Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Servers

    Massachusetts Sticking with ODF, for Now

    Written by

    Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
    Published January 4, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      When, I first heard that Peter Quinn, the soon-to-be former CIO of Massachusetts was resigning because, “Many of these events have been very disruptive and harmful to my personal well-being, my family and many of my closest friends,” I assumed that ODF (OpenDocument Format) would soon be following him out the door.

      Oh, I know that Eric Fehrnstrom, director of communications for governor Mitt Romney, said, after Quinns resignation that, We are moving steadily towards that deadline and we expect no changes in those rules.”

      The deadline he is referring to is the Aug 31 date by which Massachusetts executive branch documents must be storable in ODF.

      But come on, “director of communications” means PR guy and they always say that things will continue as they have been. Its practically in their job description. If there bad been one on the Titanic, he would have said something like: “Despite a minor interruption in our way, we will be arriving in New York approximately on time.”

      /zimages/5/28571.gifClick here to read about why Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols thinks ODF is the better, more affordable standard.

      So, I believed that Microsoft had won a major victory over those who would give employees a choice in their office suites. But then Pamela Jones of Groklaw assured me that she was sure Massachusetts would stand by ODF.

      It looks like I was wrong.

      According to Andrew “Andy” Updegrove, a partner with the Boston law firm, Gesmer Updegrove LLP, and the editor of ConsortiumInfo.org, “the official who has direct authority over the implementation of the open format policy, Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance Thomas H. Trimarco, met with ITD General Counsel Linda Hamel Wednesday, and unequivocally assured her that Peter Quinns departure will result in no change to the Administrations position on the ODF standard.”

      This is good news for open standard supporters.

      It is not, however, the final word.

      Before I became a full-time writer, I worked as a “beltway bandit” for technology companies around Washington, D.C. that did work for NASA and the Department of Defense. We never knew when a federal government decision was really final until the last possible second. Im sure things are no different with the Massachusetts government.

      After all, Microsofts friends in the senate will still be lobbying against ODF. In addition, Microsoft is still pushing its pseudo “open standard, Open XML.” You can count on that being trotted out in its next set of arguments against ODF.

      Still, I do think that one of the main points is still correct. While ODF-compliant office suites may make it on to Massachusetts employee desks, Quinn, like Moses leading his people to the promised land, wont be there.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifMicrosofts Office standard gets green light. Click here to read more.

      This whole sorry business still shows that if youre going to fight against Microsoft and its products, you can expect to get a lot of grief. For many people in many jobs, I fear it will be too much trouble and too much grief.

      Its a heck of a note when insisting that people be given a real choice for an office suite can land you in so much hot water, but there it is.

      Ziff Davis Internet Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has been working and writing about technology and business since the late 80s and thinks he may just have learned something about them along the way.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest open-source news, reviews and analysis.

      Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
      Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
      I'm editor-at-large for Ziff Davis Enterprise. That's a fancy title that means I write about whatever topic strikes my fancy or needs written about across the Ziff Davis Enterprise family of publications. You'll find most of my stories in Linux-Watch, DesktopLinux and eWEEK. Prior to becoming a technology journalist, I worked at NASA and the Department of Defense on numerous major technological projects.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×