From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,345c9fcf5a67a99f X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-05-28 20:20:15 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.icl.net!colt.net!newsfeed.gamma.ru!Gamma.RU!diablo.theplanet.net!psiuk-p2!psiuk-p3!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: OT: Microsoft takes on history Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 12:14:41 -0400 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: References: <3CED2E66.DD15C13D@despammed.com> <2TvH8.1710$Np5.1619@nwrddc01.gnilink.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 1022602483 23101 136.170.200.133 (28 May 2002 16:14:43 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 28 May 2002 16:14:43 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:24900 Date: 2002-05-28T16:14:43+00:00 List-Id: "Frank J. Lhota" wrote in message news:acmmk8$jbp$1@bob.news.rcn.net... > For the record, WordPerfect used a different file format than WordStar, and > Microsoft Word has a different format from either one of them. The file > format issue, bothersome as it might be, is surmountable, as the legions of > users who have made the transitions to new word processors can attest. > Actually, it is now easier than ever to switch word processors, thanks to > the RTF format. > In the end, this really doesn't make much difference. How long does the average document live? A few days? A few months? How much work is it to totally recreate the document if suddenly your favorite word processor disappeared from the face of the earth? Don't most word processors provide some means of importing and exporting file formats other than their own? (I know the copy of MS-Word I have here seems to be able to do that...) In other words, this seems to be a tempest in a teapot. Its a little like insisting that all microprocessors execute the same instruction set so that all software would be totally portable - its an unreasonable restriction on innovation and it doesn't really buy you anything. > > And I am just as sure that once a new company overtakes Microsoft, everyone > will be pontificating that the new company will never lose its #1 spot. :) > And we'll all be complaining about what a bunch of unfair bastards they are for having done it the way they did and thus gained a total, unbreakable monopoly on the market. It won't matter if they did it all Open Source and public file formats. If someone becomes a dominant player, there will be a bunch of us hating them for it. (Lets come back here in ten years when the full impact of open source is apparent & see if there isn't a large contingent out there arguing in favor of totally proprietary, closed systems...:-) No company owns their place in the market, so I have faith that they'll either have to produce value for their customers at a competitive price, or someone else will. It may take time for things to correct & balance, but on the whole it works. MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com