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Way back when I said MS would cave to MA-ITD...
I predicted they would have to produce marginally functional support for ODF in their products. They will be, albeit through a paid-off third party.

I predicted they would have to standardize their product before an international organization. They did - ECMA, though not yet ISO.

I predicted Microsoft would have to pull a delaying action in the legislature with any dirty trick they could muster. They could, they would, and they did.

Microsoft caved, right down the line and opened just enough for MA-ITD to list the format. Future customers will pry the door open further and further. Microsoft may not like it, but they are about to see office applications commoditized and the design taken further and further out of their hands.

A mediocre day for Open Standards. A mediocre day for Massachusetts. A sad day for Microsoft. And me? I get to be right and it feels good.

Mind, I wanted Microsoft to stick by their guns and lose MA-ITD as a customer, but I didn't rationally think that was in the cards.
Posted by: John Le'Brecage   Posted on: 07/03/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Microsoft Office 2003?  mighetto | 07/02/07
They might have done this just to get rid of the circus of MS lobbyists for  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
Or they may have done this to  John Zern | 07/02/07
A government like this really only needs very simple document editing, and  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
So now *you* decide what everyone needs?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/02/07
No, he does not have enough money...  Solid Water | 07/02/07
Extortion  mighetto | 07/03/07
Mighetto...  BFD | 07/03/07
BFD, corporations have no right to interfere in government  stevey_d | 07/04/07
Chalk up another area of expertise for Donnie  xuniL_z | 07/04/07
This is all about money (MS spent for lobbying)...  Solid Water | 07/02/07
There are a lot of problems with ooXML other than the issue if it is open  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
Only Those Retiring Follow the old Microsoft-Way Today  mighetto | 07/03/07
Microsoft document formats gain Mass. favor  Loverock Davidson | 07/02/07
They did think before they acted  Michael Kelly | 07/02/07
Well, they DID get what they wanted. They got MS to open their document  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
It's always been that way Donnie.  xuniL_z | 07/04/07
Say What! - That a joke right? Or have you got your head on backwards? - NT  raycote | 07/03/07
He's just your below average troll...  BanjoPaterson | 07/03/07
A joke?  xuniL_z | 07/04/07
Good news for everyone  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/02/07
If you consider added expense for the taxpayers of Mass, then I guess this  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
Exactly  markbn | 07/02/07
As you point out, there MUST be a lot of money to be gained or lost based  DonnieBoy | 07/02/07
RE  markbn | 07/02/07
Yeah!  Cardinal_Bill | 07/02/07
They too can CHOOSE  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/02/07
What about money in their pockets (remember IPhone customers)?  Solid Water | 07/02/07
Money spent is about value  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/03/07
yeah their format was so good, MSFT didn't have to resort to underhandednes  stevey_d | 07/03/07
The purpose for open  bjbrock | 07/02/07
Not as insignificant as your logic! -NT  raycote | 07/03/07
Most importantly, you weren't involved in the decision  Boot_Agnostic | 07/03/07
This is an outstanding achievement for MS.  DemonX | 07/03/07
Way back when I said MS would cave to MA-ITD...  John Le'Brecage | 07/03/07
Hmmm...  Henry Miller | 07/03/07
Wow and they didn't have to use any underhand tactics.... oh  stevey_d | 07/03/07

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