Typical Bone-Headed Behaviour by the British Establishment

Yet another example of the ruling elite in Britain acting corruptly. The answer? Simply ignore the kite whallahs by ignoring OOXML until it becomes non-proprietary (if ever).

It's so much easier is it to download Open Office (http://openoffice.org/) for free than to pay the M$ tax.

I was in Curry's a couple of weeks ago wanting to buy a laptop. I asked if it was possible to buy one without Vista. I was told in stern terms by the sales assistant that it was not. I replied in stern terms that I would be making my purchase elsewhere and promptly bought a non-M$ machine online.

We can Vote with our feet and our wallets :-)

MS is short for Monopoly Standards

You can't ignore it Albert Mun, when the BSI approves it all government departments will start using it, which means that you have to also if you deal with the government, they are with many and have some push.
Also 10 people walking out of a shop doesn't impact when 50000 don't, and that's the reality of it I fear.

the ISO committee that vetted the standards application had not actually seen the document they were discussing,

Is that true?

It seems unlikely - why would they vote to approve a standard they'd never seen?