There are Linux programs that can read MS Word documents.  KWord, StarOffice,
and AbiWord come to mind as examples.  But I believe you are missing the point.

I am not talking about a binary compiled program.  I am talking about taking a
platform-neutral standardized language and transmission mechanism and
"extending" it to make it proprietary.  That is not something that should be
supported.  By using such proprietary extensions, you are locking out a segment
of the user population completely, who, for whatever reason, do not or can not
use that proprietary system.  That is just bad business.  (IE 5.5 has a higher
set of system requirements than IE 5.0 or 4.0, 20% of web users still use
Netscape 4.x, a decent chunk of users use Linux, etc.  Windows may have more
than 85% market share, but IE 5.5 doesn't even reach 50%.)

And yes, I am a student, although I also do part-time web development for
various clients.  Is there some reason why you hope I don't teach?

I run both Windows and Linux, and in fact spend most of my time in Windows.  But
every web site I design I make sure works on as many browsers and platforms as I
can, so as to reach the widest possible market.  That's just good business.

And that's the end of the off-topic from me as well.  (I just got Rob's last
e-mail a few seconds ago.)

Robert Koberg wrote:

> So the content editors or writers, in your experience, use Word...  (but
> aren't you a student?)
>
> Is there a linux version?
>
> We are talking about a content editor/writer's tool. We are not talking
> about a server platform or a java developer's environment. Most editors I
> know have to use some kind of entry system to get their material into XML.
>
> What if those editors could use a wyswig client tool? instead of something
> that is an html form based system? Do you think they might be pleased?
>
> If those editors use Word, then you have an extra step (or a VB program =
> extra step...) to convert that to XML, right?
>
> Look, I use Linux (as a hobby to keep up, but can't too much practical use
> for what I do) and MSWindow. I originally started on a Mac and there is no
> greater hater of Microsoft than a Mac user.  But at some point reality
> enters the picture.
>
> I see that you are a student (or at least you have an .edu - I hope you
> don't teach...).  Well, I hope your world doesn't change too much when you
> graduate. Try to get email from your corporation's exchange server (yea, the
> web client is great...), or try to read the MSExcel phone list, expense
> report, whatever or try to view the CEO's powerpoint presentation, etc, etc,
> etc.
>
> I sure would hate to be an idealist graduating in this job market. If you
> can, then more power to you. I do know people who can - some java developers
> and sys admins.  But they have a MSWin machine to deal with the other
> aspects of office life. But, of course we are talking about content
> editors/writers, right?
>
> I am not against Linux or open source or standards (in fact I would love to
> see it succeed), but they have to work for the people who pay me. OK?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry Garfield" <lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 7:17 PM
> Subject: Re:  browsers with XSL capabilities
>
> > Most content editors or writers I know use MS Word.  Every low-end web
> > developer I know has never even heard of XML, and wouldn't know "good"
> HTML
> > if it bit them on the ass.  Every high-end developer I know and every
> > XML-savvy person I know uses or is familiar with Linux.
> >
> > Add to that the benefits of developing on the same platform as you are
> > serving, and the fact that Apache (61% market share) on Linux (33% server
> > market share) is one of the most common web server platforms if not the
> most
> > popular, and the plethora of XML or XSLT serving tools for
> Apache/Linux....
> >
> > But if you don't care about all of those people, that's your right.  But
> for
> > every user you lock into using only the MS suite, you'll have another who
> > doesn't want to or can't be tied to a single proprietary system, and you
> > lose them.  That's why open standards exist.  The use of proprietary
> > extensions should be discouraged, not encouraged.
> >
> > Robert Koberg wrote:
> >
> > > who really cares?
> > >
> > > How many editors/writers do you know who use linux?
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Larry Garfield" <lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 6:29 PM
> > > Subject: Re:  browsers with XSL capabilities
> > >
> > > > Robert Koberg wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > For an editor's application requiring something as pervasive as a MS
> > > browser
> > > > > does not seem to be hard to swallow.
> > > >
> > > > Is IE 5.5 available for Linux?
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Larry Garfield
> > > > lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > Do you have a PalmOS Organizer?  Click here to add me to your address
> > > book:
> > > > http://signature.coola.com/?lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > -- "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you." :-)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
> > > >
> > >
> > >  XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
> >
> > --
> > Larry Garfield
> > lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Do you have a PalmOS Organizer?  Click here to add me to your address
> book:
> > http://signature.coola.com/?lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > -- "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you." :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >  XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
> >
>
>  XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list

--
Larry Garfield
lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Do you have a PalmOS Organizer?  Click here to add me to your address book:
http://signature.coola.com/?lgarfiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-- "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you." :-)



 XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list