Microsoft to crush opensource rebellion
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Several states are looking to move over to some kind of open document format and use more opensource software such as OpenOffice for their productivity purposes and possibly Linux as their desktop OS. Perhaps Linux has a place in the office but in my opinion it still does not have a place in homes. Microsoft does not want any of this to happen, imagine what would happen if the world started using OpenOffice as for me, I like the glitz and glamour of Office 2007.
Ed Homan, representing a central Florida district in the state legislature put a small paragraph suggesting a move to opensource software in a 38 page document thinking it would not attract any attention at all.
He was wrong; within mere hours three representatives from Microsoft were in his office fully prepared to discuss the issue. Microsoft is big on pushing their Office Open XML format as opposed to the Open Document Format. The claim is that the Open Document Format is not a good technology and can’t read Microsoft Office formats well. Market Watch has more of what transpired.
Frankly, I don’t see what the big deal is. In my experience neither is worse than the other though there may be a small amount of storage space savings by using Office Open XML and the only real problem I have seen as far as compatibility lies with OpenOffice having some issues regarding certain Microsoft Office formats mainly with formatting, it’s annoying.
OpenOffice would be more useful if every one of current Office users move over to it which would hurt Microsoft but would be a boon to almost everyone. I’ve said before that OpenOffice is okay but Microsoft Office is by far a more polished not to mention usable product.
If you can’t afford Microsoft Office or can’t get discounts on it then OpenOffice is your next best bet and it’s free. For everyone else that can afford to buy Microsoft Office, there really is no comparison, all I really want is a software package that works and besides, what did you use all through high school and college… it certainly wasn’t OpenOffice, now was it?
Most people just “know†Microsoft Office and don’t want to switch because OpenOffice doesn’t function in exactly the same way. I’d say something about making OpenOffice work and function like Microsoft Office but I fear that would fall on deaf ears.
Of course, businesses and governments may see a cost savings my moving over to OpenOffice but what about all the companies to do business with who are probably using Microsoft Office, it may or may not be possible to take the risk that some documents just won’t look the same in OpenOffice.
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April 30th, 2007
[…] Source : http://vista.blorge.com/2007/04/30/microsoft-to-crush-opensource-rebellion/ […]
April 30th, 2007
please at the very least make a stab at being unbiased.
April 30th, 2007
I’m going to punch you in the arm the next time I see you.
April 30th, 2007
You’r wrong.
Microsoft office is as dead as a dodo.
Openoffice is not only gaining momentum, but being developed and ameliored all the time by an army of developers.
No way the snake oil sellers at Redmon can beat that.
Besides:
I have installed Ubuntu Linux on my MOM box (she’s more than 60) and she said kinda ‘Wow, the new windows is much better!’
I myself still have dual boot on my laptop (it came with Vista preinstalled), but I have used windows maybe half an hour this month, I think I’ll erase the Vista partition for good
April 30th, 2007
What?
Is MS Office the only office suite in this planet? Microsoft who keeps on thinking about money! What about the people in the developing countries who can’t afford MS office? Ah yes! PIRACY to MS which is good, yes pirated MS. Or! I will evangelize to the people that there is an alternative choice of office suite.
May 18th, 2007
Linux has no place in the House? You are kidding me right? You know your Tivo and your cell phone are probably running linux. The new PS3 can be installed with linux. In the past 5 years there have been leaps and bounds in the ease of use and installation of most linux distros which makes using them at home as a desktop in place of Microsoft Windows Vista(DRM) very feasible for anyone who has some computer experience and has not been totally dumbed down by the later versions of Windows where the command line interface has all but disappeared making you more reliable on MS support to diagnose and solve your OS problems. Don’t get me wrong there are still things Windows is good for, like playing World of Warcraft, but it’s time as the only viable desktop for home is coming to an end.
October 4th, 2007
Downloads are Illegal, with that out of the way. Microsoft is so set in its ways that their not going to change. Although they have dominated the market in the last decade, I won’t be supprised if Linux keeps picking up to the point where the could be a problem for Microsoft. As for Mac - they’ll never have a problem, everyone loves using them.
Chris,
http://baselinesoftware.com
February 17th, 2008
Recover from Microsoft Office Setup Error…
Observations When you try installing Microsoft Office or run the program for the first time, you receive the following error messages: Outlook Express could not be started. It may not be installed correctly. Make sure that your disk is not full or that…
May 23rd, 2008
Thanks for helping the case of Ubuntu Linux
With all due respect, your logical arguments are so weak, one would think you are trying to hurt Microsoft. You just say you think this or that but you don’t explain why you think so.
I don’t mean to offend you, but I was hoping for a more logical argument either way.
I just installed Ubuntu last week on a PIII computer with 256 RAM, and it went smoothly.
I’m starting to think that the software giant is aging. Either they change or they will get changed!!!!
Regards
Tareef Attar (ex-MCT, ex-MCSE, CISSP, CISA)
May 24th, 2008
What a piece of crap. The writing and so is m$ office. Linux has no place in house? Are you mad? My primary OS is ubuntu dual booting with mac OSX. I feel ubuntu better than osx itself. Windows is history. Its time to move on. Open source is here to stay and wipe m$ out…