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From: gaynor@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Jim Gaynor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: The Great Compression War
Summary: A smaller war?
Keywords: pro-open format
Message-ID: <4432@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 5 Sep 90 14:30:16 GMT
Sender: news@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University (IRCC)
Lines: 45
References:


	Good job, Marty.

	It's amazing how few of these people see what kind of
restraints are created by making one of the default archival
algorithms a proprietary one.

	Many "alternate platform" dearchival utilities for formats
such as .SIT are written on the spur-of-the-moment by a programmer who
sees a need for the tool.  When all one has to do is find the
documentation for a given open format, it's easy - compared to
contacting the company and wading through the assorted legalese and
red tape and cash output to license a proprietary format.  I can't see
how keeping the format proprietary is going to forward the progress of
this kind of technology - instead, I can only see it aiding in the
stagnation of it by hindering new development.

	For Aladdin, keeping the format proprietary is good.  They
maintain control, and can determine how the product evolves.  This is
the place that Leonard and his supporters are arguing from, and is
often a good stance - one that Mac enthusiasts often argue from in
support of Apple's ownership of the Macintosh interface.

	For the "Macintosh Community", keeping the format proprietary
is bad.  It stifles development by placing more obstacles in the path
of the independent programmer, and makes the applications of companies
which do license the technology dependent on the whims of Aladdin - a
company whose first duty is (and let's be honest here, kids) to itself
and it's financial supporters.  This is where Marty and his supporters
are arguing from.  

	I support the existence of a open standard; and I strongly
support the usage of an open standard for the storage of file in
public archives.  It isn't the cost of the tool for archival and
dearchival that concerns me - it's whether or not I can -choose- my
tool.  That is the matter that a number of people here are concerned
about, and that Marty is arguing for.

	Choice.

-=-
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