Massachusetts moves ahead sans Microsoft

CNet News.com ^ | 23 September 2005 | Martin LaMonica

[ShadowAce]

This is about open standards--not open source.

[ShadowAce]

[Chicha Kazembe]

I hope they are shooting themselves in the foot.

[keithtoo]

Sounds like the geniuses in MA will wind up paying 10X in consulting fees what they think they are saving in software licenses.

It's easy to thinkg you're abe a genius when you're spending other people's money.

[ShadowAce]

I hope they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Why? Why would you want the format (and accessability) of public documents to be controlled by a private company?

[Petronski]

I don't think Massachusetts should use the editor you used to create this sentence:

It's easy to thinkg you're abe a genius when you're spending other people's money.

[Cobra64]

I will say, Adobe PDF files can encase a lot of differing kinds of material. But... they take forever to open. In a strictly business environment, I only use Excel and Word. My brother who builds heliports and has to show graphics, sketches, etc., he uses Adobe as a transmission medium.

[Petronski]

If Microsoft doesn't like this move, they can provide support for ODF. I don't see the problem.

[ShadowAce]

Consulting fees for what? This is a document standards motion--not software. If MS would suport the document standard, they are more than welcome to conduct business with the state of MA.

[N3WBI3]

Before anyone here jumps in as saying MA is endorsing a particular brand of software please not MS has one full year to support an ODF as defined by MA law, if they do they will be considered along with other vendors. the ODF does not have to be the only, or even default MS document format.
<p.
PS everyone remember you're homework..

[Terpfen]

Commentary: Geriatic Microsoft scuppered by file formats.

[js1138]

If Microsoft doesn't like this move, they can provide support for ODF. I don't see the problem.

They will. OpenDocument is just a subset of what MS is up to.

[solitas]

During the hearing, Kriss said that the state would save significantly by migrating to OpenDocument-based products rather than going with Office 12--on the order of $5 million for OpenDocument versus $50 million for Office 12, including hardware and operating-system upgrade costs.

<snicker>

[Petronski]

If they respond to this move by fully supporting ODF, this entire event is a tempest in a teapot.

[js1138]

So they will wind up buying both.

[keithtoo]

I use the same one you do Einstein - which is none at all. Typo's are routinely forgiven in forums.

[Syntyr]

"If Microsoft doesn't like this move, they can provide support for ODF. I don't see the problem."

and if M$ doesn't want to support ODF Massachusetts is free to use another product.

[TechJunkYard]

They will. OpenDocument is just a subset of what MS is up to.

As long as MS supports the Standard and not just its derivative.

[acapesket]

Yeah but now we have to teach all of the half wits who live and vote here a whole new way of thought.. in this state that will likely take a Century or more

[Question_Assumptions]

Personally, I care more about open standards than open source. Open standard allow competition.