I would like to start a friendly philosophical disussion. Today our
friend Daniel Carrera posted a reply to an OP on the discuss list:
When is openoffice going to have a calendar function, similar to that in
Outlook. [?]
Daniel: "A calendar function does not belong in an office suite. Despite
what Microsoft might want you to believe, calendars, PIM, email etc are
communication tools, not document creation tools. If you need a
calendar, PIM, email, etc, I hope you will consider using Mozilla
Thunderbird."
Now I'm not going to advocate that OOo should include a
calendar/PIM/email client, but I believe the relevant issue is limited
resources rather than what belongs in an office suite. I'm particularly
struck at the artificiality of Daniel's distinction between "document
creation" and "communication" tools.
In the first place, what's the purpose of a document if not
communication? That to me makes it a type of communication tool.
On the other hand, isn't a calendar a kind of document? Is it only a
document if I print it out? If that's the criteria, then how do you
justify calling a presentation a document -- which is primarily meant to
be viewed on a computer monitor and may contain dynamic elements?
And if I register my Mozilla address book as a data source in OOo does
it then magically transform from a "communication" tool into a "document
creation" tool? Is a list of addresses in a spreadsheet a document
creation tool but the Mozilla address book not?
Isn't a web page a document as well? I have used many web pages as
documentary sources for papers I've written. A usenet posting is
considered a valid documentary source as well.
Finally, what is the essential difference between an e-mail and a letter
that is printed and mailed the slow way? Other than the speed of delivery?
Look... I'm no fan of Microsoft the corporation. But I believe their
idea of an "Office Suite" is right on the money: A set of common
software tools that almost any office needs for daily operation. Word
processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, web authoring tool,
e-mail client, PIM, and database. Probably 90% of offices need every one
of those, and likewise those tools probably cover all or most of the
needs of 90% of offices.
Now you can accomplish all that with open-source tools, but
unfortunately not with a set of tools that have a consistent look and
feel like you get with MSO. And that LnF is more than just cosmetic; it
has real productivity implications when have a certain amount of
consistency in the UI. If you're familiar with Word, it doesn't take as
long to get up to speed with Powerpoint or Frontpage because of that
consistency. It's exactly like the consistent use of the Stylist in OOo.
You know where to look to do what you want.
So perhaps what's needed first of all, is for someone who knows how to
do it, to design an OpenOffice.org them for the Mozilla suite. Perhaps
create a superficial fork of Moz that looks and feels like OOo... maybe
move some things around in the menu tree to match up better.
Comments?
Rod
