Run back to sweet mama Microsoft [LWN.net]

Run back to sweet mama Microsoft

Posted Apr 3, 2008 10:59 UTC (Thu) by dfarning (subscriber, #24102)
Parent article: OOXML gets ISO approval

I just found this article on the Redmond channel Partner--

http://rcpmag.com/blogs/weblog.aspx?blog=2075

That means that Microsoft has legitimacy in the eyes of an independent -- well, more or less
independent -- standards body.

Of course, we're sure that Microsoft, uh, strongly encouraged a few delegates from a few
nations to change their votes -- which lots of delegates did. And, really, OOXML's acceptance
isn't all that big of a deal for partners and users, practically speaking; after all,
Microsoft document formats are also de facto standards.

But now, all of those government agencies charged with implementing standards-based computing
are free to turn away from open source and run back to sweet mama Microsoft if they so choose.
And whatever momentum open source had gained by taking the standards route in IT departments
has certainly slowed -- if not come to a screeching halt.

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Run back to sweet mama Microsoft

Posted Apr 3, 2008 11:48 UTC (Thu) by smitty_one_each (subscriber, #28989) [Link]

Yeah, but when "sweet mama Microsoft" is convicted of prostitution in the Court of Public
Opinion, and no one does better than an 80% solution on OOXML, this ISOdomy shall appear a
pyrrhic victory indeed.

Run back to sweet mama Microsoft

Posted Apr 3, 2008 15:18 UTC (Thu) by bronson (subscriber, #4806) [Link]

> when no one does better than an 80% solution

By the Court of Public Opinion, Microsoft creates the reference standard.  It doesn't matter
how close your importer is to the standard, if it screws up an Office document it's your
fault, not Microsoft's.  Always.

In the eyes of Joe and Jane Public, Microsoft is already at 100% compliance.  :(