The True Cost of Mirosoft Office

Massachusetts just announced that they are considering Microsoft's office xml format for the state government's use. Some view this as a step backward from being free from Microsoft's clutches since they announced before that they would only be willing to use truly open formats for their future electronic documents. MS claims that their new standards (office2007) are open and they can be used by anyone without restrictions.

I find that a little comforting, since open source alternatives to MS Office can simply apply those standards and code around it. They don't even have to make it the default. But the problem with accepting MS standards though is two-fold.

(1) They can change (enhance) the standards anytime they want and
(2) It keeps people locked-in (hooked) to MS software.

You may ask "How can an open standard lock people in?"

MS keeps the people locked in because they can always claim that they made the standard (ooxml), so using their software (ms office) is the best way to implement it. And when others (openoffice) catch up, they simply add more "features".

This is unacceptable for government use because government documents should be available not only for this generation but for all the following generations in the future without having to purchase any software.

What would happen if the Declaration of Independence was written in MS Word 95? Can anyone just simply pick up a copy and read it without MS software? There's a viewer available for free from MS. That's true, but it requires windows (also from MS). So we can't read the Declaration of Independence without paying MS?!

Consider the following incident that happens in a parallel universe, where computers were discovered early and people lived practically forever.

It is 1776, you decide to buy MS Office95 and are happily reading the Declaration of Independence. But you hear about a speech called the Gettysburg Address, written around a hundred years later. But you can't read it because during the time that elapsed Office97 came out and those who could afford it have already upgraded and typed the speech in Office97. You don't want to spend more money in software, so you decide to email AbrahamLincoln@whitehouse.gov to ask that he send you a copy of the same speech but this time "saved-as" office95 format. You receive an automated response telling you that the author had been assassinated and no further communication is possible.

Shrugging your shoulders, you decide to ask Microsoft for help. And they cheerfully point you to the "free" viewer for their documents. You thank them and start downloading. Problem solved, right? Not quite.

After some time, you hear about the warren commission's report on the JFK assassination and decided to read that. But again MS has upgraded and the commission is now using Office 2007. Remembering the past incident you call MS and ask for help. They point you to the newer "free" viewer. You thank them and remark that MS is such a great company for providing so many "free" software. Hours later, after downloading over dial-up, you find out that the software won't work because it requires windows2000/XP. All along you've been using windows95, and missed the fine print on the web page that stated the system requirements for using the new "free" viewer.

You call MS again, telling them the problem. They tell you to download the MS office compatibility package. Since Office 2007 is "open" standards, they have provided "addons" that allow older Office suites to open/generate/edit ooxml documents. You check the website, this time taking care to read the fine print and find out that Office95/97 is not supported. You call MS tech support again, telling them the situation.

In a very surprised tone, they remark "You're still using win95/Office95?! Sir, we don't support that anymore."
"But I paid for my software. I don't use pirated software. What do you mean you don't support it anymore?"
"Sir, you paid for the license to use the software. Support is not available forever."
"Is there anyone I can approach to fix my software?"
"I'm sorry, sir. Office95 is still Microsoft's property, you only have the right to use it, but not alter it. Besides, sir, we don't give out the source code for our software. It's almost impossible to change the software without source code."
"You still own the software, but you don't support it anymore? So what do you suggest I do now?"
"May I recommend upgrading to Windows xp/Vista, sir?"
"My pc is too old for those versions."
"Would you like me to refer you to a Microsoft Partner in your area to assist you in purchasing a new pc that is Vista Capable?"
"I don't want a new PC or Vista. I just want to read the warren commission's report."
"I'm sorry, sir. Perhaps you should contact the government instead. Will that be all, sir?"

You hang up and call the government of Massachusetts. They take quick action and decide to use Open Document Format (openoffice). But Microsoft does not want to lose customers to free software, so they lobby the government with all the money they can spare. Government reverses it's position and goes with the MS standard. People wonder what the fuss was all about, and think that you're strange for not "upgrading".

How many times has this happened before? The only reason why people in the Philippines don't experience this more often is because of piracy. But ask any company which has grown big while using pirated software (and has subsequently been raided) and you'll know how hard it is to wean yourself away from MS Software. These companies pay millions because they cannot afford to stop operations. And one you're hooked, you have "no choice" but to keep paying for newer software every so often.

In the end, the true cost of using MS Software is incalculable. Not only will you be paying every time they upgrade. Your users/clients/readers will have to pay too. Then there's hardware upgrade costs as well. The highest cost is of course your data. What if in the future MS folds up and closes shop. Are you sure your CD installer will still work, IF you can find it? What happens to all your documents? I've seen people who could not open their Lotus spreadsheets properly because it was made with old versions of the software which is no longer available. Could this happen to MS in the future? Probably not, but what if it did? How much is your data worth to you?

And if you use pirated software, the price is even higher, your integrity.

How much has MS Office cost you?

IPhone Redux

While lusting after the iPhone and thinking about it's so called "shortfalls", it just occured to me that missing features like MMS could all be "remedied" via software upgrades. Visions of PSP firmware upgrades suddenly flashed before my eyes.

Could it be that Apple intentionally planned to release fixes piecemeal to prevent hackers from either:
a) unlocking the phone for other networks and / or
b) opening the device to allow third party developers


The PSP employs the same tactics in the non-ending battle against piracy. Some newer games on the PSP require new firmware. Forcing users to upgrade, thereby negating any homebrew hacks that either allow using pirated games or other "unsupported" activities.


Maybe Apple is applying the same tricks.