He’s saying “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”, a lesson you guys clearly never bothered to learn.

Did ODF proponents bribe and bully? You forgot what some of these post were about.

OOXML has tonnes of problems; but let’s be honest about this: are they insurmountable? Basically, no. Is anyone going to implement OOXML because it’s technically desirable? Basically, no.

ISO standardisation has never been about technically good standards.

What I do believe is that it’s quite possible to accept OOXML’s technical problems but still recognise the opportunity it represents. I find it a real shame that when respectable people take this position, they are shouted down and have mud slung at them.

A very good example is Patrick Durusau. Without him, there is no way ODF would be an ISO standard right now: for those with short memories, ODF got stuck in ISO with a host of editorial problems (which was why it was significantly delayed), and it was Patrick’s extensive ISO experience which got it through. Patrick continues to contribute to the ODF spec. and edit it.

But now there are many people trying to discredit him because he’s not anti-OOXML. People digging dirt and throwing mud.

Are they doing ODF any good? No. If Patrick walked away right now, ODF would have lost an experienced contributor who has measurably contributed to it.

It’s this kind of vitriolic anti-MSism which I’m against; because it damages free software. OOXML, as the default format of Microsoft Office, is basically now a fact of life.

He’s not saying “all hail OOXML!” and he’s not saying that people should use OOXML over ODF.

He’s saying “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”, a lesson you guys clearly never bothered to learn.

If governments mandate this format it will cost money and time. And that will come out of ours pockets.

If companies adapt it it will make products and services more expensive and the consumer will pay for it.

It will cost a lot of time and money to work around all the mistakes, errors and faults of this file format.

Every thing that can be done to call attention to these now is better that cry and whine later.

These are technical complaints. With practical examples.

Even if the ODF format has problems it’s better to help correct them than allow 2 handicapped formats to exists.

Let me point a study made by CIO/OFT titled:

“A Strategy for Openness: Enhancing E-Records Access in New York State”

in it says:

“Increased numbers of formats for doing the same office tasks do not increase choice in any positive manner. Use of multiple formats increases complexity and ongoing costs. The use of single, standarized formats increases inefficiencies and furthers compatibility and interoperability. Choice comes into play in two ways: (a) the choices made by vendors to directly support accepted standards; and (b) the ability of the State to choose among vendors who support accepted standards.”

A lot of people around the world independent of each other have come to the same conclusions. Technical, economic and political. They all concur: there’s no need for OOXML; OOXML is crippleware.

Doesn’t matter if you consider him a saint. If he is an Open Source Advocate or not. That is not subject of discussion. It’s not about Open Source vs Proprietary.

It’s about what’s right and wrong. Things that are made to help others or things that are those who made it. It’s about pragmatism and practicality.

That dismissive tone is an insult to every person that knows how bad this pseudo-standard file format is.

Does he understand or will he hide behind an aura of impartiality. Did he do anything to improve any of this two file formats? Of course not…

You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. But by pretending that ODF suffer from same problems or dismissing the real problems about interoperability as just work as usual you create doubt. We’ve seen this a thousand times over.

You paid shills just have to better. Go back to Jason Matusow to receive further instructions.

Game over. You failed your mission. Restart?

If problems in OOXML had been left in just because they would render it incompatible with Excel, people would complain. They fixed problems which Excel has, and people complain.

Nobody cares when problems in ODF are fixed even when it puts OpenOffice.org out of spec.