2008 Jan 17 - Thu

Open Document Format Alliance Refutes the Burton Group Report on ODF

I have to say, starting out, that I do use Open Source productions as much as I use Microsoft products. Each has its merits.

On the other hand, Microsoft would prefer that I use their products exclusively. I don't think so. Interoperability is not really an allowed word in their books. The words extend, embrace, and extinguish do feature prominently.

Much has been said, written, and done with regards to their OOXML format, which they are trying to ratify. As it turns out, the standard they are presenting does not fully represent their formats. Perhaps with some recent releases, that may be resolved. But with a standard, an incomplete one at that, already at 6000 pages, additional information releases just adds more bulk.

On the other hand, why can't they just allow an ODF transalator into their main 'Save As ...' menu? Why make things complicated. Oh. Sorry. I know the answer to that one... to keep the competition at bay.

If Microsoft's shareholders were polled, do you think they would want Microsoft to continue in the vein they are currently, or to inject a certain amount of ethical, healthy market competition into the proceedings? After all, they started to thrive once IBM openly published the specs for the PC. Instead, Microsoft publishes only what they need to, and only at the lash of the whip of the European Union.

The basis for today's rant is an article over at Groklaw entitled Open Document Format Alliance Refutes the Burton Group Report on ODFM. The Burton Group had developed a report which has quite a few false facts. ODFA has refuted them. I just wanted to add my bit in publicising the counter to the fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

And I hope reason prevails when the OOXML vote comes up in February.

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