Sam Hiser wrote:
On Tue, 2005-11-01 at 09:00 -0700, Robin Laing wrote:
Sam Hiser wrote:
http://samhiser.blogspot.com/2005/10/commonwealth-senate-meets-on-holloween.html
To me it sounds like some people are concerned about losing some
election funding from Microsoft more than what is best for their
constituents.
From my cursory vantage, it looks like a) the Senators have a sincere
desire to ensure the Process was solid; and b) do only have a partial
grasp of their facts.
B) exists because Microsoft has such overwhelming access and also
because it is the Existing standard and people go with what they know.
I think they will come around when the facts are presented in a broadly
informative manner and when it becomes apparent that the open standards
in question have broad Democratic support.
Remember, this stuff is new to most people. We've been dealing with it
for over 5 years...the technologists for decades. There will be a
gestation period for the new audiences -- including the Reps.
If it takes Mass a bit longer to establish confidence in the process,
then all other states will simply be enabled to move all the more
rapidly.
I'm still an optimist and confident the cynical view is not yet germane.
-Sam
I just thought of something. Wasn't Microsoft's first document
against Linux with FUD called the Halloween paper or something like
that. :)
One thing that keeps coming up is the cost. I really doubt that
Microsoft is going to allow Massachusetts to update to Office 12 for
free. I wonder if that will come out.
I do agree that if Mass does do this right, it will be hard to stop
any other state or organization from doing the same.
I just wish I could ask the all important question to the Microsoft
representative. "What prevents Microsoft from implementing and fully
supporting the Open Document Standard that you were involved with the
development of?"
--
Robin Laing
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