From: Michael Kimsal (email_suppressed_at_lugwash.org)
Date: Thu 06-Nov-2008 08:07:56 AM EST
For basic types of documents, OO is fine. But its lagged behind in
functionality enough that there are legitimate usability reasons why
many people still prefer MS Word. And if people are trained in it and
can be more productive in it than they would in another system,
there's a fiscal argument to be made, even if the platform has an
initial cost.
Examples: Outlining mode is non-existent in OO (haven't verified in
OO3 but I doubt it) and viewing changes recorded in a 'track changes'
mode in OO really stinks compared to where MSWord has been for years.
Those are just two that bug me - I'm sure there are dozens of others
than many people could come up with.
For publishing public records, imo PDF should usually be used, as
there's little reason to assume people need to "process' anything in
those records that would require a "word processor" of any sort.
School assignments? Not sure on those. The school should be
providing the tools to view those documents, though, if you don't have
them. If that means providing a copy of Windows and Word (either for
your home or providing reasonable access to school computers) then
they should be doing that.
Given that OO can interop with MSWord for most basic things anyway,
how much of an issue is it? Use OO to deal with the docs. If they
create breakages when people get them back in MSWord, then simply ask
for the proper tools to do the job to their standards.
Good luck.
On Nov 6, 2008, at 12:16 AM, [e-mail suppressed] wrote:
> Event after yesterday's election signifying a tolerant new culture,
> I find
> that staying independent of the MS juggernaut is still considered
> anti-social,
> anti-cooperative, and anti-American.
>
> My wife recently started substitute teaching at the Ann Arbor public
> schools.
> At least some of her assignments are posted as MS Word documents. I
> always
> assumed that governments can't disseminate public documents in
> proprietary
> formats.
>
> What is the real story?
>
> -Jim
> --
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>
==========================
Michael Kimsal
[e-mail suppressed]
919-455-8488
http://www.groovymag.com
For Groovy and Grails developers
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