[Dovecot] [OT] preferred clients

[Maarten Bezemer]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009, Jerry wrote:

>>> If you are using a version <2007 then upgrading should be seriously
>>> considered. The "ODF" format in the 2010 version is supposedly more
>>> compliant than that used in OpenOffice.
>>
>> Rotflmao! You're not serious?? I think you are confusing the Microsoft
>> OpenXML format with the PDF format. Microsoft's ODF support is pure
>> CRAP
>
> I have read at least two white papers that described Microsoft's support
> for ODF in Office 2010. Both stated that Microsoft's support was more
> compliant that that in Open Office. Apparently, OO has been playing
> fast and loose with its implementation for awhile now.

Yes and no. Microsoft implemented one of the versions of ODF, and (of 
course) not the versions used in current OOo applications or KDE. For 
example, I remember there was a complete lack of spreadsheet support, and 
Microsoft replied with "because it wasn't in the specs". So yes, you can 
probably open a spreadsheet created by OOo, it just doesn't contain any 
data. An ideal situation for Microsoft, since it enables them to tell 
their customers: "see, we implemented ODF, so we fit your requirements, 
but it doesn't do spreadsheets, and since you need spreadsheets... you 
must use our own .xls or .xlsx format instead." Et voila, the vendor 
lock-in is back in town.

Of course current releases of OOo are using later editions of the 
specification. That's how standards work. Especially since the process of 
getting something promoted to an ISO standard takes quite some time. 
During which time the specs get a lot exposure and the project moves on 
with lots of developers adding new features and refining the specs. With 
software, there is no such thing as sitting back and saying "well, this is 
it, we're done now". Just look at all the different versions of MS Word... 
All .docs are equal, but some are more equal than others.

But.. this is heading even more off-topic.. time to move on.


-- 
Maarten