[plug] Linux Desktop Market, office interoperability

[Gregory Orange]

Straight from
http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/various_topics/11--Tips-for-Moving-to-OOo.sxw
http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/various_topics/11--Tips-for-Moving-to-OOo.pdf

4.Don't Rely on Import/Export Filters for Exchanging Files
... ...
The truth is, there never has been a completely reliable import or 
export filter in any office suite. Chances are there never will be. If 
there is, my money is on cross-compatibility between OOo, KOffice and/or 
GNOME office. These formats are all open source, so at least the 
development time will be shorter. But, even with open-source formats, 
filters are going to cause problems for the immediate future.
Why? For one thing, writing filters is an intensive and unglamorous job. 
For proprietary companies, making the perfect filter is too expensive- 
aside from the fact that they don't want you using rivals' software. For
... ...

There's more, but I'll leave the pasting for now and let you go to the 
full document if you want it.

So even OOo's official line is that it aint their biggest priority. 
Maybe that's something that could change? Perhaps take that intensive 
and un-glamorous job and turn it into a... well, glamorous one.

Of course, this document was based on 1.1.4, but I imagine the term 
'never' goes beyond a single version.

Greg.

Chris Watt wrote:
> Well, with the release of OpenOffice.org 2.0 how is this compatibility
> going now?
> 
> What are the major flaws in OO.o preventing it from being used with
> Word at the moment and how many users is it really affecting?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 10/24/05, simon <simon at chrome64.org> wrote:
> 
>>Chris Watt (something.rotten at gmail.com) wrote:
>>
>>
>>>So, does anyone think that a company could be founded on the ability
>>>to offer premium computers (so computers ready for the internet,
>>>office apps, etc.) could be sold to the public or do you think there
>>>are still factors hindering the adoption of this system, esp. by
>>>schools, seniors and first time users?
>>
>>One word - 'Office'. Noone cares about windows. However, the vast majority of
>>corporate users need Office to communicate with each other (ie, theyve settled
>>on a standard). Usually people like to use the same stuff at home as they do
>>at the office.
>>
>>Desktop supremacy seems unlikely until people are given a valid reason to all
>>swap from office to a competing linux based product (which aint gonna happen),
>>or Microsoft Office import/export filters on the competing products becomes so
>>good that there is never an issue (which is unlikely to happen), or Microsoft
>>open their file formats for office (was that the sound of hell freezing
>>over?).
>>
>>In short, widespread home use wont occur until you get the corporates. You
>>wont get the corporates until you solve this office problem.
>>