Re: Pirates of Silicon Valley

[Mike <moose@rocknet.net.au>]

Don Bruder wrote:

> In article <ikae3.273$cE6.4781@client>, !smentzer@ecom.net (Steve Mentzer)
> wrote:
>
> : >        This has been MAJORLY true up until Office 2000.
> : >
> : >        Try reading an Office 97 document with an earlier version of the
> : >software.
> : >
> :
> :
> : UMMMMM ..... DUH!
> :
> : Yeah, it is NOT reasonable to expect to read an office 97 document on office
> : 4.0 or word 5.0 or whatever. That is NOT a bug. Enhanced file formats are not
> : bugs, they are features, and if your software doesn't support a new feature,
> : then you need to upgrade....
> :
> : Geez....  Some people don't get it.
>
> Yep, I guess I'm just a dummy...
> Adding a signature byte (apparently unused) at the start of the file (and
> thereby pushing everything out of alignment so that previous versions
> can't find the info they need to open the file properly) is one helluva
> great "enhancement"...
>
> It's real interesting that hex-editing out that one byte at the start of
> the file allows prevoius versions to read the file correctly...
>
> Yep, that's an enhancement all right... To Bill's wallet.
>
> --
> Don Bruder -  Dakidd@primenet.com      <--- Preferred Email - unmunged
> Secondary --> Dakidd@grfn.org          +------------------------------+
> Horseman by day, 'net-freak by night. What a contrast, eh?

Can you prove this "one byte deletion and it works" ?

I would like to see and verify this for myself !

It it is true, then I will take this matter further !

Mike