From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>> Why didn't Adobe just add gz compression, encryption and
>> string searching to the PS standard?
>
>Because they saw the fact that HTML was eating into their business, and
>because it didn't control layout precisely, gave them an opportunity to
>try to turn the save file format of one of their products into a
>standard format for document exchange.
>
>Fortunately, they left it too late, and designed it too badly.
PDF was around long before HTML was popular. I remember getting PDFs from
gopher sites before the 'web' itself was around in the form we know it
today, and way before Linux itself was usable.
Adobe went on a big PDF push when they realised they had a marketable
product and not just a simple interchange format. The big changes lately
have been for DTP and pre-press stuff to be able to use it as well.
>But back on the subject of StarOffice, here is some wise advice from a
>friend:
>
>> Luke,
>>
>> I do not believe it will be possible to shift to SO. Indeed, the
>> aim should be to increase choices rather than replacement.
>>
>> If a group of you want to use SO you should install SO and remove
>> M$Office. You will be the only ones affected. If it works it
>> will grow.
>>
>> Secondly, actively reduce the number of M$ licences required
>> and get the savings added to your own budget. If you do not
>> do this no savings will be made.
>
>I'm going to try to follow this advice, here at work.
Be very careful. If you accidentally send out a few StarOffice documents,
or your documents look worse to your managers then the whole SO thing will
get killed for years to come. You will also have problems if your managers
send you a Word or Excel document and you have to mail them back saying you
can't read it - please send HTML or PDF. Not a good look or way to get
liked.
Also, as M$ licences are not a 'renewal' thing (unless you have a support
agreement, which means you probably want to investigate a SO support
agreement and what the costs are). You buy them and have them. Savings
will be a while coming and only effective on the next round of upgrades.
I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying look at a worst case scenario
first and try not to get the whole SO idea thrown out from being too eager.
John Wiltshire
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