Looks interesting. -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Sun Announces ODF - Office Converter Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 12:33:14 -0500
A few minutes ago, Sun announced the imminent release of its Office - ODF plug in. Like the converter released three days ago by the Microsoft-sponsored SourceForge project, Sun's converter will initially work only with Word documents (both development teams are working on spreadsheet and presentation modules; Sun says that it's upgrade will be available in April). The existence of two plugins will bring a new dynamic into the competition between OOXML and ODF based products. Sun has opted to provide a tool that the vast amount of existing Office users can use (it will initially work with Office 2003), while Microsoft has funded an open source-developed plugin that will work with Office 2003, Office XP and the new Office 2007 version of its office suite. Existing Office users will therefore have an array of choices: to stay with their existing version of Office and choose whichever plugin they like best, or to upgrade to either Office 2007 or to one of the many ODF-based proprietary and open source offerings. In any such case, they will be able to manage documents that are generated in either the ODF or the OOXML format. In an ironic twist, training staff to convert from an existing version of Office to an ODF-compliant product (such as OpenOffice or StarOffice) might require less training (and related costs) than an upgrade to Office 2007, due to the great deal of similarity between many ODF products and the current version of Office, in contrast to the dramatic differences that exist between Office 2007 and its predecessors. Further details and the full text of the press release are here: http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20070207083913371 As always, please let me know if you would like to be removed from this list. Andrew Updegrove Gesmer Updegrove LLP 40 Broad Street Boston, MA 02109 v: 617/350-6800 f: 617/350-6878 http://www.gesmer.com http://www.consortiuminfo.org http://www.opensourcelegal.org ***************************************** Any tax information or written tax advice contained herein (including any attachments) is not intended to be and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. (The foregoing legend has been affixed pursuant to U.S. Treasury Regulations governing tax practice.) Electronic mail from Gesmer Updegrove LLP, 40 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02109. Voice: (617) 350-6800, Fax: (617) 350-6878. This communication is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named as the addressee. It may contain information which is privileged and/or confidential under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or such recipient's employee or agent, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copy or disclosure of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify Christopher O'Sullivan at (617) 350-6800 and notify the sender by electronic mail. Please expunge this communication without making any copies. Thank you for your cooperation. -- G. Roderick Singleton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> OpenOffice.org
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