Microsoft takes on PDF

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Monday November 4, 2002 @10:40PM from the enter-the-competition dept.

bhhenry writes "Linux Format reports on a new Microsoft PDF-killer technology to be included in Office 11, called XDocs. From the article: "Adobe's stock took an immediate hit, and some analysts went so far as to compare Adobe to erstwhile MS competitor Netscape.""

22 of 843 comments (clear)

Stock took a hit? by sjelkjd · 2002-11-04 22:41 · Score: 2, Funny

People are really paranoid.
1. Re:Stock took a hit? by klui · 2002-11-04 23:15 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  So the company who is more powerful than the U.S. Government wants to take on Adobe, the perception is Adobe is in big trouble.
Re:PDF Files arn't easily modifiable. by nizo · 2002-11-04 22:53 · Score: 3, Funny

The question is, will Microsoft invent their own "standard" brand of XML. I suppose they could follow the XML spec, but then again I don't hear any pigs flying overhead at the moment.....

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I Am My Own Worst Enemy
XXX by lovebyte · 2002-11-04 22:55 · Score: 5, Funny

MS Xdocs
MS eXchange
MS Xbox
MS Windows XP

What next?
MS Xwindow?
MS Xnotfree86?

--
I'll do it for cheesy poofs.
1. Re:XXX by commodoresloat · 2002-11-04 23:30 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  What next?
  MS OS X.
Re:Sorry boys by Captain+Large+Face · 2002-11-04 23:21 · Score: 5, Funny

>blockquote>I have to go and install some v.slow and large application to load them.

How is this any different from Word Documents?
Hooray for Microsoft by SecGreen · 2002-11-04 23:35 · Score: 2, Funny

At least with Microsoft involved, we'll never have to worry about truly unbreakable copy protection in PDFs!

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Dupe posts are /.'s tacit protest on the rights of users to time-shift content...
At the analysts party... by Qbertino · 2002-11-04 23:38 · Score: 4, Funny

And now, Ladys and Gentlemen,
"...a new Microsoft PDF-killer technology..."
PDF-Killer. Yeah! New Technology! WOOOOP! Developers, developers, developers! Yeah. GIVE IT UP FOR ME! Dig it. WHO TOLD YOU TO SIT DOWN??? *hopping, screeching, headbutting and making satan-finger-sighns*

Dear Stockbrokers, M$ CEOs and Marketeers, what ever you smoked, don't ever offer me anything of it.
"PDF-Killer"...I just don't believe all this. Is this just me or the world or /., or whatever?

--
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
Re:So bloody typical MS by SensitiveMale · 2002-11-04 23:40 · Score: 5, Funny

can anyone remember the last time they actually came up with something innovative ?

Yes, I can.

They invented the gui. no wait...

They invented the PDA. no wait...

They invented the little 'x' in the corner to close the window. no wait...

They invented the mouse. no wait...

They invented the task bar. no wait...

They invented a multi-user OS. no wait...

They invented their IP stack. no wait...

They invented multi-media on the computer. no wait...

They invented the internet browser. no wait...

They invented new ways to extend monopolies and even when busted they never get punished. They only have to promise not to break the law in the same way in the future.

YUP, that is what they invented.
Re:PDF Files arn't easily modifiable. by larien · 2002-11-04 23:43 · Score: 5, Funny

I believe the saying goes:
Microsoft follow standards the same way fish follow migrating caribou
Re:Umm... by G-funk · 2002-11-05 00:07 · Score: 4, Funny

SSSHHHH! Don't spoil the slashdot fud tantrum! Geeze, next you'll be saying you can turn off palladium, and that you don't _have_ to listen to celine dion, even if you own a mac.

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Send lawyers, guns, and money!
Re:Sorry boys by The-Bus · 2002-11-05 00:12 · Score: 5, Funny

On your Linux box, you can download StarOffice from Sun (which I believe is still free as in beer, or at least it used to be).

You cannot, however, get Adobe Acrobat 5.x for free from Adobe's website (to be able to edit files). Nor is there another free utility (that I know about at least) that lets you edit existing PDF files.

Furthermore, Adobe Acrobat Reader does not kill its process when you exit. It happily hangs around eating up your memory, which makes it a pain in the ass to use on older computers without 74 gigafloppy interweb RAMs of memory (that's technical talk for "a lot of memory" by the way).

I think that if Apple or a third party came up with a non-Adobe solution for a PDF-like document, that could easily kill Microsoft's idea. Or, you can create confusion by offering so many choices that the user just says "F- that! I'll just stick with what I have."

