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OOXML -- dead format walking?

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8722482021.html

May 28, 2008

Microsoft's controversial OOXML document format is not going anywhere, observes Jason Brooks in a blog posting at eWEEK. Brooks points to discrepancies between the ISO-approved version of the format and that used in Office 2007 in suggesting that OOXML hardly measures up with ODF (Open Document Format).

First, some background. Microsoft has created an empire by controlling the formats used for office documents. With each Office "ugrade" comes a new proprietary format that traps documents, once opened, preventing them from being opened again in the old format. Thus, the Redmond giant holds documents hostage, keeping users on a perpetual upgrade treadmill. Unless you upgrade, you can't share documents with others. It's as simple as that.

You'd have thought consumers would have wised up by now, and started using simple text-based formats. But no. They just ask their manager to buy them the lastest version of Word or whatever. The system works all too well.

Posted by: Ole Man   Posted on: 08/30/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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