Comments on: Embrace the Reality and Logic of Choice http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html Thinking the unthinkable, pondering the imponderable, effing the ineffable and scruting the inscrutable Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:51:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1830 Anonymous Thu, 01 May 2008 16:36:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1830 So I guess that Microsoft would also be against an agency on standardizing on DOCX as a format, stating that multiple document standards should be allowed?<br/><br/>Maybe they would be happier if the country allowed both ODF and UTF-8 plain text as acceptable formats? So I guess that Microsoft would also be against an agency on standardizing on DOCX as a format, stating that multiple document standards should be allowed?

Maybe they would be happier if the country allowed both ODF and UTF-8 plain text as acceptable formats?

]]> By: Brett http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1829 Brett Thu, 01 May 2008 01:38:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1829 This is kinda funny really, Microsoft's big claim to fame was to "Let The Market Decide!". <br/><br/>Now that the market is deciding, Microsoft suddenly doesn't think it so flash anymore... <br/><br/>=D This is kinda funny really, Microsoft’s big claim to fame was to “Let The Market Decide!”.

Now that the market is deciding, Microsoft suddenly doesn’t think it so flash anymore…

=D

]]> By: podge http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1828 podge Thu, 01 May 2008 00:17:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1828 This is all a bit rich from CompTIA. The supposed OOXML standard has not even proved itself as viable in the marketplace and has no known implementations. ODF has not only been a standard for longer, it has multiple working implementations and at least one of those is freely available. South Africa has made the correct decision. This is all a bit rich from CompTIA. The supposed OOXML standard has not even proved itself as viable in the marketplace and has no known implementations. ODF has not only been a standard for longer, it has multiple working implementations and at least one of those is freely available. South Africa has made the correct decision.

]]> By: Chris Ward http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1827 Chris Ward Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:07:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1827 Just to throw in something completely off-the-wall.<br/><br/>Hewlett-Packard, that well-known manufacturer and distributor of highly-profitable ink, are sponsoring <a HREF="http://phet.colorado.edu/new/index.php" REL="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Physics Education Technology</a> at University of Colorado, Boulder.<br/><br/>It's open-source. It represents no threat to Microsoft's Windows and Office businesses; and also no threat to IBM's software businesses. Since it's no threat to IBM, IBM's logical reaction should be 'applause' at a positive contribution to the world.<br/><br/>But there are those in this world who do try to sell things which compete with this offering. Somebody's business will shrink as a result of H-P's move.<br/><br/>So why are H-P doing this ? Is there a compelling business reason why they should be spreading educational material widely and cheaply ? If so, why don't they put PhET CDs in with the ink they sell as well ?<br/><br/>I suspect that the forces that drive it are the same forces that drive SUN to host OpenOffice.org ; that drive Google to offer Sun StarOffice for free download as part of 'Google Pack' ; and that drive IBM to make Lotus Symphony available as a 'public service broadcast'.<br/><br/>The forces are large, and corporate, and they're opening the 'IT Industry' up.<br/><br/>Where does it lead ? Where will the next generation ... the upcoming scientists, engineers, business men and women ... take it to ? Just to throw in something completely off-the-wall.

Hewlett-Packard, that well-known manufacturer and distributor of highly-profitable ink, are sponsoring Physics Education Technology at University of Colorado, Boulder.

It’s open-source. It represents no threat to Microsoft’s Windows and Office businesses; and also no threat to IBM’s software businesses. Since it’s no threat to IBM, IBM’s logical reaction should be ‘applause’ at a positive contribution to the world.

But there are those in this world who do try to sell things which compete with this offering. Somebody’s business will shrink as a result of H-P’s move.

So why are H-P doing this ? Is there a compelling business reason why they should be spreading educational material widely and cheaply ? If so, why don’t they put PhET CDs in with the ink they sell as well ?

I suspect that the forces that drive it are the same forces that drive SUN to host OpenOffice.org ; that drive Google to offer Sun StarOffice for free download as part of ‘Google Pack’ ; and that drive IBM to make Lotus Symphony available as a ‘public service broadcast’.

The forces are large, and corporate, and they’re opening the ‘IT Industry’ up.

Where does it lead ? Where will the next generation … the upcoming scientists, engineers, business men and women … take it to ?

