Does ODF Have a Future? 402
qedramania writes "Linuxworld seems to think ODF is a dead duck. Is the Windows monopoly too big and too entrenched? Other than diehard Linux fans, does anyone really care if they have to keep paying Microsoft to do basic word processing? It seems as though the momentum is towards a complete Microsoft monoculture in software for business and government. You can bet that big business and governments will want more than just reliability from Microsoft in return for their acquiescence. Does ODF have a future?"
OOXML means Windows-only (Score:5, Informative)
I prefer OpenDocument, and I am putting my money into it: OpenDocument export is finally finished for our TextMaker [softmaker.com] word processor and will be released in a few days.
Tail wagging the dog (Score:2, Informative)
Office is expensive, but OpenOffice doesn't look as good, doesn't work as well and feels cobbled together.
The Massachuesettes issue is a speed bump (Score:3, Informative)
You have to remember while MS Office has a large install base but most of the time when documents are made available on the web or exchanged via email, it is done in the form of PDF's. That means that since Open Office can output to a PDF without purchasing other tools that it actually has an advantage over all versions of office pre 2007.
It will take some time because of the install base of Office XP and 2003 out there but when companies look to upgrade in a cost effective manner and potentially need to utilize both ODF and Doc formats they will choose Open Office. Microsoft looks like it is going to put its head in the sand and not implement ODF into Office 2007 and therefore it will force those who need to work with government agencies to either constantly convert things or use Open Office. Also remember that it looks like MS Office 2007 does not have built in export to pdf functionality its an external plugin that has to be included or installed and that it looks like for anti trust reasons MS may have to disable that functionality at least in the EU if not the states as well. If I'm a company I don't want to have to buy Office and then Acrobat crap just to be able to write to PDF's.
All that OO has to do to cement their viability is to refine the UI a little more. I find some functions cumbersome for those used to Office's interface but those that have to switch to 2007 from Office 2003 seem to become even more baffled.
Re:Largely an attitude thing (Score:3, Informative)
Now, my last recruitment company got my resume in PDF only.
Re:Largely an attitude thing (Score:3, Informative)
That, and they like to doctor your resume. Well, I don't know for recruiters, but being a consultant for a consulting company, I know that happens. I tried to submit my "company internal CV" as PDF but they wouldn't take it. Reason, they change stuff in it. For example, I speak German, read it but can barely write it. So, I'd say "German Spoken: Fair", "German Read: Fair" and "German Written: Poor". I later found out that they changed it "German Spoken: Good", "German Read: Good" and "German Written: Fair". That pissed me off to no end....
I bet recruiting companies do that too... After all they only care about their commission.
Re:OOXML means Windows-only (Score:2, Informative)
And VML isn't tied to Windows. It's implementable on any platform. It's hardly used by anyone anyway (not that SVG (the result of merging VML and PGML) is used much either, for that matter).
Re:Just a Question Never Answered Well (Score:3, Informative)
Re:You don't need MS Office to create .doc files (Score:5, Informative)
This becomes a MAJOR problem in an environment where templates have not been created and/or maintained properly and efficiently. Often employees will take an existing document, ctrl-A, DEL, File-> Save As..., then start typing to create a "new" document simply to get the "corporate headers". If that initial document contained sensitive information, would you want this "new" .doc being emailed about?
This has been a problem [slashdot.org] in the past. [slashdot.org]
The fact that a /. reader doesn't see the problem with employees sending .doc files via email is all the more reason to worry....or to simply submit...
why ODF failed in Mass. .. (Score:3, Informative)
How can you equate political machinations with the the technical merits of a document format. If OOXML was so technically superior then why did MS need to get the decision to go with ODF reversed and Peter Quinn [groklaw.net] effectivly FIRED.
Yea I know, they just cut his funding and ignored his recommendations
Re:You don't need MS Office to create .doc files (Score:3, Informative)
Re:OOXML means Windows-only (Score:4, Informative)
Imagine how loudly Microsoft would be complaining if someone proposed a 'standard' format that was a serialised stream of X11 commands.
Re:Largely an attitude thing (Score:5, Informative)
Re:You don't need MS Office to create .doc files (Score:4, Informative)
TimJowers
Re:Largely an attitude thing (Score:1, Informative)
Re:You don't need MS Office to create .doc files (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Think "world" instead of "USofA". (Score:5, Informative)