[odf-discuss] Netherlands Picks ODF

[Lars Noodén]

Chris Puttick wrote:
> Can someone translate the original news posting? Seems to me it does
> not say ODF or ISO 26300, but talks about open standard i.e. the door
> is left open for OOXML. 

Only if the word "open" is redefined in such a way as to allow inclusion
of MOOX.  However, either way, your point is quite valid.

> ... There is mention of open source software, but
> then there are open source packages working on OOXML compatibility -
> by 2009 OpenOffice may well have got reasonable support.

Can't happen.  It's not a shortcoming with OpenOffice, but an
observation about the shortcomings in the MOOX spec:
	http://holloway.co.nz/can-other-vendors-implement-ooxml.html

MOOX exists, aside from the obvious vendor lock-in, to burn up countless
staff hours for non-MSboosters.  It's a moving target [1], incomplete
enough to not be implementable, burdened with licensing problems, and
loaded with general technical problems.  Then there's the size.  Even if
it were clear, well-organized, and well thought out, 6000 pages is
likely to be a serious obstacle to implementation.

It's a waste of time to have anything to do with MOOX, including this
discussion.  However, some preventative measures can keep such a
time-waster from getting a foothold in the market.

-Lars


[1]
 http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/mgmt/74C665EDA37CB6F0CC2573560004F188
 http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2007/09/doug-mahughs-ta.html