Comments on: Mass. holding tight to OpenDocument

State is sticking to its plan to standardize on OpenDocument, says the incoming CIO, describing the move as irreversible.

[System Tyrant]

Little Picture... BIG Picture.

So far the argument in this forum has been to...

A. Let the software vender decide the format,
B. MA is going to waste millions of tax payer dollars to support this,
C. IT people are generally stupid,
D. A CIO who wants an open document format that isn't tied to a proprietary peice of software is an idiot and should be fired,
E. XML isn't a good format for document storage.

You know what I won't argue a one of those. Maybe they are valid and maybe they aren't.

Here's what I think...

The little picture says that...

A. It will cost MA and it's taxpayers a lot of money,
B. ODF isn't as robust as it will be,
C. It isn't a well supported format yet, but their are no well supported generic formats yet,
D. It isn't likely going to make much of a difference in the short term.

The big picture says that...

A. The format will someday be very robust and well supported.
B. It will save the taxpayers money when states and even users don't have to shell out $500 plus dollars to be compatible.
C. Eventually all office programs will support ODF which makes the office software front more competitive.
D. It will lead to better services that center around document exchange because they won't have to focus on supporting many different formats and it will help drive down the cost of development.

The fact is that in the long run have a standardized, non-proprietary, and open document format that's not controlled by the intrest of a single company is good for all. Maybe ODF isn't the right format or maybe it isn't far enough along to be considered a viable option, but as it gains support it will be. At the very least the idea is valid and I think MA is bold in making this move. I hope other states make the same move and I hope that ODF becomes the standard document format of the future.

[System Tyrant]

Little Picture... BIG Picture.

So far the argument in this forum has been to...

A. Let the software vender decide the format,
B. MA is going to waste millions of tax payer dollars to support this,
C. IT people are generally stupid,
D. A CIO who wants an open document format that isn't tied to a proprietary peice of software is an idiot and should be fired,
E. XML isn't a good format for document storage.

You know what I won't argue a one of those. Maybe they are valid and maybe they aren't.

Here's what I think...

The little picture says that...

A. It will cost MA and it's taxpayers a lot of money,
B. ODF isn't as robust as it will be,
C. It isn't a well supported format yet, but their are no well supported generic formats yet,
D. It isn't likely going to make much of a difference in the short term.

The big picture says that...

A. The format will someday be very robust and well supported.
B. It will save the taxpayers money when states and even users don't have to shell out $500 plus dollars to be compatible.
C. Eventually all office programs will support ODF which makes the office software front more competitive.
D. It will lead to better services that center around document exchange because they won't have to focus on supporting many different formats and it will help drive down the cost of development.

The fact is that in the long run have a standardized, non-proprietary, and open document format that's not controlled by the intrest of a single company is good for all. Maybe ODF isn't the right format or maybe it isn't far enough along to be considered a viable option, but as it gains support it will be. At the very least the idea is valid and I think MA is bold in making this move. I hope other states make the same move and I hope that ODF becomes the standard document format of the future.

[giuliocesare]

This is the wrong line for Massachusetts

Changing to Open Office will bring no benifit at all. The reason is that Open Office offers less programs and features than Microsoft (check for yourself - Microsoft offers the same, plus more). Way better was to use the two Office suites together, because it balances costs and abilities.

[giuliocesare]

This is the wrong line for Massachusetts

Changing to Open Office will bring no benifit at all. The reason is that Open Office offers less programs and features than Microsoft (check for yourself - Microsoft offers the same, plus more). Way better was to use the two Office suites together, because it balances costs and abilities.

[JuggerNaut]

Open Standards = Common Sense!

Anyone arguing against such either have a screw loose of have too
much invested into Microsoft stock!!

It's time to break the chains of proprietary file formats enforced by
a single vendor and return the market to a competitive one.

[Buzz_Friendly]

a few problems to note

Standards are great IF people use them. Adopting a standard that few to nobody uses will not get you far no matter how good your intentions are.
On investment in Microsoft. Well you have a point many people have HUGE investments in MS. Be it good or be it bad it exist and is widely adopted. If you currently have millions tied up in MS Office simply dumping the product in favor of a standard isn't good business sense. And since we are talking tax dollars in this case most taxpayers aren't going to be real happy that all that money has been wasted and more will be wasted in an effort to be on an open standard that few people have ever heard of. What we have hear is a collision with standards vs common sense.

[km4hr]

MS said they couldn't use TCP/IP at one time

I recall years ago when MS finally woke up to the realization that the internet was something they needed to be involved in. They had been completely asleep at the wheel. So they decided to take over in a big way. As usual, they tried to enforce the use of their own proprietary network protcols (netbios?). They claimed their stuff was the "de facto" standard and they couldn't adapt. Everyone else would have to adapt to them. Well, it became obvious pretty soon that the internet community knew what they were doing, unlike the MS lemming's who always accept MS's word as gospel. The internet community basically told MS to stick their protocols where the sun don't shine. The internet train had already left the station. Almighty MS was forced to change its ways, or stay off the internet. It will be interesting to see if MS eats crow again. However this issue is the life blood of MS. It's hard to see how they can stand to loose this one. If ODF succeeds it goodbye MS monopoly. GO MASS!