Also, the original's story comparison of this to IE vs. Netscape is a bit faulty. There's no real reason for Joe McRegularUser to have both Internet Explorer and Netscape. Both will allow him to check NBA scores and hot asian teen pix. However, unless this Microsoft application can now handle PDF files as well (my winword.exe only spits out gibberish), AAR will always be necessary. It's kind of akin to me really really hating RealNetworks, but still having bloated GUIware like RealPlayer installed because there's no other real option (pun intended). Just because I have the new XCrap.net document editor, doesn't mean that I don't need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

My solution to this whole big mess? Do what warez kiddies do. Just releases everything in .NFO files that are plain text with lots of ASCII art. I'd like nothing more than to get a press release from Adobe saying something like this:

Due to new competition from Microsoft, we will now be embracing the new NFO standard. This allows you to share documents truly between any system, with documents 10% the size of PDF files. Also, you can have graphics such as a cool-ass dragon breathing fire around your letterhead right over a banner that says: "M Y C O M P U T O R C O M P A N Y R O X O R S!"

Of course Microsoft would write back and say that now Edit.com will be integrated into Office, Windows Media Player, and Microsoft Soccer.

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Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
Re:Wow, that's stupid by offpath3 · 2002-11-05 00:30 · Score: 2, Funny

Step 3 is obviously Profit!
Take the Microsoft Pledge! by Telecommando · 2002-11-05 00:41 · Score: 5, Funny

All together now...

I Pledge Allegiance
To the Flag
That Appears on my Desktop Startup Screen.
And to the Monopoly
For Which it Stands;
One Operating System
Over All,
Inescapable,
With Freedom and Privacy for none.

(Sorry, couldn't resist. Feel free to mod me down.)

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Beta sux! Join the Slashcott! http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4760465&cid=46173047
1. Re:Take the Microsoft Pledge! by mz001b · 2002-11-05 05:51 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I Pledge Allegiance
  To the Flag
  That Appears on my Desktop Startup Screen.
  And to the Monopoly
  For Which it Stands;
  One Operating System
  Over All,
  Inescapable,
  With Freedom and Privacy for none.
  I would like to amend this by adding "under Bill" to the "One Operating System" line.
Not needed by Ed+Avis · 2002-11-05 01:25 · Score: 5, Funny

What's the point? Everyone knows that Word documents are the only interchangeable document format you'll ever need.

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-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
Re:PDF Files arn't easily modifiable. by mgibbs · 2002-11-05 01:52 · Score: 5, Funny

:-) Sorry, this just reminded me of a Simpson's quote:
Shop Owner: We sell forbidden objects from places men fear to tread. We also sell frozen yogurt, which I call "Frogurt"!
Homer tells the owner that he is looking for a present for his son's birthday. The owner hands him a talking Krusty doll.
Shop Owner: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: [worried] Ooooh, that's bad.
Shop Owner: But it comes with a free Frogurt!
Homer: [relieved] That's good.
Shop Owner: The Frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: [worried] That's bad.
Shop Owner: But you get your choice of topping!
Homer: [relieved] That's good.
Shop Owner: The toppings contains Potassium Benzoate.
Homer: [stares]
Shop Owner: That's bad.
Homer: Can I go now?
Wow! by Pig+Hogger · 2002-11-05 03:12 · Score: 5, Funny

Wow! Another virus vector!!! Who said innovative technology is dull???
Re:And just out of curiosity by RevDobbs · 2002-11-05 03:40 · Score: 4, Funny

Does anyone else think there could be an argument made that calling MS Office "productive software" might be stretching things a bit?

What do you mean? Why, just the other day it took me only three hours to pick just the right font (I went with Comic Sans) for the PowerPoint presentation I may be giving (time permitting) to my peers in middle management during our half day "Effective Use of Bullet Points, Bold, and Underlining" seminar.

I can't wait for next week's "Attaching Word Docs with Large Embedded Images to an Email" class!!!
X [You can type more than that for your subject] by Citizen+of+Earth · 2002-11-05 04:13 · Score: 4, Funny

Linux Format reports on a new Microsoft PDF-killer technology to be included in Office 11, called XDocs.

Why doesn't Microsoft avoid the confusion of a plethora of names with "X" in them and just start calling all of their products "X". Everyone should. "X reports on a new X X-killer technology to be included in X, called X." Of course, it will never run on X.
Re:Sad but True by Anonvmous+Coward · 2002-11-05 06:12 · Score: 3, Funny

"I love MS's business model:

1. establish monopoly.
2. Target competitor.
3. Devise MS version of competitor's product - similar but incompatible.
4. Integrate into Windows and distribute for free.
5. Prevent computer manufacturers from including competitor's product.
6. Watch company die.
7. Get sued.
8. String out suit until you win or until suit is no longer relevant.
9. 2 days later...GOTO 2. "

You forgot:

-????
-Profit!

I'm not just making a stale joke here, you've missed the step where MS actually makes large sums of money.
Re:Pathetic state of things... by WildBeast · 2002-11-05 07:33 · Score: 3, Funny

Funny because I see more Apple ads on TV than MS ads. Actually I rarely see MS ads on TV.

They have a lot of power, so what? The government have a lot of power to and I don't see anyone complaining. Sony have a lot of power to.

I'm sure MS stock goes down when they announce that Linux was deployed in such or such huge organisation instead of Windows.