Posted on 09/23/2008 6:22:21 PM PDT by HaplessToad
IBM is threatening to leave organizations that set standards for software interoperability because of concerns that their processes are not always fair. ... IBM was one of the most vocal opponents of a file format created by Microsoft and approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an international standard earlier this year.
... Microsoft has long been accused of dominating the market for office productivity programs due to its use of closed file formats. Microsoft changed course, however, and submitted its OOXML format to become an international standard, which means other vendors could implement OOXML in their products.
But OOXML was criticized for being unnecessarily complex. Also, Microsoft was accused of pressuring countries to support the standard, which left companies such as IBM fuming. IBM is a long-time backer of ODF. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Microsoft has 90% market share, so I think they can get away with defining the standard however they want.
Microsoft has 0% share of the Big Iron market. IBM owns it lock, stock, and disk drive.
Microsoft has always been about strategy. Most of their products by themselves, however are junk.
My next laptop will probably come with Vista crap on it, but that HD will get wiped and Linux installed. Once again M$ will say I run Vista.
ODF was all about making an open document format that works across multiple HW platforms, operating systems and application programs.
That is not in Micro$oft's self interest, which is why their OOXML format is suspect.
I have been involved in SW standards bodies. They are generally speak just as bad as gov't beaurocracy. Decisions are purposely not made. In the end, whoever gets to market either first or best often times becomes the standard. Companies can work together if they want on standards, but speed to market is making standards bodies impotent in the SW industry.
Three Microsoft software engineers and three IBM software engineers are traveling by train to an Open Standards Computer Conference. At the station, the three IBM software engineers each buy tickets and watch as the three Microsoft software engineers buy only a single ticket.
"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?' asks one of the IBM programmers.
"Watch and you'll see," answers the Microsoft programmer.
They all board the train. The IBM software engineers take their respective seats but all three Microsoft software engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them.
Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on.
The IBM software engineers witness all this and agreed it was quite a clever idea. So after the conference, the IBMers decide to copy the Microsofties on the return trip and save some money.
When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the Microsoft programmers don't buy a ticket at all.
"How are you going to travel without a ticket?" asks one of the perplexed IBM employees.
"Watch and you'll see," answers one of the Microsoft programmers.
When they board the train the three IBM programmers cram into the first restroom they can. The three Microsoft programmers pile into another one nearby. Shortly thereafter, the train leaves the station.
After a brief interval, one of the Microsoft software engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the IBM programmers are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket, please..."
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