[Golden Eagle]

I agree with the author.

[packrat35]

Well we all know a MS whore such as yoursel would agree with this.

[Prime Choice]

I agree with the author.

There's a shock. God forbid that actual competition should edge out Microsoft's tyrannical hold on the market.

Nevermind that it's Microsoft's own stupid fault for not embracing the OpenDocument Format. *snicker*

[Redcloak]

I imagine you do.

Are you back to opposing non-proprietary file formats?

[kingu]

I agree with the author.

I disagree with the author, which means I must disagree with you as well, though more respectfully. Whereas the technowinnies are all excited about this, a 'blow' against Microsoft, it isn't. All that will happen here is that Massachusetts is forcing Microsoft join a standard that it wasn't totally against in the first place.

This will be a minimal cost change for Microsoft (note, they only have to be compatible with OpenDocument, not use it as 'native' - IE able to write and read these documents.) and I, as a consumer, will gain from it. And it won't be just Microsoft who will make the change, but virtually every vendor because they don't want to get locked out of any options.

The geeks are excited about the idea of Linux on every desktop; whee - not going to happen in any state. To do so would devalue the positions of those who have picked up fancy certificates from training courses they convinced their supervisors (and ultimately the taxpayers) to pay for. The system won't change because the system is supported by those who created it.

And yes, we're a multilingual household. Apple, Linux and Microsoft boxes; each shines in different respects, though the Linux box needs serious rebuilding. (I am not impressed how fast Linspire broke down. Shouldn't have done it, should have just stuck with Mepis. Ahh well.)