[Opensource] BBC Article - Schools warned off Microsoft

[Cameron Bell]

To me that is (yet) another short-term temporary solution for solving 
the inherent compatibility problems you are going to keep getting with 
proprietary file formats. Why should you have to do this at all? Having 
to install a compatibility pack at all should raise alarm bells if you 
are concerned about universal access or archival data issues. There is 
no doubt that the pack makes it easy - this time around, but there is a 
better solution that does away with the need for any converters - open 
file formats.
Cheers
Cameron

Stephen Bloomer wrote:
> If you are running Office 2003 and you install the Office 2007 
> compatibility pack (Free and in MSI format for easy deployment) you 
> staff will be able to open, save and modify Office 2007 documents and 
> not even know that the different format exists and if you can't print 
> them, the problem is with you print server, not the file format.
>  
> Stephen Bloomer
> support at stpeters.vic.edu.au <mailto:support at stpeters.vic.edu.au>
> St. Peter's College
> Cranbourne-Frankston Road
> Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3977
> Phone  +61 3 5996 6733
> Fax      +61 3 5996 8277
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* opensource-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Adam Barbary
> *Sent:* Tue 30/10/2007 10:01 PM
> *To:* Open Source Software Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Opensource] BBC Article - Schools warned off Microsoft
>
> Nice find Cameron,
>
> Pity that Victoria has just inked a contract for $24 Million with MS. 
> Given that XP already does what schools need and alternatives are 
> often free, makes you wonder why there is an upgrade deal at all.
>
> Problems with Office 2007 are already becoming apparent as students 
> begin to submit work in the new proprietary formats. The schools 
> computer fleet, running Office 2003, are not equipped to read the new 
> file formats. (Although there is an update available to read, not 
> write) so students are unable to edit their documents at school and 
> teachers unable to print them without assistance from tech support.
>
> Time to stop the money trail and install Open Office ;)
>
> Adam Barbary
> Viewbank College
>
>
> On 30/10/2007, at 8:58 PM, Cameron Bell wrote:
>
> > Schools warned off Microsoft
> >
> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7063716.stm
> >
> > Cheers
> > Cameron
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > http://www.edulists.com.au <http://www.edulists.com.au/> - FAQ, 
> resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> > Open Source Mailing List kindly supported by
> > http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au <http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/> - Victorian 
> Curriculum and Assessment 
> > Authority and
> > http://www.vitta.org.au <http://www.vitta.org.au/>  - VITTA 
> Victorian Information Technology 
> > Teachers Association Inc
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> http://www.edulists.com.au <http://www.edulists.com.au/> - FAQ, 
> resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> Open Source Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au <http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/> - Victorian 
> Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
> http://www.vitta.org.au <http://www.vitta.org.au/>  - VITTA Victorian 
> Information Technology Teachers Association Inc
>

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.