Office applications Toolkit

Story: ISO calls for end to OOXML 'personal attacks'

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Microsoft has right to dictate standards; they're meaningless

"As for being recognized by 90% of the word processors... what does that mean? It will be recognized by Word, which covers 90% of the market, because of Microsoft's previous thuggish behavior."

It means that OOXML documents will be recognized same as is the .doc format now. You can edit .doc in word processors in MS Office, Open Office, KOffice and many others - just because it is (was?) the most common document format (same as MS Office is the most common office suite).

Millions (billions?) users will not throw away their office software in a day just because some jealous idealistic geeks have just a mission to save the world from (an evil ;)) corporation. No company will change it's whole IT system just for the idea of community (BTW there was a legal system in my country that everything then was commune and... it didn't work). The reason we will use OOXML is simple: it will be (is) common and it already is a default document format in our word processors (ok, in my it already is, in your perhaps will be soon).

Microsoft, as you mentioned, has done some (thuggish) things that led it to the place the corporation is now. No matter, how much you hate it, you cannot change history. Microsoft has also done an increadible influence on our lives. From early '80s peaple are getting used to technology that suddenly appeared and even seem to be friendly. Millions of us grew up in a changin' world that was attacked every day by another technology invention. Microsoft has found the way to give the technology to us in a very friendly way. We do want use products that we are accustomed to, that we used it before (and got it legally or not).

You all (those, who attack Microsoft) are trying to say, that we must have freedom of choice. In fact, WE DO HAVE A CHOICE. I choose Microsoft product. I find it good (technically), popular (you cannot belive the MS Office suite will just disappear from the market in a day) and now also open and standarized. I see no point of seeking other product, but you are free to go.

MICROSOFT HAS RIGHT TO DICTATE STANDARDS to it's products. Let's say it: my product is my own and I can expect my customers will use my formats. In this way, STANDARDS ARE MEANINGLESS. Does your product really must comply? It is your own choice, if you implement a standard or not. 'Standard' is just a word in a dictionary. Means that we agreed to do sth in some way. If you don't agree - than it's your problem. You don't have to read my document. Or we both can agree to write in Mongolian but to reverse characters. We agreed, but do we need international certificates, tons of papers, documents? DO WE REALLY NEED STANDARDS?

greetings,
Anna

P.S. I am not connected with Microsoft Corp. in any other way than using their software.

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