Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan (eWeek) [LWN.net]

Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan (eWeek)

Posted Sep 15, 2005 20:50 UTC (Thu) by bojan (subscriber, #14302)
In reply to: Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan (eWeek) by IdeaMagnate
Parent article: Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan (eWeek)

> single format for office documents

Yes, that is a concern. Imagine, for instance, if all documents on the web were done in the same format - one would need a single web technology deployed - a real tragedy. That's exactly why Microsoft invented IE - to spice things up a little bit, with another web format that nobody understands, which obviously lead to great progress.

With this one, I'm on Microsoft's side ;-) Bad standards, bad!

PS. Also, imagine the cost benefits of not needing to support the OpenDocument format (to Microsoft, that is ;-)

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Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan (eWeek)

Posted Sep 23, 2005 12:36 UTC (Fri) by shane (subscriber, #3335) [Link]

To play the Devil's advocate for minute...

While you are trying to be ironic, you have hit on a good
example of a place where multiple document formats can make sense.

What happens when you want to do something not supported by the document
standard you are using? For example, suppose that the standard was plain
text (ASCII), and you wanted to add colour.

The reason you have given a good example is that HTML, while good for
certain things, is not so great for others. When you need tight control
over where things appear when presented, other formats are better.
Something Massachusetts might want to do is update a form that people
fill out when applying for something, and then send the updated form to
all of their offices electronically. In this case, PDF would make more
sense than HTML.

There is such a thing as using the right tool for the job.