On Wed, 23 Mar 2005, Chuck wrote: [...]
I think the problem is that nobody wants to be the manager who recommended software that was later found out to have some incompatibility with MS file formats, the format that 98% of the rest of the business world uses.
Perhaps, but since there are severe incompatibility problems with the different MS applications and between different versions, the real cause for the hesitation may be non-technical.
One factor is that in many businesses or departments, it is not allowed to criticize MS products, even when solid data based upon agreed metrics is present. In other cases, existing non-MS products get compared to MS' next version which is always perfect and always just around the corner. I've come to think of 'the next version' as Chairman Bill's implementation of Comrade Lei Feng.
Also, remember that many IT departments have had the functional equivalent of an MS sales team working on the inside since 5 or 6 years ago. So they will be resisitant to other vendors / sources, but as Christian points out with "demi-Moore's Law", after a certain point that inertia will be in the favor of open document formats.
Witness the change from proprietary networking protocols in the 60's, 70's, and 80's to open ones.
Lars Nooden ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Software patents kill innovation and harm all Net-based business.
Keep them out of the EU by writing your MEP, keep the market open.--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
