Apple supporting Microsoft against the Open Document format

[sledz41]

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174900726

"While the software is targeted at emerging economies, the announcement in India reverberated across the world to Massachusetts, where the state government has been wrestling with an attempt to establish standards for office software. The state had set a standard on ODF, but after Microsoft complained, Governor Mitt Romney (R) appeared to back down. Several firms including Apple Computer have supported Microsoft while IBM and Sun Microsystems have led the campaign for ODF."

Apple supporting Microsoft against the Open Document format, why would they do that?
Or have I misunderstood the article.

[mobrien_12]

Well, I would guess that Apple's playing politics.

Maybe Bill G told them to support MS or MS Office for Mac might go bye-bye.

Or, perhaps more likely...  Apple has the only other OS that MS Office runs on.  If MS wins, Apple only competes against Windows.  If OpenDocument wins, Apple  has to compete against Windows, Linux, *BSD, etc. etc., all of which can run OpenDocument-supporting software.

[Refalm]

Apple supporting Microsoft against the Open Document format, why would they do that?

If Apple supported OpenDocument Format, they would lose Microsoft Office for Mac.

[Aloone_Jonez]

In my oppinion Apple's best move would be to remain neutral and support both or neither formats, then they could keep both MS and Sun happy.

[Refalm]

In my oppinion Apple's best move would be to remain neutral and support both or neither formats, then they could keep both MS and Sun happy.

Does Apple need to keep Sun happy as much as Microsoft?
There are many switchers who got convinced by having Microsoft Office for Mac OS X too.

Sun is a big concurent to Apple to on the server market (and a small desktop threat too).

[piratePenguin]

If Apple supported OpenDocument Format, they would lose Microsoft Office for Mac.

I'm sure Microsoft have their own greedy reasons for releasing Office for Mac OS X. I certainly don't think they do it so Apple will support them in battles like these.

[Aloone_Jonez]

No but they wouldn't be happy if Apple started supporting a competitor's file format instead of their's.

[piratePenguin]

No but they wouldn't be happy if Apple started supporting a competitor's file format instead of their's.

Who cares? Microsoft will still release Office for Mac OS X for the same reasons Office for Mac OS X exists. And if Microsoft were to halt it, well good thing for OpenOffice (even if it does currently suck (which it does not, IMO), it would recieve more support, and improve faster), and the other alternatives.

Apple shouldn't suck Microsoft's cock, but that's just me.

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Apple are a bunch of pussies ... they wouldn't stand up to M$ even if they had a chance. The more news I hear from apple, the more I think of them as a bunch of cowards kissing Bill Gates's ass whenever he puts the slightest pressure on them to do things his way. They better change or they may soon find themselves with an $$$ in their name ... Apple$ ... not because they are greedy, but because they are with M$ so much you won't be able to tell them apart anymore. I hope Apple changes their mind ... if not then that's another obstacle down in Gates's plan of world domination.

[worker201]

Funny, when I mentioned this last week, nobody had any comments...

[H_TeXMeX_H]

You did, where ? Sorry if I missed it ... how could I have missed it ? Can you provide a link pls ?

[piratePenguin]

You did, where ? Sorry if I missed it ... how could I have missed it ? Can you provide a link pls ?

http://www.microsuck.com/forums/showpost.php?p=106406&postcount=2

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Oh .. well that one ... I guess I didn't miss it ... I just forgot I replied to it  

http://www.microsuck.com/forums/showpost.php?p=106412&postcount=4

[M51DPS]

Personally, I think Apple should forget about what microsoft thinks. They already have most of an office suite in the form of iWork (maybe an entire office suite if the Numbers rumor is true), which is already pretty good and currently supports, microsoft formats, PDF, flash, Photoshop, XML, etc.

Another cool thing, but definitely will not happen, would be if they actively supported OpenOffice. I know there is already NeoOffice, but it would be much better and slicker with Apple's help.

Who needs Microsoft anyway?