A few years ago while doing computer sales the number one request I heard was, I want to buy this application (Wordperfect, Clarisworks, etc) and asking about compatability, where the user has to be compatable with their work environment. After discussing the needs I would have to usually point to the bloated MS Office because the basic user will never use the save as option, and while they could request attachments as text or rtf what the will usually get is MS Word.
Later as a support person I see this with each Office update. As soon as an attachment is recieved the user cannot read the push for an upgrade start. And of course once this user has the lates version they will readily send out all there attachments in a form that will leave the other party unable to read without an upgrade.
I think Office documents should be put through a Standards process similiar to that of HTML. A format is set that all Software could readily follow. The Government could support such a change by only distributing and accepting documents that follow the guidelines of this standard document type. This type could be based on HTML, XML or a binary format but what matters is that is a standard and that it is set by a standards organization and not a single software publisher.
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Later as a support person I see this with each Office update. As soon as an attachment is recieved the user cannot read the push for an upgrade start. And of course once this user has the lates version they will readily send out all there attachments in a form that will leave the other party unable to read without an upgrade.
I think Office documents should be put through a Standards process similiar to that of HTML. A format is set that all Software could readily follow. The Government could support such a change by only distributing and accepting documents that follow the guidelines of this standard document type. This type could be based on HTML, XML or a binary format but what matters is that is a standard and that it is set by a standards organization and not a single software publisher.