Chad Smith wrote:
On 1/2/06, Ian Lynch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
An MSO format that has patent or license restrictions that could be
invoked at some time in the future is never going to be open no matter
how much gasping you do. An XML text based format that has no binaries
in it and no undocumented elements and no requirements to be compatible
with specific legacy closed formats is always going to be the most open,
particularly if anyone is free to implement it freely in any
circumstances.
Okay, I understand that, Ian. In the next sentence (the one you
deleted) I said I don't think that DOC is a better or more open format
- but Google's better implementation tends to make it look that way.
But, you're right, I should have left out the gasp. Sorry about that.
An end to lock-in will over time lead to a decline and an end to the use
of proprietary formats but it will take a while. After all some people
still use typewriters.
Okay, but what I was asking was how does this instance demonstrate
that. I've heard Sam's answer, so I've got it now. It's not the
final nail in the coffin - it's just a little glimpse of what life
after MSO lock-in would be like.
I think that's fair, Chad. There are no such nails with something as
ingrained as Microsoft and revenue streams that vendors have corralled
and which support their (as well as elected officials') energy defending
the established interests of Microsoft.
I make the argument that our positions are *heretical* in the context of
the common view of the natural status quo with Microsoft -- rightly or
not -- at the front of everyone's mind. This makes it easier to
understand why people do and say odd things in defense of the status
quo. In light of this, we are only going to be chipping away...each chip
will be worth celebrating. ODF is a big chunk, in that context.
-Sam
Thanks for your input, Ian.
--
- Chad Smith
http://www.gimpshop.net/
Because everyone loves free software!
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