]]> By: Fábio C http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1826 Fábio C Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:29:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1826 Yeah, I live in a country with multiple electrical current standards; it's either 110V/60Hz or 220V/60Hz, and on top of it the socket standard has changed at least twice in a few decades, which makes you always wonder which kind of adapter you'll need when you go to any old building. Sometimes different parts of the same city even use different electrical current standards; the appliance stores having to stock on two versions of the same products, and the consumer confusion as they constantly need to buy voltage transformers and plug adapters, are quite noticeable hassles.<br/><br/>Some people (and even companies)tried to solve the problem by having outlets in both standards; because of this, I saw about half a dozen computers (and some other more expensive gear) blow up fuses in the place I worked at, and I myself have blown up some appliances at home. Yeah, I live in a country with multiple electrical current standards; it’s either 110V/60Hz or 220V/60Hz, and on top of it the socket standard has changed at least twice in a few decades, which makes you always wonder which kind of adapter you’ll need when you go to any old building. Sometimes different parts of the same city even use different electrical current standards; the appliance stores having to stock on two versions of the same products, and the consumer confusion as they constantly need to buy voltage transformers and plug adapters, are quite noticeable hassles.

Some people (and even companies)tried to solve the problem by having outlets in both standards; because of this, I saw about half a dozen computers (and some other more expensive gear) blow up fuses in the place I worked at, and I myself have blown up some appliances at home.

]]> By: Luc http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1825 Luc Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:00:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1825 <i>"the overall concern for the global ICT industry is to ensure that lawmakers adopt flexible policies and set policy targets rather than deciding on fixed rules, technologies and different national standards to achieve these targets."</i><br/>I wonder if they say the same about the governments that mandate the use of <b>Microsoft</b> technologies... Oh, wait: These are not <i>fixed</i> technologies, are they? “the overall concern for the global ICT industry is to ensure that lawmakers adopt flexible policies and set policy targets rather than deciding on fixed rules, technologies and different national standards to achieve these targets.”
I wonder if they say the same about the governments that mandate the use of Microsoft technologies… Oh, wait: These are not fixed technologies, are they?

]]> By: sinleeh http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1824 sinleeh Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:54:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1824 @James<br/><br/>Remember the famous quote from Ford on Model T?<br/><br/>"You can choose whatever color you want provided it is black" @James

Remember the famous quote from Ford on Model T?

“You can choose whatever color you want provided it is black”

]]> By: James http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1823 James Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:16:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1823 great post and puts in the perfect perspective.<br/><br/>"MonPrevAss urges Governments to allow consumers and users to decide which electrical standards are best"<br/><br/>you know this would be a good idea if only they were allowed to chose. Peter Quinn was allowed to chose and look at what happened to him. <br/><br/>nobody is allowed to chose they are sent back room letters to make back room deals so no one with any knowledge of the subject actually makes the decision. <br/><br/>I am sick of hearing reality according to bill gates. he is nothing but a spoiled brat who does play well with others and constantly takes his toys home and does not share. great post and puts in the perfect perspective.

“MonPrevAss urges Governments to allow consumers and users to decide which electrical standards are best”

you know this would be a good idea if only they were allowed to chose. Peter Quinn was allowed to chose and look at what happened to him.

nobody is allowed to chose they are sent back room letters to make back room deals so no one with any knowledge of the subject actually makes the decision.

I am sick of hearing reality according to bill gates. he is nothing but a spoiled brat who does play well with others and constantly takes his toys home and does not share.

]]> By: Jeffery L. http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1822 Jeffery L. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:57:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1822 How incredibly astute, and the analogy is good. Imagine plugging in an appliance designed for 230V/50Hz into a Microsoft 240V/55Hz... BOOM! Very much like trying to interoperate between ODF and OOXML. Lovely! How incredibly astute, and the analogy is good. Imagine plugging in an appliance designed for 230V/50Hz into a Microsoft 240V/55Hz… BOOM! Very much like trying to interoperate between ODF and OOXML. Lovely!

]]> By: sinleeh http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1821 sinleeh Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:19:00 +0000 http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/04/embrace-the-reality-and-logic-of-choice.html#comment-1821 Hmm. Let's update the electric chair proof used by Edison to show that "alternative current" is dangerous.<br/><br/>The governor can signed death warrants with ODF, not OOXML. ;-) Hmm. Let’s update the electric chair proof used by Edison to show that “alternative current” is dangerous.

The governor can signed death warrants with ODF, not OOXML. ;-)

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