Re: [MLUG] Open Document Format in Minnesota?

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007, Jerry Gamblin wrote:

> > I think Massachusetts has already done this.  I hope this passes in 
> > Minnesota and that many states will follow:
> >
> > http://ros.leg.mn/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0176.0.html&session=ls85
>
> The Massachusetts case is interesting. OOS "people" spent a ton of money 
> to get the open document format passed in the state and signed into law. 
> It was thought (on the internet anyway) this would be the start of 
> widespread adoption of OpenOffice (etc) until Microsoft released there 
> own ODF and sold Massachusetts one of the largest Office 2007 licenses 
> to date.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office_Open_XML
>
> It looks like Minneotas law will be the same thing.


Microsoft can continue to do their thing indefinitely, but they are slowly 
being worn down.  They were forced, entirely against their interests, to 
start using an open file format.  I don't know if their version of open 
XML is any better than the one that had already been developed by 
OpenOffice group.  Having their own format widely adopted will give them a 
little more time, but in the end, having an open format takes away one 
more reason to want to use MS Office instead of Open Office.

For me, widespread adoption of an open file format is a lot more important 
than the success of Open Office.  I think this will do a lot to encourage 
competition.

Mike

_______________________________________________
members mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/members