Various OOXML and ODF info

First there is this Wikipedia article about OpenFormula where the following bit of history can be read:

"In 2005, Microsoft's Brian Jones noted that OpenDocument did not define spreadsheet formulas in detail (Jones, 2005). However, at the time Microsoft's competing proprietary XML format also did not include this kind of detailed specification for formulas (Wheeler, November 7, 2005).

Microsoft continued to protest that OpenDocument could not be used because it did not define a format for spreadsheet formulas, yet its own specification continued to omit any specification about formulas through April 2006. Finally, in May 2006, Microsoft also began defining formulas in its XML format, 15 months after the first version of OpenFormula and 3 months after OASIS posted its first official draft of its specification."

Next, VML is "deprecated" in OOXML, but it is still being used.

Q&A with Gary Edwards, President of the OpenDocument Foundation.

3 Linux/Ubuntu reviews/blog posts

1. The first little review of the new Dell offering can be found here. It sounds like a neat system.

2. A person evaluates 60 days with Ubuntu. Overall he likes it and he will continue to use Ubuntu. Of course, there are things he don't like (nothing is perfect) and there are things he don't seem to understand:

Who cares if this driver is free or not?

I care and so should he because overall he will no doubt have a more stable system and experience less problems with free drivers. For further information about this, see this article, this article or this article.

3. Mark Pilgrim, a well known developer switched to Ubuntu from Mac a year ago and in this post he evaluates that last year with Linux. He hasn't regretted switching and specifically he talks quite a bit about the hassle of keeping your system updated with security fixes and such. Windows Update is fine, but what about all your applications? Of course, this is an area where Ubuntu and other Linux distros really shines. Keeping a Linux system updated is very easy.

Andrew Orlowski, what have Lawrence Lessig done to you?

Andrew Orlowski, an Associate Editor at The Register have written yet another lame article about Lawrence Lessing. I'm not sure why he has such a grudge against Lawrence Lessig, because I doubt Mr. Lessig has done anything. Lawrence Lessig have posted a nice reply where he corrects several important errors in the article. There are so many errors in Andrew Orlowski's article that it can only be deliberate!

Take all what Andrew Orlowski writes with a bit grain of salt.

New article in "The Road to KDE 4" series

Troy Unrau have released the next installment of this great series. If you are just the slightest interested in this great open source desktop environment, then these articles are a must read! This latest article is about Kwin and the cool (similar to beryl/compiz) desktop effects that will be available in KDE4.

Microsoft Surface: Behind-the-Scenes First Look

Microsoft has announced a new product called Surface which is basically can be described as a table with an advanced (and big) touchscreen. Popular Mechanincs have produced this neat first look video and it is pretty cool technology. Of course, it isn't Microsoft that invented this technology, but they are the first to make a product for more widespread use. I'm sure this is only the start. Smart people around the world will no doubt find many new and cool ways to use this technology.