* Rex Ballard peremptorily fired off this memo:
> It seems that now that OpenOffice, StarOffice, and Symphony have
> become pretty good at decoding .doc, .xls, and .ppt documents and
> converting them to odt, odc, and odp formats. Microsoft is making a
> last desparate attempt to extend their monopoly yet one more time, by
> trying to force everyone to save their documents in formats that these
> competitors cannot decode.
I was thinking the same thing.
> And since the OOXML standard is incomplete, none of these applications
> will be able to decode such documents, because the structures of the
> "binaries" is still under strict nondisclosure, including terms which
> forbid the development of decoders for OSS applications. Essentially,
> Microsoft will get their pound of flesh no matter how much blood they
> have to spill to get it.
Nah, it would merely force yet another long reverse-engineeing cycle.
> It's those "midnight specials", meetings held when the key opposition
> and it's leaders are away and can't be reached, including an offer
> that looks too good to be true, but must be accepted within a very
> short time limit, before the opposition leadership can be contacted.
Time is LIMITED! Buy now!
> Microsoft is not "Evil", they are just like any other preditor. A
> mouse should not trust a rattlesnake, no matter how "harmless" it
> might seem at the moment, because the ultimate outcome is as
> predictable as the sunrise. If the snake moves into the hole to avoid
> the cold, when it warms up, if the mouse is still there, the snake
> will strike.
>
> How many times have we seen Microsoft snatch Linux/OSS defeat from the
> jaws of victory. Just as we gain a huge advantage, Microsoft makes
> it's lethal blow, and Linux is relegated to Self-installation for
> another 3-4 years.
> Or, maybe we should just let Microsoft collect the money directly
> through our taxes, we'll just be forced to pay 1 week's pay to
> Microsoft, whether we like their products or not.
--
Promising costs nothing, it's the delivering that kills you.
|
|
