, I have some sympathy with that "format thing".
>> I've been trying to help somebody who was putting out invitations, lists,
>> menus etc. for a social event. She wouldn't be told. I *told* her that
>> not everybody would have MS Word *and* MS Works, and that most of the rest
>> know how to go about reading the .doc and .wps attachments, but she
>> wouldn't listen .... it's mayhem in the group now..... in fact, I think
>> that *I* might have shouted at a MS rep!
Here is the bit I quote when sending it to PJ.
,----[ Quote ]
| Mr. Stallman does not like Microsoft. Wow, does he not. He mentioned
| that when the U.N. sent him the information about the panel in a
| Microsoft Word document, he refused it and requested a different format.
| During the panel, he called Microsoft evil, said that the U.S. government
| is in Microsoft's pocket, and at one point faced the Microsoft guy and
| shouted, right there in the United Nations conference room, "You are a
| deceptive person!"
`----
> I am surprised (but then not) why the documents were not put in .PDF for
> circulation. .PDF can be read by anyone.
Exactly. It was quite some time ago that I began replying to people who send
Office-formatted files while the University has purchased expensive licences
for an Adobe tool that converts these to PDF's. It seems to be improving as
PDF's are now being sent /most/ of the time. The nice thing is that sending
ODF will compel most Windows users to have OpenOffice installed. ODF is,
after all, an ISO standard. You can't beat this argument.
>> The interesting thing to me though isn't the conclusion that the blogger
>> comes to, or even his comments. To me, the interesting thing is that the
>> U.N. is discussing OSS!
>
> All documents at that level should be readable and not in a proprietary
> format that requires a proprietary reader. An Open Document Format (ODF)
> is most appropriate. It puts all on a level playing field and there is no
> reason why a software manufacturer cannot include an ODF "save as" feature
> with their software.
The UN has been encouraging the use of OSS for quite some time, so this was
not the surprising part. Here is just one among many articles about OSS and
the UN.
Linux Professional Institute Participates in UN Symposium of Free and Open
Source Software
,----[ Quote ]
| The Symposium, entitled "Alternative Technologies for Development: A Look
| at Free Open Source Software (FOSS)" is organized in collaboration with
| Intel Corporation and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
`----
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/266564.htm
The UN has found that OSS helps developing nations.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | Open syntax, Open API's, OpenSuSE
http://Schestowitz.com | Open Prospects ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
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