Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UK Government Solicits Advice On Open Source

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you-have-til-march dept.

Imran Ghory writes: "The UK government has put out a consultation paper on the use of open source software in government,background research into OSS commisioned by the government is also available, including a comparision of OSS office suites." Check out the formats in which the document is available.

4 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. DOC and PDF are real-world standards. So what? by Tsar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Aren't there open-source apps that can read Word documents and PDF files (Ghostscript and StarOffice)?

    And more to the point, why should we expect someone presenting an open-source alternative to a predominantly Windows-based audience to present it in non-Windows formats? Are we really that zealous, that we expect organizations to convert completely to open-source alternatives before they can even mention Linux on their website? And didn't we just cover this subject?

    I grew up in the rural South, and I remember folk who considered it acceptable to use racial slurs when in a whites-only group, because it was safe to assume that most everyone would agree, and those that didn't would remain silent. Thankfully, times have changed—now I have to read Slashdot to find that kind of intolerance.

    If we're going to act like a bunch of militant fundamentalists, I think I might just sit this year out. Please wake me when the zealots stop screaming in the hallway.

  2. Not this again. by Malcontent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Nobody has ever sued MS because one of their products was faulty. No software from MS comes with any guarantee of usability whatsoever. If there is a CIO someplace in this world who thinks that they can hold MS accountable then by all means let us know who this collosal idiot is so that we can sell our stocks.

    The idea of a CEO or a CIO commiting shareholders money to sue MS because of a defect in one of their software is just too funny. It has never been done and it will never happen.

    Please people this kind of fud is old hat and stupid. Think of new ones.

    --

    War is necrophilia.

    1. Re:Not this again. by MrEfficient · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Well, unfortunately it isn't FUD. And it doesn't have anything to do with being able to sue MS. The old saying that nobody ever got fired for choosing MS is sad but true. It's really about job security. If you go with MS products and something screws up and it's an obvious problem with the software, then no one is going to blame you. You don't get fired, and you get to keep your house, dog, car, and wife.

      But try something different, and the pressure is on you to make it work. If something goes wrong, it's your fault no matter what. The first thing some people will ask is why you didn't use a MS product. The people who don't like you or your ideas to begin with will come out of the woodwork to lay blame. I've run across this situation many times. If you stick with the status quo, no one will bother you. But if you try to change things, even if it's a good idea, you face an uphill battle. Most people just can't afford to risk their financial security on some type of change. It's an unfortunate reality of the workplace, and if you haven't encountered it, you will. It's a real barrier to innovation.

      --
      Check out AbiWord.
  3. My Advice: Go Invisible by Ars-Fartsica · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Don't start by replacing people's desktop's - go on the server end and let linux shine where is truly can compete with the other solutions out there and demonstrably come out ahead.

    Use common sense on the desktop - people can still use Windows and get the power of linux off the server - ssh client tools are available for secure access.

    Don't try replacing Windows on the desktop...you will find that the vast majority of people aren't nearly as obsessed with monopoly politics as they are with using their favorite plugins.