On Tuesday 01 January 2002 19:23, you wrote: > On Tue, 1 Jan 2002 09:12:25 -0500 > > Ed Tharp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> studiouisly spake these words to ponder: > > On Tuesday 01 January 2002 01:38, you wrote: > > > On 31 Dec 2001 20:05:55 -0500, Michael Leone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > wrote:> >I think Civileme's point was that if/when the UCITA law > > > passes in> >Washington, USA, then Microsoft (headquartered in > > > Washington) will be> >able to make a minor change to their > > > proprietary .doc/.xls/whatever> >file formats, and it will be > > > illegal for Sun or anyone else to> >reverse-engineer that file > > > format to create a new filter for their> >competing office suite. > > > > > > > Sun licenses the file formats from MS, don't they? They didn't > > > > reverse-engineer them, I thought. > > > > > > Nope, they are reverse-engineered. That's why it has taken so long > > > for the filters to reach their present level of quality (which is > > > very good). Calling it "reverse engineered" is a little of a > > > dangerous reach, (in my HUMBLE opinion), my guess is a lot of the > > > info is from APIs released by M$, to allow third parties to be able > > > to write macros and other programs that will work with M$ > > > applications, the rest would be "obvious" to someone studying, say, > > > word processor programing. > > I don't say this lightly, or with any reservation or apology at all. I > think it's past time to just tell MS to take a fly leap on a rolling > donut and move away from them in mass. For some it may be a bit > difficult, but not impossible. If we don't we've only got ourselves to > blame for the feeling of being held hostage by their proprietary > systems. > > I for one am going to begin recommending, and loudly, to my superiors > that its time we begin productivity migration away from MS. There just > isn't any future in it. O, well, _their_ future, but certainly not one > of choice and freedom.
Just to add my experience with M$ bondage: ALL my documents, in their original format, were in MS Word for Windows 2.0c format. Some I had used in Ventura for DTP. When I decided to switch to LM 8.0, I was left in a quandry. All those documents had to be converted. Unfortunately, W2W 2.0c file format cannot be imported directly in StarOffice 5.2. If I had not made a firm decision to continue with LM, I would have backed out because of this major import problem. Luckily, I could import rtf -- so converted all the documents. My Win partition awaits to be deleted (the kids use it for Caesar III). As far as businesses are concerned, most have upgraded to Word 95/97 etc. So, if the switch would be relatively painless. When I ran my publication, it was a constant struggle to get different programs to work together (in WIn 3.1) . With Linux, I've had few problems, aside from learning a new OS. StarOffice, though it's sort of slow, allows me to "plan" what I'm about to do -- at least I have time to grab a coffee while it loads! >From my limited business experience, I would not trade the stability, ease of use, and functionality of LM, for all the glitz and promise of continuous reboots that I had encountered with M$ products. Furthermore, the threats of forced upgrades, dubious registration tactics, and cost of operating MS might tip the balance for other businesses to switch from MS. It's just a question of time. I agree that there "isn't any future in it" -- but getting businesses to take that first step. . . . Have a Blessed New Year! Regards, Andre [Btw -- And I'm REALLY Off-Topic here: My wife received the neatest present from her mother: PJ's with a whole bunch of cute,smiling little penguins. Guess that makes her a "Linux-Lady" -- Maybe LM should promote these? Or send one as a present for Billy's wife???] -- Please pray the Holy Rosary to end the holocaust of abortion. Remember, in your prayers, the suffering souls in Purgatory. May God bless you abundantly with His love! For a free Cenacle Scriptural Rosary Booklet -- http://www.webhart.net/csrb/
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
