[PLUG] openoffice.org

[Christopher N. Deckard]

Hey Pluggers,
I'm sure that most of you are aware, but in case you aren't, here
goes.

Sun Microsystems has opened up the source to StarOffice.  I guess now
to be known as OpenOffice.  The current version of source and binaries
is 6.05.  Claimed to be in "pre-alpha" stages and not complete.

One of the big things that the OpenOffice project is shooting for is
"establishment of open, XML-based standards for office productivity
file formats and language-independent bindings to component APIs." 
One big problem with office suites has been the incapatibility of
document formats.  Microsoft, Corel, Sun, all have had their own file
formats in the past.  From my understanding, MS has switched to an XML
based file format, though I don't know of that for sure.  OpenOffice
will hopefully be a step in the right direction in creating a
standardized file format.

I know that some of you may think that office suites are pointless
pieces of software and that everything can be done by using existing
document formating programs like LaTeX.  Office suites don't aim for
people like this.  They aim for the business where people don't need
to know anything but how to use a word processor.  In fact, in some
cases, the only program that they have available to run is the word
processor.

I don't really have much more to say about standards etc and why we
need office suites.  I use them, I think they are great.  I have never
had a problem with commercial, closed-source software for Linux.  Now
that we are on the verge of having an open-source, full featured
office suite, I think that the open-source community is going to
benefit greatly.

I realize I'm not much of one for strong arguments, but some of what
I've said is valid.  :-)  

Comments?  Questions?  Flames? 

Discussion is now open.

-Chris