Microsoft Claims OpenDocument is Too Slow

SirClicksalot writes "Microsoft claims that the OpenDocument Format (ODF) is too slow for easy use. They cite a study carried out by ZDNet.com that compared OpenOffice.org 2.0 with the XML formats in Microsoft Office 2003. This comes after the international standards body ISO approved ODF earlier this month." From the ZDNet article: "'The use of OpenDocument documents is slower to the point of not really being satisfactory,' Alan Yates, the general manager of Microsoft's information worker strategy, told ZDNet UK on Wednesday. 'The Open XML format is designed for performance. XML is fundamentally slower than binary formats so we have made sure that customers won't notice a big difference in performance.'"

Comments

Good study!

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, MS Office formats are:

- Easier to use
- People are used to them
- They don't make you stinky like those hippie formats do. You wouldn't want to smell would you?
- Osama Bin Laden uses ODF. He also stinks. Coincidence?

I don't know why you guys are so against MS products. I mean no one forces people to use MS, it's just that we want a superior product that attracts women and fights terrorism.

M$ claims that something else is slow?

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Mr. Pot,.. Mr. Kettle
Mr. Kettle... Mr. Pot

OS vs Application

[stuckinarut]

Congratulations MS your OS is slow but you've made a document application faster! Hmmm which is better, slow OS and faster app or fast OS and slower app? I'd be interested in seeing some overall performance figures. I guess if you love MS you'll put up with a slow clunky OS and 'love' the faster app or if you're anti-MS you'll 'love' your faster OS and put up with a slower app. Whatever comes out on top I don't care as long as I don't get locked in to either ...

Of course OpenDocument is slower

[sjonke]

Your Vista system will bluescreen every time you try to launch an application that supports OpenDocument, and all that rebooting is a real time killer. Better to stick with the only four programs Microsoft testers tested on Vista: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Resume Builder

Wow

[GeckoX]

So according to MS, the key goal of an Open XML Document Standard is...performance? Specifically, speed of opening in a particular APPLICATION?

Holy Shit. It should be illegal to spew forth utter bullshit twisted crap such as this. It's disgusting. What's worse, people swallow the shit.

Not surprised, since the goal is actually to produce a standard document format that Works Consistently Always, rather than Loads Immediately But Isn't Useful Or What You Needed Or Wanted Or Saved In The First Place piece of crap.

Man I wish people were universally equipped with natural BS detectors, the world would be a much better place.

This, from the company that brought you...

[SmurfButcher Bob]

... Vista.

Microsoft's Message is Loud and Clear

[aminorex]

It doesn't take a genius to see that this is just a veiled press release: "Microsoft to Users: Fuck you, we own your ass, so you can whinge all you want, you're just screwed."