AT&T Tech Support 360IBM adds heft to OpenOffice open-source project
IBM said on Monday that it will join the OpenOffice.org project and pledged to further use the open-source software in its own products.
OpenOffice is an open-source alternative to Microsoft's Office desktop applications suite.
Specifically, IBM said that it will have 35 programmers working on the OpenOffice code and it will contribute software to improve the product for people with disabilities--an important feature, particularly to government customers such as Massachusetts.
The move is meant to make OpenOffice a more viable alternative to Microsoft's Office and create more products that support the OpenDocument Format (ODF)--a standard document format which competes with Microsoft's Open XML. ODF is the native file format for OpenOffice.
"We believe that this relationship will improve our ability to deliver innovative value to users of IBM products and services. We also believe that the collaboration will lead to an even broader range of ODF-supporting applications...and solutions that draw from the OpenOffice.org technology," said Mike Rhodin, general manager of IBM's Lotus division.
IBM already supports the OpenDocument formats in its Lotus-branded document editor, spreadsheet, and presentation applications. Engineers created those programs, which are delivered via a Web server rather than locally installed, by forking the OpenOffice code.
An IBM spokesperson on Monday declined to specify which technology it intends to use from the OpenOffice project.
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development. Before that, he was executive editor at IT publication InfoWorld. E-mail Martin.
turn in the world of documentation :)
/P
adoption of open office would force Micro$oft to standardize in a way that doesn't use the second E of their EEE strategy, lower their asking price, and reduce dependancy.
I have no problem recommending OO for home users that need a basic office suite. With OO, the price is right for that scenario.
However, in ths business world, when time is money, it's a completely different story. The cost of your office suite is NOT the price tag of the software, it's the time to ge your job done.
If you're a trader or analyst, it might be the time it takes your spreadsheet to calculate. One suite will calculate on as many processors as you have in your system, the other won't (and is FAR slower per processor, anyway). The cost of the suite is not relevant, it's how it translates to productivity. There can LITERALLY be a high price tag on your free office suite.
So the answer to "why?" is when the payback is more than the price tag. Simple.
"Open" Lotus SmartSuite You Say!
being free it is being used in the private sector perfectly
adequately. Don't waste your money on MS.
OpenOffice is free. Microsoft Office is definately not free.
Give it a chance. I felt the same way, but it's getting better. Slowly, but surely.
Right now, I'm using the NeoOffice port for OS/X. Yea, it's not Microsoft Office, but it definately gets the job done and it's only going to get better.
I'm hoping that IBM helping out will be a big help. They've definately put some work into the Open Source effort.
Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com
"Banco do Brasil has completed the migration of all its Windows XP computers to the OpenOffice.org open source suite, reported local tech service Computerworld...."
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/05/30/1662778.htm
What in the world do these skillful (soccer playing and OpenOffice using) Brazilians know that some of us in the world do not know!
Every major rev I try OO. It's just terrible. I welcome any help any one wants to give.