Microsoft, Massachusetts, and ODF

These types of problems with

These types of problems with Microsoft are certain to happen again and again without cease. I am hopeful that when a new political administration comes into office in January 2009, that they will review the Non-remdy to Microsofts' predatory monoploy conviction put in place by the Bush administration. Ultimately, given Microsofts continueing predatory monopoly behavior, the company will need to either be regulated or broken up. Until the day the Microsoft monopoly is dealt with in an honest and practical fashion, the evolution of the computer indusrty will be seriously retarded as Microsoft continues to manipulate the market with its monopoly product to fill its own coffers and to stop comnpettion. We need to deal with the real problem at its foundation.

Microsoft has treated the

Microsoft has treated the Massachusetts State very badly...!!!

I think that focusing on a Open Document Format would help the world progress...
And Open Formats should be adopted in not only Office Applications, but Music & Video too!
I also think that alternative Office applications (such as OpenOffice.Org - OOO) are very close to being perfect!
And MS Office is reaching its end...
(that is why they are reacting in such an "insane" way - they know their MS Office is going down...)

Thanks.

P.S.> The best thing MS could do now, is open/share its Office code with the rest of the world.
But that requires lots of "guts" - not sure if they have them...

Microsoft had no legitimate

Microsoft had no legitimate role in attempting to influence the course of government in Massachusetts. The company is not based there, it's leaders are not residents of that state, and its employees who are, no doubt, form only a tiny minority of the population.

There is nothing new about state governments posting minimum specifications for products subject to the bidding process for purchase. How is specifying support for a particular document format in productivity software any different from establishing minimum specifications for state police cruisers, which companies bidding for contracts would be required to meet or exceed to be considered?

If companies like Microsoft are allowed to influence the legislative branch through lobbying, particularly to pass legislation that somehow diminishes the legitimate role of the executive branch to establish minimum standards for goods and services purchased on behalf of taxpayers, then there is no government, just the will of the corporation with enough money to enforce its own interests.

This was an enlightening article. Too bad it isn't being aired on the six o'clock news.

I think this is just

I think this is just administrators and lawyers dancing around each other til somebody drops a hanky and then everyone watches to see who'll bend over....
Look, you yutzes, don't use a proprietary format. Save as text, in a bitstream. Everything else can be patented and owned. It is the responsibility of MS to shaft everyone in the name of stockprices; it is the responsibility of the Massachussetts administrators to write shaft-proof contracts. Stop doing business and do what's smart and right.

Lobbying should be illegal,

Lobbying should be illegal, buying votes etc. is well, wrong. I want to mass murder or steamroll peoples rights, how much would it cost to look the other way? What else can I buy?

To EYESWIDEOPEN: after

To EYESWIDEOPEN:
after perusing the DLC and PPI websites, I am puzzled by your statements in your comments. It seems very much that the agenda set out by the DLC and PPI makes a lot of sense, and by no means is communism in disguise.

Quite frankly, the US corporate approach to going along with some of the most oppressive regines in the world, all in the name of pursuing the almight dollar is far more damaging to human rights than anything I can see laid out here.

Where exactly are you coming from?

This is typical big company

This is typical big company corporate greed in action. The 'free market' is for the suckers; the 'titans of industry' want no part of really free markets, because that would impose market discipline of competition on them. What they want is a rigged game that uses the terminology of the free market to disguise the fact that they are playing in a monopoly or oligopoly market, while controlling the levers of competition for the workers.

Before I get accused of being a communist, I have been a lifelong libertarian/republican, who actually understands the mechanism of the free market, and can see when it is being manipulated. Stop being blinded by the words, and look at the actual actions and results.

Big companies suck down more welfare than the entire population of the United Status living below the poverty line. But they believe in a free market economy, as long as they don't have to play in it!

I think it is not surprising

I think it is not surprising Microsoft sought to play dirty instead on getting on board. Lets face it in general big business has deep pockets and buys influence in politics. The decision to adopt a 100% open and widely accepted standard is the appropriate one for any government body but it has a potentially huge impact on M$ business model and fortunes. The government can afterall, if they so chose, start deploying 100% free applications saving the tax payers millions if not 100s of millions in a short period of time. It would be potentially a smart move, but that is not the objective of their move and I agree at this time with their continued use of the MS Office applications.

ODF is immature but that does not mean it is not the right choice. Microsoft was seeking to continue it's choke hold on the government because Open XML is not 100% open and subject to MS whim. I am sure it would love to continue its hold though - any business would. That being said Government needs to be open and accessible. ODF does that.

As for the cry babies that wanted to cry fowl because Microsoft's office seems to be the best for those using a specific magnifying application... Give me a break. More political BS. How many does this impact? How long is that impact? The article said MS Office apps work BEST. I don't know because I have never had the need to venture there, but that is what makes this so great - innovation would have quickly filled the gap if there was one. There ARE ways around the problem. What about when there wasn't this particular application 3-4 years ago? Innovate yourselves... The one constant is change and you need to adopt or get passed by. These people who complained are seeking not to adopt and so apparently is MS - it is being dragged kicking and screaming into what is quickly becoming the new mainstream of thought.

The DLC is funded primarily

The DLC is funded primarily by the tech industry and they support the Progressive Policy Institute which promotes Third Way. Third Way is newspeak for communism.

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ka.cfm?knlgAreaID=128

The "new model" for solving problems is technology for the total control of "human resources" - people as work animals - property of the state.

Sound outrageous? Consider that the GATS agreement calls for trade-in-services which is slave trade - trading human commodities and jobs.

"Free trade" was simply a way to redistribute wealth globally. The redistribution of wealth is occurring by virtually forcing businesses out of this country while at the same time flooding our labor markets with cheap imported labor.

It was a brilliant maneuver because greed could be used to sell it - rather like the con man who promises 50% return on your investment.

Another thing you should know is that Bill Gates signed an agreement with UNESCO. He will promote their Marxist agenda in his software products to children in exchange for the UN promoting his software. That's why Gates has taken a sudden interest in Aids in Africa.

http://www.channelingreality.com/UN/Documents/Gates.pdf

Think about it... it's not about business because the multinationals are all becoming monopolies. The 'competition' is between workers... gladiator workers competing for scarce jobs in a corporate dominated world. And Americans are losing because it's a rigged game against them.

Microsoft should be scared.

Microsoft should be scared. At least the gov't elected by the people of Massachusetts understands that a Microsoft monopoly on document formats is a bad idea. Its about time that MS was made to play on a level playing field where their software will stand or fall on its merits, not because there is no other choice. Bill and Steve must be very afraid of the open source document format. Ms will need to be innovative and not just patent, sue and stifle the competition! GOOD JOB MASSACHUSETTS!