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USDOI Goes 100% Microsoft
SatanIsHere writes: "A memo (here, here, here, and here) dated September 19th, 2002 from the Department of the Interior's Acting CIO notes the new policy of a "Department-wide standard for computer operating systems (desktop and server)" Of course the good news is that this will herald a new era in government transparancy for the Department of the Interior.
SatanIsHere Continues: "On September 13, 2002, the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget signed the attached Findings and Determination establishing Microsoft Corporation's enterprise desktop and server software as the Department-wide standard for computer operating systems (desktop and server), office automation, and asset management software.... Benefits of establishing this new Department-wide standard include:
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership for the desktop, including lower user training costs.
- Centralized and efficient security policy administration
- Greater flexibility and management functionality from products that offer a broader range of management solutions that integrate with non-Microsoft environments
- Greater productivity and reliability attributed to less downtime.
- Extended support for a large base of software applications.
Business specific application software requirements (such as Sun/Solaris, IBM, AIX, etc.) outside the established Microsoft standard may be addressed through the OCIO waiver process."
This looks to freeze out an entire Federal Department (70,000+ employees) from non-Microsoft solutions, requiring a "waiver" to use anything non-MS. One more step to complete Microsoft World Domination. This is particularly ironic considering the problems DOI has had recently regarding IT security. If this isn't leveraging a desktop monopoly into other areas I don't know what is. :-P"
should they suddenly switch to Linux or some other system that doesn't fulfill their requirements just to satisfy some zealots?
I love how some armchair quarterbacks think they know whats best for other people.
SIG:Slashdot: indymedia for nerds.
...surely?
That was classic intercourse!
Linking a Geocities page to Slashdot? It's DOA, as everyone (inluding even Chrisd, though he can't spell "transparency" so perhaps he's not running at full throttle at the moment) should know, not guess. So no one knows the facts of the story and no one can make any rational comment. (Pause for the obvious joke.)
What qualifications do you need to be an editor, anyway?
Mouse, hand, arse to scratch, bannana to eat.
Perhaps they should employ google's news-bots.
Well observed. I did note that their reputation has built for decades. My issues with Gale Norton are distinct from the overall DOI problems: They are incompetent, she is evil. I won't attempt to weigh the merits of these qualities.
Trouble making decisions? Just flip for it.
For example: all the documents created in Office2K or whatever will not readable (faithfully) by any other software, including OpenOffice.
Will YOU be reading the documents? No. So STFU.
If you are THAT upset about your tax dollars buying gvn't copies of Office XP, then, well, move to Canada.
Wow, sounds like your sysadmins were a bunch of know-nothing retards. If you've ever seen a properly run NT network, you'd be amazed.