http://www.os2world.com/content/view/17302/1/ (http://www.os2world.com/content/view/17302/1/)
QuotePosted by Kim Haverblad - Monday, 03 March 2008
OOXML changes. .. .
Up here in Norway, representatives from Microsoft keeps running around spreading the word that OOXML is implemented in several applications, among them several Apple products — or products for the Mac OS X platform — such as iWork '08, iPhone and NeoOffice....
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I do not own a license for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, and I will not buy one either. It might be possible to open documents produced by Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac with iWork '08, iPhone or NeoOffice, but that is irrelevant. One of the major points with interoperability, is vendor independence. If I have to buy a license for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, Microsoft has succeeded in creating a standard so difficult — not to say impossible — to implement, that users will have to buy Microsoft's software. (http://notebook.bekkelund.net/2008/02/13/ooxml-%E2%80%94-the-apple-headache/)
from: OOXML -The Apple Headache
To the world standard bodies: Say no to MS OOXML (http://www.noooxml.org/petition)
What are the compelling reasons to switch to OOXML when Open Office et al already exists and supports the already ISO agreed Open Document Format (ODF) Standards. Also, who wants to be concerned with going through a "proposed 6000 page document" when there are more important business tasks at hand. ;) !
Good question and no real answer to that one; well one could argue the same as MS does; two standards is great to the customers can pick... About this meeting, it's worth mention that Sweden didn't participate since we abstained to do so and this was due to the circus around the entire voting process.
Talked with Martin yesterday and he mentioned that MS are doing everything that can do in Ecuador to get the No-vote to Abstain.
According to Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47cb8c8c-ea24-11dc-b3c9-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1) the EC has initiated a process to take a closer look on the ISO activities; it seems that they think that foul play has been involved and wants to take closer look at ISO process.
"Officials at the European Commission's competition directorate have written to members of the International Organisation for Standardisation, asking how they prepared for votes in September and this month on acceptance of Microsoft's OOXML document format as a worldwide standard."
Tim Bray, a member of the Canadian national standards body, called the procedure "complete, utter, unadulterated bullshit" in a recent blog posting.