Reply #10: you missed my point, I think [View All]

[GAspnes]

The advantages are:

- no file conversions from one format to another and back again (think WordPro, Word, WordStar, WordPerfect, DeScribe, vi, nroff/troff, et-bloody-cetera)

- no lost formatting, missing fonts, missing text

- no re-training/multi-training across platforms and apps

- simplified support/help desk/equipment requirements

From a user or business owner's standpoint, it's more important that a sales demo runs correctly on any system in the company than it is that the company support a 'proper' mix of Unix, Linux/Gnome, Linux/KDE, Solaris, AIX, MVS, OS/2, Windows, Windows2000, Mac OS8, Mac OS9 and Mac 0S X. It is more important that I can send a contract to my sub-contractor, outsourcer, banker, lawyer (they mostly still use WordPerfect, interestingly enough because they don't have to exchange files with anyone but other lawyers, and they standardized on WP a long time ago and don't want to have to retype all those old documents).

I know all about the problems with MS apps, upgrades, &tc. They're nothing, nada, compared to the chaos that is a heterogenous business environment. Yes, monocultures are vulnerable. Yes, MS charges too much and is monopolistic. But. There is a reason why monocultures arise.