Massachusetts set to switch off Microsoft

[Refalm]

I found this freaky site a few days ago.

http://exodus2006.com/3code.htm

Yeah right, do a

Code: [Select]

javascript:document.lastModified on the New Orleans page.

Also:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041124024701/http://exodus2006.com/3code.htm

Even better, check the Google cache:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:9EmG_XzoIa4J:exodus2006.com/3code.htm+&hl=nl&client=opera

The New Orleans page was added on 4 september 2005.

[mobrien_12]

You know, strictly speaking Massachusetts isn't switching from Microsoft to OpenOffice.  Massachusetts is switching to the OpenDoc standard.  Although OpenOffice developed OpenDoc, anyone can implement it into their word processors, including Corel (Wordperfect) and Microsoft.  

However, Microsoft refuses to support OpenDoc, even after Massachusetts made this announcement.  

So, in essence, Massachusetts isn't rejecting Microsoft, Microsoft is rejecting Massachusetts, unless Massachusetts plays by MS' rules.

[Kintaro]

I think if Microsoft were to use OpenDoc they would be to lazy to play by OpenDoc's rules. They would just butcher the format and add features that isn't compatible with other software. They would attempt to hijack the standard.

[mobrien_12]

I think if Microsoft were to use OpenDoc they would be to lazy to play by OpenDoc's rules. They would just butcher the format and add features that isn't compatible with other software. They would attempt to hijack the standard.

Well, that is their modus operandi for killing competition, isn't it?  That or embedding something in the operating system.

[MarathoN]

Yeah right, do a

Code: [Select]

javascript:document.lastModified on the New Orleans page.

Also:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041124024701/http://exodus2006.com/3code.htm

Even better, check the Google cache:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:9EmG_XzoIa4J:exodus2006.com/3code.htm+&hl=nl&client=opera

The New Orleans page was added on 4 september 2005.

Thanks for clearing that one up.  :thumbup:

[Orethrius]

Thanks for clearing that one up.  :thumbup:

 Oh, did you see his Terri Schiavo page here?  javascript:document.lastModified yields Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:11:58 GMT.  In advance?  Is it legal to shoot these kinds of people yet?

[worker201]

Shooting people is bad.  Hanging them by their fucking necks with their own mouse cord is okay, though.

[MarathoN]

They won't be able to update the comet one, because by then we'll be dead.

[Phillip]

Good thing Mac OSX has PDF support built in.
 :macos:

[MarathoN]

Heh, Linux has that too I believe.

[Jenda]

I wanted to ask: How's PDF from the free-software PoV? Is it proprietary, as I think [adobe], is it open, is it considered a standard?

[KernelPanic]

I wanted to ask: How's PDF from the free-software PoV? Is it proprietary, as I think [adobe], is it open, is it considered a standard?

Closed, but an industry standard.
Creation with OSS is ok - OOo has PDF export and you can go from ps -> PDF sort of.
Plenty of apps to open them, and of course the closed Acrobad Reader.

[KernelPanic]

Acrobad Reader.

Ag, Freudian slip.

[worker201]

Closed, but an industry standard.
Creation with OSS is ok - OOo has PDF export and you can go from ps -> PDF sort of.
Plenty of apps to open them, and of course the closed Acrobad Reader.

I'm not so sure about that.  Can you really classify a document format as closed or open source?  The PDF (and while we're at it, PostScript) specification is available for anyone to read.  However, the act of writing PDFs with the spec is not allowed, unless you agree to Adobe licensing rules.  The rules for PDF are a bit more strict than PostScript, but I think most of the rules involve shoutouts to Adobe.

Interesting question, if anyone has anything else to share on this idea, I would like to hear it.

[Aloone_Jonez]

Closed, but an industry standard.
Creation with OSS is ok - OOo has PDF export and you can go from ps -> PDF sort of.
Plenty of apps to open them, and of course the closed Acrobad Reader.

Doesn't the same apply to MS Office file formats?