On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 14:10:20 -0700 Mike Ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > At 11:39 AM 10/21/04 -0700, Timo | thy | wrote: > >This interested me: > > > > > If, on the other hand, you are regularly updating and > > > returning Word files to other people then I don't see any choice > > > other than to have a copy of Word and make sure it is at the same > > > level as the other person - unless you can arrange an exchange of > > > documents in another mutually readable format like RTF (although > > > this is still open to interpretation). Since Microsoft have > > > control of the .doc format and are continually tweaking it to give > > > them the edge nothing will ever be fully compatible. > > > >To what extent are the word processor wars worsened by people not > >learning the common courtesy of saving texts in RTF before sending > >to someone outside their IT department's purview? > > I can't as a paid professional give somebody a file and have it print > "funny". Thats how MS wins.
Interesting comment. I can see where you are coming from, but personally I would go for PDF. The problem there is that in spite of the acronym (as in portable) and the fact that it is, there are still many people who don't use it. For my part I would not send anyone a Word file for security reasons (it's amazing what you can pull out of one if you try!) as a number of prominent people have been finding out to their cost! Actually its a while since I tried that, perhaps I should get a copy of Office, it could be interesting ;-) Going back to some job hunting I did a few years back, I would send of my CV in PDF format with an explanation that I could be confident of the layout using that format, and that they should have a copy installed on their machine already (quite a bit of documentation comes in PDF, so I assume it should be installed). Invariably I got a request back asking for it as a DOC file. I duly sent this off with an explanation that, since I was unable to run Word I could not guarantee the layout would match on their system (OOo was a little younger back then, but still very usable for most of my work). When they sent me job specs I would email back and ask if they had it in another format (preferably PDF), and again invariably they didn't. Part of my stubbornness was simply that I didn't want to be forced into a copy of Word, but part of it was purely practical. My primary platform does not have the capability of running MS Office. This means that I would have to invest in a new PC complete with Windows and Office just to read a few documents. The other alternative would be slightly cheaper in setting up a dual boot (just the Windows and Office licenses and and extra HD for the space), but that is only marginal since a PC (sorry, cheapest option!) with Windows and Office OEM and TFT screen came in a mere �50 more expensive than the Retail Windows and Office licenses (actually when you add the HD that would have been neck and neck if not more expensive!). Things are a little different now as I could invest slightly more than the PC and avoid the dual boot by purchasing CrossoverOffice from CodeWeavers. Alternatively when I finally get my hands on an OS X capable Mac I could get a copy of Office, or I could purchase a copy now that I have an XP box, but that is so frequently pulled apart for testing hardware, etc. it would be a pain to rely on it for anything that couldn't wait. Future wise, the OOo format could prove to be the answer, but it will depend on other office applications accepting the standard (which has I believe been put forward as an open standards being XML based with standard compression). I doubt MS will bother with it unless there is serious pressure on them! -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com/ -- MaX-list is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... / Buy books, CDs, videos, and more from Amazon.com \ / <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/lowendmac> \ Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> MaX-list info: <http://lowendmac.com/linux/max.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/max-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
