Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 2nd Jun 2006 21:11 UTC
Law and Order Adobe, not content with Microsoft's decision to cut certain PDF functionality out of Office 2007, also wants changes in Microsoft's new document display and printing technology. Will the pair's failure to resolve differences result in more antitrust action?
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RE: Gotta love it
by RGCook on Sat 3rd Jun 2006 03:51 UTC in reply to "Gotta love it"
RGCook
Member since:
2005-07-12

Valid point. However, unlike other products that have pdf capability built-in, none have the power of being delivered ala carte via the Windows and office monopolies. This is tying and the difference is that the potential for harm to Adobe's business is irreperable.

Personally, I use ghostscript and cutepdf and they work great, but I had to go find them, install them. I also have a legal copy of Acrobat Professional 7. However, it is expenseive and so dog slow that I would rather use the free versions with reduced features than suffer through a bloated start of Adobe along with its hideous user interface. I still agree with Adobe's position on this but maybe they ought to do a bit less bitching and get off their ass and produce a quality, efficient app that people can afford to buy and use without having to take a nap with some idiotic font initialization process is spooling for days.

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RE[2]: Gotta love it
by n4cer on Sat 3rd Jun 2006 04:54 in reply to "RE: Gotta love it"
n4cer Member since:
2005-07-06

Valid point. However, unlike other products that have pdf capability built-in, none have the power of being delivered ala carte via the Windows and office monopolies. This is tying and the difference is that the potential for harm to Adobe's business is irreperable.

Office was never ruled a monopoly and it is the product carrying PDF. Including export capability for a third-party, supposedly open format wouldn't be tying. If Adobe wanted to maintain control over who implements the format, they should not have opened it in the first place. MS already has included PDF export capability in Reporting Services and Sharepoint (maybe elsewhere). Adobe previously commented that they had no problem with MS' implementation in Office and that they expected the revenue around PDF generation to go away someday so they focused on complimentary tools (such as editing tools -- Office does not offer this capability). Yet now it appears they would sue rather than compete and adhere to the terms for which they licensed PDF.

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RE[3]: Gotta love it
by RGCook on Sat 3rd Jun 2006 14:36 in reply to "RE[2]: Gotta love it"
RGCook Member since:
2005-07-12

You know, your argument is perfectly rational. I am going to be man enough to say it - you are right.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[3]: Gotta love it
by sappyvcv on Sat 3rd Jun 2006 17:26 in reply to "RE: Gotta love it"
sappyvcv Member since:
2005-07-06

Wouldn't it hurt Adobe more if Microsoft didn't add support for PDF?

They are giving an option here. How can that be considered a bad thing versus not supporting it?

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2