When a group of individuals known as the OpenDocument Foundation (not associated with the format except by promotion of it) annouced their intention to drop their support for ODF in favor of the Compound Document Formats, the uproar in response was rather loud. Even those who said that CDF might be a better format (actually, its a container for other XML-based formats rather than being a format itself) also stated that they would still support ODF because of the “need” to uniformly combat the dominance of MS Office in the workplace.
So…this is all about Microsoft again?
Frankly, this is the software world example of how the Democrats opposed Ralph Nader from running for president – twice. Or the South Carolina Democrats opposing Stephen Colbert’s mock campaign for president.
What is this – tactical voting again?
Plus, why is it that we simply *have* to prop up the word processor software genre? Isn’t it old hat already?
We have web browsers now, so we can view documents. We have wikis and blogs, so we can edit documents. Why do we need word processors or word processor formats in 2007 (maybe 1985, but in this day and age?)? Why can’t I view either an ODF document or OOXML/Word document in the web browser?
More or less, this fight between ODF and OOXML (or openOffice.org and MS Office) is a battle for the hearts and minds of big business, big government and big education, all of whom are still hopelessly dependent upon word processor documents for communication within their specific infrastructures.
This, IMO, is not a battle for the web-based grassroots, who, if it wasn’t involving the likes of Microsoft, would have very little ill-informed opinion or hot air to spout.
I think that, if it is simply a container for already-available web document formats and syntaxes, rather than being an all-in-one format that needs a bunch of extensions and hacky thingamajigs to be compatible with other formats and syntaxes (like ODF and OOXML), then CDF might have a technological heads up over the other two formats.
Plus, I like diversity. I like confusion, choice, duplicity, subversion and treason. Therefore, the third-party, whenever possible, will get my vote.
Couldn’t agree more
I just found your blog through a Google search and I’m really enjoying it. Great work! I’m particularly enjoyed your recent piece on software licensing.
On the issue of document formats, I couldn’t agree more. The debate has become so skewed by the desire to screw Microsoft, it has ODF advocates pushing for crazy government policies that will have long term consequences. I’ve written a lot about this recently over at the ACT Blog:
http://blog.actonline.org/2007/10/we-hate-to-say-.html
http://blog.actonline.org/2007/11/dvds-and-odf-pa.html
http://blog.actonline.org/2007/11/dvds-and-odf–1.html
New MO
He has switched his name to Daric Richie (@daricrichie) and his blog is called Pop Infusion. He continues to write fake articles about himself and try and scam people.
http://worldgossipnews.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/connect-with-pop-injection-founder-daric-richie-on-linkedin/
Currently he is scamming anti-Amanda Knox trolls which serves them right actually. He has found a similar minded community of people.
http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com/index.php/2011/04/20/the-rise-of-the-guilter-monster/
He is actually 21 and a probably lives near Tacoma WA would be my guess. He is a serial and pathological liar who uses his fake teenager status to get attention.