Warp wrote:
> 
>   As for the article you linked, I really don't understand why so many
> companies are voting pro this standard. Why would it be of their interest
> to give MS yet another weapon against other companies? Aren't they simply
> hurting themselves in this process? Strenghtening their dependency on MS?
> 
>   Perhaps it's some kind of battered-wife-syndrome, or stockholm-syndrome.
> "My mighty big husband hits me, but I deserve it, and he knows what's good
> for me. I am the guilty party here. He commands, I obey, because I deserve
> to be punished."

Probably not exactly like that but quite similar.  A large number of 
companies in the IT sector completely *depend* on Microsoft.

Most important all companies using an MS IT infrastructure (Windows on 
all desktops anyway but especially Office for all company documents and 
communication) are in the same situation.  If non-MS formats are 
required by the government and especially if they are required for 
quality management certification they would be in serious trouble.  Even 
if MS would eat the pill and offer ODF support the task for converting 
all legacy files using all those "rendered like Word 95" features would 
be a nightmare.

So if ISO was a democracy you could bet OOXML will get ISO certification 
with overwhelming majority - even without any direct influence from 
Microsoft.

The fact that this attitude is extremely short-sighted does not change 
anything about this - just have a look at politics, people act extremely 
short-sighted in elections as well...

The whole issue is a very nice demonstration that "No one ever got fired 
for choosing Microsoft" is not only right, it is also a self-fulfilling 
prophecy.

Christoph

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