John -
I see the problem as another business advantage over other competitors if the OOXML is developed solely by one company.
Yes, you have nailed it on the head. Microsoft keeps FUDing in the press that Sun, IBM and others are working against it when it comes to OOXML approval. There are a few things we have to remember: a) At the OASIS meeting when they were looking at the ODF stuff, MS was at the table, but chose to boycott it when it because clear that their stuff could not get in. b) Like the IETF, the idea of a standard being independently implemented by at least two entities, is important. It has been achieved by the ODF which is now available from many sources (proprietary and open). OOXML is only by MS - their claim that they have a posse of companies with them on this is really a smoke screen. Those other companies - includes Apple as well - I am sure are there for reasons that are most likely nothing to do with OOXML. If that were the case, why is only MS pushing for this in the public space while the others are deafening by their silence? MS has been heard saying that there are "billions of .doc out there that need rescuing" and so they are being pro active in creating OOXML. I queried them at a session that they made this suggesting that if they honestly wanted to "rescue" these docs, they should just publish the .doc, .xls and .ppt formats and be done with it. The reply was neither here nor there - essentially sidestepping the core point. Harish _______________________________________________ Slugnet mailing list [email protected] http://www.lugs.org.sg/mailman/listinfo/slugnet
