"Microsoft implemented ODF with all the grace of a 6 year old asked to tidy up their room"

--Jeremy Allison, LCA 2010

Summary: OpenDocument Format (ODF, a real standard everyone can implement) and Free/libre software should be taught in schools; it's not supposed to be just a matter of privacy

Days ago we included in our daily links some early reports about Microsoft Office 360 getting banned in German schools. CBS (ZDNet) is helping Microsoft spin all this with a bunch of lies [1], but this development must worry Microsoft as it can inspire other countries and even non-schools to do the same. We've meanwhile noticed (hours ago) that some "Linux sites" promote proprietary software with "ribbons" and OOXML [2] (because there are binaries for Ubuntu). Why not Free/libre software? Are bloggers really this clueless? What does one gain by swapping one piece of proprietary software with another? Or one surveillance form (Microsoft) with another (Google)?

Software Freedom needs to be stressed more and more for such poor advocacy to be discouraged. Choosing something like Google or Apple instead of Microsoft isn't swapping digital slavery with freedom but instead just swapping 'masters'. ⬆

Update: For the second time in just hours [3] that same "Linux site" promotes yet another piece of proprietary software as a "replacement" for Microsoft Office.

Related/contextual items from the news:

1. Microsoft Office 365: Banned in German schools over privacy fears





2. FreeOffice July Update Adds MS Office 2019 Support, Classic Interface Option

   A major update to FreeOffice by SoftMaker, a gratis set of productivity apps modelled after Microsoft Office, is now available to download.
   
   Dubbed the “anniversary update”, the latest version of this office suite intros compatibility with the latest Microsoft Office file formats.
   
   All three apps in the family, TextMaker, PlanMaker and Presentations, are said to be fully compatible with the latest Microsoft Office file formats, allowing users to open, edit and save in native Office formats like .docx.
   
   The suite now lets users choose an interface layout, with the standard “Ribbon” interface mode and a more traditional menu-based UI available.





3. Microsoft Office Clone ‘SoftMaker Office 2018’ Sees Summer Update

   Do keep in mind that SoftMaker Office 2018 is not free software so you will need to buy a subscription or make a one-off purchase to use it longterm.