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Sunday, December 24, 2006

ODF v. OOXML -- Size Matters

Rob Weir has an excellent post comparing OpenDocument Format to ooXML, championed by Microsoft. The conclusion: Size matters.

The bottom line is that ooXML has a weight problem. Not only is it a bloated specification, but on average it also produces files that are bigger and slower than does its ODF rival when each is used by the same application.

This echoes the point made in my recent blog post about the practical differences between ODF and ooXML. In this Standards Smackdown!, differences in performance and complexity will likely impact decisions by developers about which standard to use.


Categories: OpenDocument, ODF, standards, ooXML

2 comments:

Sam said...

Jeff-

And a Merry Christmas to you, too!

I'm increasing the expectations for 2007, given how well 2006 outreached our modest hopes this time last year.

Be safe & well,
-Sam

Jeff said...

I think you're right on the money again. Developers are likely less enamored with the politics and more focused on the practical differences in applying ODF vs. ooXML. And I'm guessing the balance tilts to ODF in most cases.