Microsoft Office's New Language 20
Gots_Hussies writes "Stuff.co.nz
has an article about Microsoft trying to extend its influence by creating "skins for Office and XP" in other languages, including New Zealands native Maori. "It is one of a series of translations carried out by Microsoft which is creating skins for Office and Windows XP in more than 40 indigenous languages, such as Basque and Catalan." The program changes words in Office programs Excel, Word, and Powerpoint, and also created "2500 terms" for words not in the indigenous language."
No, the submission isn't biased at all.... (Score:3, Insightful)
How often do you hear about a language pack for (insert OSS program of choice) being created spoken of in such evil terms?
Re:No, the submission isn't biased at all.... (Score:2)
Same here, so what if you translate Office to some obscure language 200 people on Earth speak? These 200 wouldn't get far if they didn't know some other, more common language. Most likely one which Office is already available in.
I appla
Re:No, the submission isn't biased at all.... (Score:2)
Remember, all publicity is good publicity, and Slashdot gives quite a lot of publicity to Microsoft, less and less publicity to open source software.
$ urpmq -y kde-i18n (Score:2)
Re:No, the submission isn't biased at all.... (Score:1)
Well, Microsoft IS trying to "extend their influence". Just like any good company should.
Personaly I think this is good news, since it seems that MS is attempting to address one of it's perceived weeknesses against OpenOffice which already supports lots [openoffice.org] of languages. Competition is always good and the fact that MS are doing this means they are taking the OO.o threat very seriously indeed.
I doubt they can win in this area though (unless they are willing to spend a lot of money), because the Open Source mod
So how do you... (Score:2, Funny)
Like this: (Score:3, Funny)
This is news? (Score:3, Insightful)
Extending its influence? Pah.
Re:This is news? (Score:2)
It's news of a sort (Score:2)
I can understand the business case both ways. "We can't afford to allocate resources for a few thousand native speakers, the market's too small" versus "we've lost momentum over there, and we run the risk of losing monopoly if the global office-app market diversifies enough to force a public standard". OASIS Open Document
indigenous languages (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:indigenous languages (Score:2)
Re:indigenous languages (Score:2)
Not in _our_ country! (Score:2)
so what's wrong ? (Score:1)
Users have to deal with the learning curve of the software as well as the language. This is one of the major factor hindering the adoption of computers by underprivileged sections of society.
Way to go Bill!!
Re:so what's wrong ? (Score:2)
I have one word for you (Score:2)
If you think English computerese is bad, wait until L'Académie have finished reinterpreting it. Literally translated, the word is "counter" or "sorting machine".
The advantage of the current system is that I can discuss computers with a Korean, Russian, Zimbabwian or Peruvian -- knowing none of those languages -- and they can discuss computers amongst themselves. It's a pity that such a complex, irregular laguange had to be the defacto default (I'd prefer something like Lojban [lojban.org]) but English i