[TAG] ODF vs.XML and UDF vs. MR

[Bob Lee]

The Open Document Format battle has been a front page item for a while. 
But has a similar battle front opened with the arrival DVD drives that 
format DVD RW discs in the Mount Ranier ( RW ) format?

MS claims that their XML system is an alternative to the ODF, but then 
DVD drives show up with the ability to format in the MR form and they 
call it UDF, universal disc format. We have been able to use the UDF on 
our cd-rw drives for several years and on any operating system because 
the format was truly universal. Are they trying to pull a fast one?

However, the MR format can only be used on Windows and Apple OSX. It 
seems that this new so called UDF is supported by MS, Sony, Apple and 
Phillips, the cd drive manufacturer.

Will my new DVD drive prevent me from passing files back and forth 
between Linux and Windows and vice versa? Since this is all new to me 
and probably to many others, will there be or are their work arounds to 
give us full use of these drives and stymie the antitrust law breaker 
and the root kit king from restricting our freedom? Is the ODF-XML a 
similar snow job that Bill Gates thinks he can use on us?

Bob Lee
x.generalx2 at verizon.net