NASA embraces Microsoft format -- but adds an open-source twist

Somewhere theres a PR department that can be proud of themselves for coming up with the idea of releasing iffy IT related government decisions as Slashdot troll tales:

NASA releases "free software" with which you can TOAST your data into a M$ proprietary format... Discuss..

So let's see here. I pay tax dollars for nasa programs and then I am gonna have to pay again to see the results of the nasa program.

Am I the only one that sees a problem with this picture?

Their images why can't we all have them at our disposal no matter what computer I use.

What value can microsoft add to images that I already pay for through my tax dollars.

I don't need microsoft to see the images that I already have paid for once and I haven't asked for their help. Can they just leave them alone and go rob some other joe.

If you need to purchase additional software, you're helping the economy; provided Microsoft on its turn spends the dollars as well.

Hans, there's a reason the Windows icon on Slashdot is a "broken window".

http://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basEss1.html

Quoting:"What would become of the glaziers if no one ever broke a window?"

They'd become glaciers where penguins could live?

I like the story about 'broken' Windows. You see, when you have a Window(s), you crack it and have multiple without any additional cost, but it isn't any good to the whole economy. In fact, if I were a shoemaker I sure would be angry at Microsoft; I could have earned that 60billion if people didn't spend that on Windows. Something that crossed my mind earlier given the theory of "wealth generators" and money not being on par; and I have to mention that theory was generously handed to me by Bob Robertson.

But I'm afraid I will not be able to do any deeper exploration on the destructing properties of broken Windows on wealth generators due to TOS and such; apart from saying that I agree Microsoft destructs wealth. Heck, what's new on LXer?