On TV.com: Watch NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Episode 138
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 19 of 51:
Next »
« Previous
Yes but who cares?
Suppose I am a state government and by law I need to allow certain documents to be made available to the public. Now if I use MS Office and save those file in an MS Office format, the general public may not be able to read those documents unless they to own a copy of MS Office. Yes I know I could use the "Save As" function in MS Office to save the file as RTF or some other greatly limited format but that is not very helpful. But wait there is in fact an OpenDocument standard I could publish to. Now anyone can write, sell, and provide for free a program to read those documents (on any OS). The citizens of my state will not need MS OS / Apple machines with MS Office to read any of the public domain documents.

If you like your Apple example suppose my state only made audio files of recent meetings available in a format that would only play on an iPod. Wouldn?t that make you angry, especially if you did not own an iPod. So as the government I would publish my audio files in mp3 format, why because (most) audio player including iPods and those that play Windows Media File Fomat also play mp3s.

To summarize Microsoft does not need to do anything unless they don?t want to be lock out of my state house. Neither does Apple. However if those companies want to sell me something, then they better look at my requirements rather then trying to convince me that the Microsoft Office Format or the Apple Audio Codec is the only way for me to do the people business.
Posted by: YaBaby   Posted on: 05/08/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Still not there  superbus | 05/05/06
Actually, I would tend to say  John Zern | 05/05/06
But that has nothing to do with the price of eggs  Edward Meyers | 05/05/06
Really, the two interfaces are almost the same. Sure, if you are  DonnieBoy | 05/05/06
I disagree..  mdsmedia | 05/06/06
I find OpenOffice easier to use because I am familiar with it.  DonnieBoy | 05/07/06
Stability vs. Options  superbus | 05/05/06
It will begin with govt docs  Edward Meyers | 05/05/06
This is a great tool for companies that want to transition slowley to  DonnieBoy | 05/05/06
Why?  superbus | 05/05/06
Would only be for governments like Mass. that have mandated ODF.  DonnieBoy | 05/05/06
Open Office does rock  mighetto | 05/05/06
All that worry over nothing  Michael Kelly | 05/05/06
Microsoft will be working arround the clock to cause problems with this.  DonnieBoy | 05/05/06
OpenOffice vs Microsoft  mighetto | 05/05/06
Soooo much commotion just in order to protect a PRIVATE firm ...!  michael_t | 05/05/06
(sorry, but...) Isn't the IPOD format proprietary?  314 | 05/05/06
Why does MS Office have to do anything...  SouthernPride | 05/05/06
Yes but who cares?  YaBaby | 05/08/06
How is this such a "twist?"  PB_z | 05/05/06
Allows Developers to Counter Vista/ Office Strategy  mighetto | 05/05/06
If it works use it...  SouthernPride | 05/05/06
We are building a World Society  mighetto | 05/05/06
whatever Mass developes  treyhaltom_z | 05/08/06
Office Co$t  DarthRidiculous | 05/05/06
I agree totally, this will just help with transition plans, and also so  DonnieBoy | 05/05/06
MS Office Vs OpenDocument  wwiley@... | 05/06/06
97 and 2000 were very unstable  Edward Meyers | 05/06/06
Not my experience  georgeou | 05/06/06
In your Dreams- And I'm glad you brought up WP  Edward Meyers | 05/06/06
I can make excel crash with a couple lines of vba (NT)  ju1ce | 05/08/06
MS Office didn't get where it did by sucking  georgeou | 05/06/06
Ummm - NO  Edward Meyers | 05/06/06
It got there by being the cheaper yet "compatible" alternative.  LazLong | 05/07/06
Your knowledge  zkiwi | 05/07/06
Actually he's not a staff writer,...  Tony Agudo | 05/07/06
Hmmm  zkiwi | 05/07/06
It got where it did by being the first and best on Windows and being  DonnieBoy | 05/07/06
Unlike yOU who have elevated this method  michael_t | 05/08/06
You're right, George!  JDThompson | 05/09/06
Sounds like you have very selective memory. You also forgot about all the  DonnieBoy | 05/07/06
Strike One  Roger Ramjet | 05/08/06
The problem I've seen...  ju1ce | 05/08/06
PULEASE, this just helps sell more copies  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/08/06
Maybe.... Maybe Not...?  LazLong | 05/08/06
Gee boys and girls, I told you it wasn't a big deal.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/08/06
Get OEM support...  techboy_z | 05/08/06
A great new feature for MS Office - Brilliant!  WiredGuy | 05/08/06
Not looking forward to people mailing in Office12 format  RJCorfield | 05/08/06
Somebody finally did it  Mark Miller | 05/09/06
Message has been deleted.  myfevertoy | 10/22/06

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
Click Here
advertisement
  • Smart Tech Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen. Find out more
  • Smart Business Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful. More Smart Advice
  • Smart People The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches. Learn More