Technocrat

The Lengths They'll Go To

Bruce Perens
Fri Mar 21 11:06:51 -0700 2008
Open+Standards.
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A Microsoft U.S. VP poses as representative of a Malaysian standards organization to get into a meeting about the OOXML vote.

They are fighting like their jobs depend on this, and unfortunately for Microsoft as a brand, they are killing themselves. Bending their morals, burning their bridges which they have built so long and hard over the years, and hurting so many people and organisations over this silly matter of a File Format.

I wish I could say, "Wow, I can't believe they'd do that.", but...

the_rajah
Fri Mar 21 12:27:26 -0700 2008
 manage
somehow, I'm not at all surprised, given their track record as a convicted, abusive, go-to-any-lengths, monopolist.
The Lengths They'll Go To
duhavid
Fri Mar 21 12:41:12 -0700 2008
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Dirty deed from Microsoft have not managed to make much of an image problem for Microsoft,  and their faithful seem to be able to disregard these goings on and continue to drink the koolaid.

I would not characterize this as a "silly matter of a file format".  Microsoft sees the file format as key ( correctly in my estimation ) to keeping control of the office software market.  If that file format were a public unencumbered standard, others *would* come out with better products, faster than Microsoft can, and they would loose that part of the business.  From there, the castle wall has been breached, and the end is near. 

Now, all that said, please dont assume that I agree with the notion that they can fight with whatever comes to hand.  I believe that they should fight, but legally and honorably, not as they have done.  The way that Microsoft has conducted it's business over the years is why I do not care much for the company.

Disclaimer, I work for, and have worked in the past for Microsoft solution providers and other Microsoft funded companies.  I would love to be working for a company that wasnt affiliated with Microsoft, and didnt use Microsoft technologies.  None of the previous should be used to infer that I agree with the notion that "Microsoft is OK, they create lots of jobs".  I disagree with that, I think we would have had more and better jobs without Microsoft.

Sorry if I rambled a bit there.
The Lengths They'll Go To
penang
Fri Mar 21 21:00:06 -0700 2008
 manage

 

 

I'm not with PIKOM, but am surprised nevertheless at Microsoft's low blow.

 

Exactly how low can they get? To impersonate as a representative of Malaysia, without even been invited?

 

C'mon !
 

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