Microsoft trying to quash OpenDocument

[pking123-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg at public.gmane.org]

The article traces back to Fox News. I don't recall anyone ever 
accusing Fox News of high-integrity journalism. So, apparently, the 
State of Massachusetts, by choosing to embrace an open-source 
document format, is killing (Microsoft's) innovation and stifling 
(Microsoft's share in the control over) democracy. I am sure that M$ 
could write drivers that support the open document format, but I 
guess now the open format will make it possible for other vendors to 
enter the market with alternatives to MS Word. And that will truly 
hurt Microsoft's "innovation", among the other things it will hurt.

It is a truly disgusting article, but if you just consider where it 
is coming from, you can just ignore them and go back to bed. These 
people are not journalists, but they play one on Fox News. The 
article reads pretty much like a Microsoft press release. James 
Prendergast, the author is in this piece,  Seems to be nothing more 
than a stenographer for Microsoft. While it is an opinion piece, 
notice there is no balance from open source advocates provided by 
Fox. Pendergrast represents Americans For Technology Leadership, 
founded by Microsoft (I checked their website), Staples Business 
Depot, CompUSA, and a handful of citizens groups. 
(http://www.techleadership.org/about/)  

The article gives the impression of this being a piece from a 
"concerned grassroots citizen". But it is anything but that.

> Latest crap...Convicted monopolist (antitrust is supposed to be a
> felony) Microsoft which claims its "word"(tm - go figure) file format
> which it has changed over the last few years, is the best choice for
> Government, Banks, Legal Firms, Accounting Offices, and the rest of
> the business spectrum. It seems any attempt to unseat the spoiled
> brats will be met with severe opposition. I sure wish my daddy was a
> lawyer...like Bill's. http://www.linux.org/news/2005/09/30/0010.html
> 
> RickT
> http://www.TorontoNUI.ca
> 
> --
> The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml
> 
> __________ NOD32 1.1238 (20050930) Information __________
> 
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.eset.com
> 
> 


--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml