Ganesha Bhaskara wrote:
web at work wrote:
Everyone has their own opinions.
Everyone sees the same facts and have their own take on what
they actually mean.
So. It is up to the user to decide. That is where it counts in the end.
It is not as simple ....... here is the reason (from one of my previous
emails)
The ubiquity of MS office products has created a "network effect" which is
extremely had to break. Moving from .doc to .docx is a simple drop-in
upgrade for Microsoft. I am FORCED to use MS word because a majority of
the people I send/receive documents to/from use MS Office. Being
compatible with this majority is a necessity for me. Further, there is
little good reason for others to switch from MS word to OpenOffice as the
ROI for such a switch is some pain WITHOUT significant immediate gains.
Unless Openoffice and ODF provides a value proposition that exceeds the
net value proposition of MS Office and its network of users, I believe ODF
and Openoffice will find it hard to make a dent in the Office space. One
can't tear down a monopoly by simply being better at the same game.
However, the following things make me feel more optimistic.
1) Govts. waking up to long term digital data storage problem associated
with proprietary solutions
2) OO supporting plugins ..... OO can move to a new space that MS does not
have a foot hold.
3) Uncertainty about of hidden balance sheet liability to third parties
who choose to implement OOXML
-G
I do understand about the network effect,
BUT with the unsung heros, OOo programmers,
are making OOo work with all of the current formats,
including OOXML. MS does not do that.
So when you are asked to upgrade you Office Suite AGAIN,
you can look into OpenOffice.org and wonder if you should
buy MS's product or get OOo for free.
OOo v3.0 should have OOXML included. While MS will not
include ODF's ISO
MS has lost ground in both the Office Suite catagory
and the OS catagory. More and more individuals and
businesses are replacing Vista to Linux. Some are even
downgrading from Vista to XP, since Vista is not working
well for those companies. Then we come to the Office
Suite issue. How many downloads has versions of 2.x
seen? How many individuals, businesses, and governments
have switched from MS Office products to OpenOffice or
"clone like" versons such as OxygenOffice or the Mac versions.
That is why I said it is up to the user to decide.
Even many MS Office users are saying they have problems
with MS's OOXML and the way 2007 is setup. Then the
MS own reports of their "new" file format in the works.
If MS want everyone to get Office 2007 so they can use
OOXML formats, then why are there reports of a "newer,
better" formats in the works?
Then the reports of the next OS coming out years early
that will be a total rewrite to make it more effecient than
Vista. If Vista is so great, why the rush?
Like other people, I must have MS products to support
either my employer or my clients. Yet, more and more
of my clients are agreeing with me that OpenOffice.org
is the way to go.
With Linux becoming an easier to use OS, and starting
to get people to stop thinking it is a computer geek OS,
more individuals are goint to switch. Plus the fact that
with the use of WINE, most of the MS OS software will
run on Linux. Why bother with XP, Vista, or the next one.
When I get my next laptop, this one will be converted to
Linux so I can start the process of using Linux with "Windows".
Then, when I have replaced all my "Windows" software
with Linux ones that do the same, I will have all my
computers converted.
MS will, in the end, listen to their users in deciding
what is needed in their products. With todays markets
and the dissatifaction with software products,
ALL companies will need to listen to their users,
or will be doomed to fail in the future market places.
The users will decide what they want and need.
If Open Source products do it better and cheaper,
then it makes business sense to choose Open Source.
In the end, that is the way things will go.
Who ever has what the user wants at the lower cost
wins.
For me it is Open Source products.
And for more and more individuals, businesses, and governments
it is the same.
It is the user that will, in the end, choose.
Sorry again for the long winded ranting.
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