Open Letter from Italo Vignoli, Head of Marketing and Communication Association PLIO (Italian Linguistic Project OpenOffice.org).

http://gnuvox.libero.it/index.php/2008/01/16/lettera_aperta

Source: http://blog.debianizzati.org/2008/01/16/lettera-aperta-agli-utenti-italiani-di-software/

Updated May 21, 2010: It seems that the site gnuvox.libero.it is no longer attainable.

I found a copy of Open Letter, to prevent the carryover fully disappear even the link in the queue are also open In letters published on the point information.

Open Letter to Users of Software by the Italian Association PLIO Italian Linguistic Project OpenOffice.org

Dear users, despite the success of OpenOffice.org, many do not know enough, nor know the free software and open formats, which in some cases identified with reserved matters only to those familiar with the technology. In 2008, we would like to dispel some myths. Let's start with OpenOffice.org . We would like all those ...

... Compare that to an older version of Office try to install the new version to have a precise idea of the features and functionality of the program. During 2007 the number of Italians who downloaded OOo was over - a little or a lot, depending on the interpretation of the figures - the number of those who have purchased a license of Office 2007. In the case of free software download is equivalent to the purchase of a license to proprietary software. Indeed, for those who download the software and then not use it there are all those - especially businesses - making multiple installations from a single download. It 'hard to believe that all these people - almost 1.8 million, or inhabitants of a city like Milan - have installed OpenOffice.org just because it's free. Probably someone has done to be in good standing with licenses, someone for the possibility of exporting to PDF, one for features related to the management of large documents, someone to be able to work independently from the operating system. The reasons are many, and all valid. Of course, the installed base of Office continues to be larger (could it be otherwise, given the years of market presence of two products), but in 2007 the gap began to shrink. OpenOffice.org is the first suite that manages to win a major share of the market, although the phenomenon of copies, which in the past has helped Microsoft to stop the growth of competitors. We come to free software. There are many myths to debunk, but to us enough that people begin to analyze the two issues of software quality and technical support, as there are security problems in Office 2003 that have not been resolved after many years, while those of OpenOffice.org were all "closed" within a few weeks. Of course, we do not say it, but an independent site: http://www.secunia.com . Let the theme format, which many - until the recent update of Office 2003, which eliminated intentionally support 26 types of document - thought it was another "obsession". Perhaps the assertion that the contents of documents created or edited with Microsoft Office is in the hands of owners and now has another meaning, not just for us. On this issue, we would like users to be a bit 'more careful. Even so, if someone has not yet understood, this is only a foretaste of what might happen if Microsoft OOXML format was adopted in its current form, since the compatibility with older formats is done in such a way - insertion an "envelope" XML, without publication of specifications - to allow at any time (we assume, with the first service pack for Office 2007) carried out an operation similar to the one just for Office 2003. We conclude with the Association PLIO, which has NGO status and consists of volunteers for the work on OpenOffice.org use their free time. We believe it is important to remember that OOo can be used in the mother tongue of 95% of world population and 100% of the African, it is also a tool to help reduce the digital divide. We worked in silence for several years, striving for freedom of software, to offer users a viable alternative in the office suite. In 2008 we will be more attentive to all the situations where this principle is rejected (you've read this article in Computer Place - http://punto-informatico.it/p.aspx?i=2127784 - explaining what happened in Naples, where - among others - Microsoft has "authenticated" copy of Office for private use by city employees?). E 'for this reason that we decided to promote and sign an Open Letter to Minister Luigi Nicolais and Secretary Beatrice Magnolfi on projects for the Information Society, which was published - among others - Point Computer: http:/ / punto-informatico.it/p.aspx? i = 2154452 . Another initiative that emphasizes the importance of free software for innovation in the Italian system, and seeks to shed light on the funds allocated for this specific purpose. Regards to all. Italo Vignoli Marketing and Communication Association PLIO (Italian Linguistic Project OpenOffice.org)

Open Source, Italy waits

Many famous names in the network Italy sign an open letter to Minister Nicolais (Innovation in PA) on contributions to the implementation of projects for the Information Society. A year from promises