On Sat, 2001-12-29 at 20:32, daRcmaTTeR wrote: > On Sun, 30 Dec 2001 09:17:59 +0900 > Doug Lerner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> studiouisly spake these words to ponder: > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Sunday, December 30, 2001): > > > > >One of the things that _no_one_ should be concerned about any longer is > > >compatibility with MS Office. > > > > This is absolutely impossible for me. I exchange so many files > > (spreadsheet, doc and presentation) with so many customers and other > > staff members that unfortunately "Office" has become the standard by > > which we exchange compatible files. Not being compatible with MS Office - > > at least in my case - is unthinkable. > > > > I know I'm coming in late on this thread, but Star Office handles this very thing >beautifully. "ALL" of it.
I think Civileme's point was that if/when the UCITA law passes in Washington, USA, then Microsoft (headquartered in Washington) will be able to make a minor change to their proprietary .doc/.xls/whatever file formats, and it will be illegal for Sun or anyone else to reverse-engineer that file format to create a new filter for their competing office suite. And if anyone DOES reverse-engineer the file format, then MS can sue them to smithereens, and even try to go for a prison sentence, since their EULA will carry the force of law. Civileme's further point, to which Doug balked, was that we should all be looking to move away from MS' (or anyone else's, for that matter) proprietary file formats, as a pre-emptive move so that we are not locked into yet another MS monopoly if/when UCITA passes. In our own self-interest, we should be changing to open file formats, like xml (which StarOffice 6.0 uses, by the way). Dave -- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup.
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