Comments on: Report fuels OpenOffice vs. OOXML debate

Speculation mars Burton Group report that suggests Microsoft's OOXML document format is preferable to ODF, says OpenOffice.org.

[`WarpKat]

Hidden Agendas and Such

I love how this is playing out and I feel the need to point out one of the most obvious, yet overlooked, aspects of this skirmish:

Whereas Microsoft NEEDED to buy the support in order to get a Yes vote in the ISO, and in turn 'bought' votes and attempted to ensure controlled attendance so only those that were 'bought' could sit in on the voting session, ODF required no such interference whatsoever. ODF lobbied outside of the ISO circle and got ratification based on its merits. ODF had never interfered with the process in any way, shape, or form.

That, and the fact that Burton got the control of formats wrong: Sun isn't in control of ODF and in fact let it go to grow on its own. That's how much faith they have in the format. Microsoft, on the other hand, has decided it was in MSOOXML's best interest that it stay in control of evolution of the format:

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20071206131310362

I think interference by Microsoft, or any other corporation, submitting a proposed standard should immediately be disqualified from submitting standards for 10 years and their proposed standards submission forcibly withdrawn with prejudice.

[Commander_Spock]

No, Not So Soon!

That "an analyst report from Burton Group (which) claims that Microsoft's Office Open XML document format is preferable to the OpenDocument Format..." Read the subject line and here is why this has to be so:

"Re: Concerning the issues with 1-2-3 that are talked about in the documentation you gave me, most of the issues are related to converting files between older and newer versions of product and converting documents between Lotus and Microsoft. Anytime a file is saved backwards or saved with an older file format than the format the file was created under, such as saving a 1-2-3 , 97 file for Windows 95 into a WK1 format for DOS, then naturally we are expected to loose certain features due to technology and features that are present now that were not present 8 - 10 years ago. Similarly, if we try to convert a file from Lotus into Excel or Excel into Lotus, due to differences in the products not every feature will be converted perfectly with the file filters that are available. Both Lotus and Microsoft create similar spreadsheet programs; however, there are several differences in both programs and these differences will remain to distinguish the products apart. We do try to design conversion filters that will allow as much of the file formats as possible to be exchanged and converted without disrupting the actual file design and format.

In one of your letters you made mention of the @IRR and @ERR functions in the 1-2-3 product. By design the @IRR (notably "absent" in Open Office) will calculate the Internal Rate of Return; where the @ERR is used in conjunction with other formulas, posted was an "ERR" showing an error was received in the calculations. As far as I can see in the program I cannot find an @ERR function that will allow us to calculate an Economic Rate of Return"

As an example, try completing a project evaluation requiring international considerations (Project Ranking...) and see how badly the "ERR" ACHILLES HEELS with which "Microsoft's Excel" is afflicted
hurts. :-( :-$ !

[`WarpKat]

...

Why do you exist?

[suyts]

Your right,

there isn't a ERR function in Excel other than to denote an error. I do believe, though, you can create your own. Given that you know the formula and the numbers to input. This link should help.
http://www.allbusiness.com/personal-finance/investing/1035174-1.html
It was, in the least, very informative to me. Who knew. Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck.

[mknopp]

Biased?

I am trying to remember the last time that the Burton group didn't say that a Microsoft product was less then the best thing out there. Microsoft makes some good products, but OOXML is not one of them. We don't even use it in our business, a fortune 500 company, because of IT recommendations. All of this really makes me ignore everything that the Burton group says. To me they are no better then Microsoft coming out saying that OOXML is better then ODF.

[suyts]

Interesting,

I read the story a few days earlier, and decided to check the study. The link took me to their website, but in order to view their study, I had to do that "sign up" procedure. I did. I couldn't find any reference to the funding. (Which is what I was looking for.) If MS had ordered the study, then it would indeed call into question the validity of the study itself. Today, I got a call from the Burton group. A nice lady, "Michelle" I think, was on the other end of the line. Apparently, the study was self-funded as is all of their studies. Oddly enough, she stated that "Sun is a client" of the Burton group.
So, whether you agree with the conclusion or not, the study seems to be unbiased. Perhaps, it is your IT dept. that is biased. Believe it or not, that does exist in IT depts. worldwide. Sad though.