Open Debate About OpenDocument
I normally don’t repost articles/links from /. on my blog, but as a big supporter of open standards, I really enjoyed reading these reader responses about Open Debate About OpenDocument. I don’t have much to add, but all of the letters posted are very well thought out. The idea that it will cost more to convert to an Open Document format (and a free office suite) is about as absurd of an argument I ever heard. The only argument more absurd is Prendergast’s claim that going to an open format discourages competition. Huh? Since any software maker can use an open format, it encourages competition. I’d get into some of the crazy quotes Prendergast uses, like Mr Quinn saying “Microsoft keeps expanding into XML and metadata” and point out it should read “Microsoft keeps breaking various XML and metadata standards to lock us into their over-priced software.”