IBM Slams Microsoft, Calls OOXML "Inferior"

cristarol sends word that Microsoft's accusation, that IBM has sabotaged Redmond's attempts to have the Office OpenXML format approved by the ISO, has drawn a heated response from IBM. Ars Technica has the story. "'IBM believes that there is a revolution occurring in the IT industry, and that smart people around the world are demanding truly open standards developed in a collaborative, democratic way for the betterment of all,' IBM VP of standards and OSS Bob Sutor told Ars. 'If "business as usual" means trying to foist a rushed, technically inferior and product-specific piece of work like OOXML on the IT industry, we're proud to stand with the tens of countries and thousands of individuals who are willing to fight against such bad behavior.'"

Battle of giants

[siyavash]

One big corporation bashing another... Get your popcorns and watch the show. Personally, I prefer Godzilla... yyyyyiii... *sound of Godzilla*

How do you pronounce OOXML?

[Edie O'Teditor]

Has anyone else wondered? is it oh-oh-ecks-emm-ell? Or Uxamul (rhymes with "sucks a mule")?

Misread that

[o'reor]

Quoth IBM:

'If "business as usual" means trying to foist a rushed, technically inferior and product-specific piece of work like OOXML on the IT industry,

I actually saw "piece of work" written but I read "piece of s**t" instead. Is it time for me to see a doctor ?

Re:we've come a long way

[somersault]

Yep, it's like mama always said - don't put arsenic in your pies or your customers won't be very happy.

Re:Battle of giants

[Anonymous Coward]

Godzilla throws chairs?

Re:How do you pronounce OOXML?

[somersault]

I hope Microsoft's Windows' frames are made of oak..

Translation:

[WK2]

"Let's be very clear," Jean Paoli, Microsoft's senior director of XML technology, told ZDNet. "It has been fostered by a single company--IBM. If it was not for IBM, it would have been business as usual for this standard."

Translation: "We would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for that pesky megacorp!"

Re:we've come a long way

[lysse]

One wonders if Microsoft officials do not recognize their own organization as a "single company".

Hey, they paid good money to not be the only company supporting OOXML!

Re:Battle of giants

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

Godzilla throws chairs?

Godzilla throws whatever he damned well pleases.

Marketing joke

[Hognoxious]

Q: What's the difference between a mainframe and a high-capacity, legacy-compatible application server?

A: About fifty grand.

I'm here all week, try the Hawaian salad.