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India Votes Against OOXML
harsha_c sends in a local Indian perspective on the vote against Microsoft's OOXML ahead of the March 29 deadline. Of 19 companies participating, only 5 voted in favor of OOXML. "It was the ultimate battle for control over global IT standard for documents — between Microsoft-promoted OOXML and Sun and IBM-backed Open Document Format. It was played out between Indian IT giants, namely Infosys, Wipro, TCS supported by Nasscom on one side and the global IT biggies like IBM, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat backed by te IITs, IIMs and IISc on the other, on their respective positions on Microsoft's OOXML standard. Microsoft understandably expressed its disspointment. 'While we are disappointed with the decision of the BIS committee, we are encouraged by the support from NASSCOM.'
Althouth I really like Windows and the proprietary software, I think that we all have to accept the crushing truth.
In these times it really doesn't matter if is launched Windows Vista Premium or Windows Vista Home, because while both variants (and other less populars like the fucking Windows Vista Starter Edition) require hardware that cost fortunes, Linux and others free OSs were maintained with modest hardware, letting us get benefit even with really old PCs. Windows Vista is incompatible,costlier, and most importantly slower.
The reality is that Windows Vista has litter to offer to the average user.The same user surprised with how his recent installed Windows Vista is running slow in his PC where Windows XP worked very well. Also he'll support the frustration when he is notified by force that many of the software that he used to work is now incompatible with this version. Microsoft did it again: I (Try to) sell us the same mediocre product over and over again.
Then what is suggested to this poor user is that he need to buy a least 1GB RAM or throw his PC away and get a new one. How many users returned to XP after that? How many decided to try Linux? A lot more than we think, I would risk to say.
Explain him why he won't be able to watch videos becuase of the absurd DRM that is incorporated in this version. Also explain him that in his Starter Edition (bundled in his new PC that he bought at Wall Mart) he can't launch more than three applications, or that the max resolution is 800x600, among many others limitations completly artificials. A shit.
While Microsoft was boasting with the new interface and the visual effects of this version, Linux was incorporating windows managers like Beryl (now Compiz Fusion) and Compiz, that without a doubt make Vista (and even MacOsX) look like crap.
The proof of the Windows Vista failure is seen when computers makers like Dell or HP reintroduce Windows XP or preinstall Linux. Or the contless corporations that get PCs with Vista and the first thing they do is install a stable OS. It's a just matter of time before Linux or the BSDs are offer like a usual alternative in any country.
Keep defending Vista. Keep defending a OS that is offered like "new and improved" and the new features are the exaggerated system requirements that are needed in order to run decently. Keep trying to sell us a product that have practitly nothing new and can't give us development tools for itself (While any Linux distribution or BSD comes with plenty of software) , but worst of all, it's incompatible with many actual software/hardware . Keep trying to make us believe that the DRM is a normal thing, trying to implant a industry that is now obsolete.
And you? Where will they let you go today?
Thanks for you attention.
dude I want to come clean "karma and all" I was moding you informative and clicked on redundant!!! :( sorry ... why the hell slashdot made it auto-change I don't know? so hopefully posting this will undo may damage and clear all my
mods on this topic! ;)
I can't argue with what you say there. I have no doubt that it is true.
Don't feel bad about the moderation. Twice today I was modded down for "flamebait" when all I did was POLITELY point out where someone made an incorrect or contradictory statement. Apparently some people feel that "if you disagree with me, you must be modded down". Of course, that is not supposed to be what motivates modding, but, well... go figure.
mods on this topic!
Don't worry that post wiped any mods you have made for this article.
Slashdot won't let people post AND mod in the same article.
~Dan
An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"