Will Linux Benefit from Microsoft's SNAFU in Massachusetts?

O'Reilly ^ | Sep. 28, 2005 | Tom Adelstein

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

David Berlind over at ZDNet wrote a remarkable article called Did Microsoft send the wrong guy to Massachusetts' ODF hearing?. If you missed this article, you'll have missed the equivalent of what Intel's Andy Grove called an inflection point. This one has the potential to have more impact than the release of the first Pentium processor.

...

Microsoft has essentially alienated the rest of the IT industry. I can't remember a single company that had so many people working in harmony against it, including IBM at the height of its arrogance. The Java Community Process provides just one example of an industry working again a company.

[Petronski]

Yes. LOL

[Still Thinking]

You don't qualify as a "realist" if you think that MSFT products are somehow banned in MA

Their Office suite will be, please explain if you feel otherwise.

1) Learned to distinguish between "banned in MA" and "not chosen for purchase by the state government of MA"

2) Even 1) doesn't apply if Microsoft makes ODF the document format for Office.

3) The standard doesn't distinguish between Microsoft and any other entity. There is no violation of the spirit of "equal protection under law". Anyone else wishing to compete must clear the same bar, and MS is under no unique hardship in doing so.

4) Open (and non-encumbered) document formats (as opposed to open source software to produce the docs) is arguably in the public interest (since it is the documents and not the applications that must be publicly disseminated for the government to do it's job).

[Petronski]

Are you telling me that I won't be able to walk into a Best Buy in Boston and buy a copy of Office?

You'll be shot.

Also, there will be searches of your person or effects for any rogue copies of Office (or Flight Simulator or BOB) upon entering the state.

[Still Thinking]

You'll be shot. Also, there will be searches of your person or effects for any rogue copies of Office (or Flight Simulator or BOB) upon entering the state.

Actually, I think I could be persuaded to support that type enforcement for possession of BOB. ;-)

[N3WBI3]

Friends don't let friends use BOB..

[softwarecreator]

but if you're gonna push out other competitors through these means at least make sure you've got the best product.

They don't have to, pure and simple.  Yes, it would be nice, but that's not how corporate America works.

It's like a battlefield, the best soldiers and nicest people are not always the ones left standing at the end.  It all comes down to planning, resources, determination, aggressiveness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

[Petronski]

Every battle is won or lost before it is ever fought. ---Sun-Tzu

[softwarecreator]

If one state switching their desktop shakes up the whole industry as this has, it shows there exist a monopoly

I am not so sure about that.  It seems more indicative of market domination rather then a monopoly.  If it was, in fact, a true monopoly, Linux, Sun and the others wouldn't be making the cuts into this dominance that many here keep touting.

[softwarecreator]

Microsoft's new formats will be in XML format

And a wise decision, I use XML daily and can say that this is the future.

[softwarecreator]

It's a blatant attempt to break the US patent system and intellectual property rights, and not surprising the liberals in Mass are going right along with it.

You are right, copyrighting and patents are a good thing because they protect the person who invented the technology.  They do need to be re-written to allow more flexibilty, but should not be abandoned.

[softwarecreator]

I remember that from the movie "Wall Street".

[softwarecreator]

LOL!  I love sarcasm ... good point and it does seem rather foolish, doesn't it?

[Still Thinking]

I had read that Microsoft implementation of XML for Office docs was just an XML wrapper around a proprietary doc format, as in:

< document >

***proprietary binary format here***

< /document >

If true, I think we can coin a new acronym: XINO! Do you know if this is true or not?

[HAL9000]

Why aren't Apple's products being considered by Mass?

I don't know. I just got off the phone with a guy in Boston, who coincidentally is a Mac user. I should have asked him.

Of course, Apple has the same proprietary data format problem as Microsoft in some of their products. But in some areas, Apple does use open standards where Microsoft does not - e.g. MPEG-4 video formats which which use patented technologies, but do not have onerous anti-GPL licenses AFAIK.

[Still Thinking]

How are we set for kimbos? Do we have plenty or should we call for volunteers?

[HAL9000]

If true, I think we can coin a new acronym: XINO!

Great idea.

[N3WBI3]

good point and it does seem rather foolish, doesn't it?

Yet there are those who see this as a slap in the face of freedom..

[N3WBI3]

Seconded.. XINO is the new term for MS 'Open' XML standards... so let it be written so let it be done ;)

[Golden Eagle]

Apple has the same proprietary data format problem as Microsoft in some of their products.

Well then if these anti-IP liberal mandates as championed by Stallman start spreading, they're obviously going to be damaging to a lot of businesses besides Microsoft, who aren't doing anything other than a lot of our other businesses are and have been for a very long time. Interesting that you're starting to take their side over long time US businesses like Apple, and a definite mistake, IMO.

[Golden Eagle]

Having the State tell me that I must buy MSFT software to do business with them sounds a tad "Venezuelan". ¿No?

Which was exactly MY point, Mr. Red Cloak, even though you'd like to somehow twist it into yours.