Slashdot Mirror
Colleges Signing Secret MS License Agreements
David Gerard writes "As seen on Yale LawMeme: Microsoft is requiring colleges wanting cheap licenses to keep their license terms secret (e.g. Ohio State, University of Michigan) ... in direct contravention of state public records and Freedom of Information laws." Many FOI laws have loopholes permitting state agencies not to disclose information when it would harm business interests, so what the colleges and Microsoft are doing may not actually be illegal (or could be argued not to be, anyway), but it certainly is shady.
I say good for them . If they can get a discount on MS licenses, I say "power to them." While I understand the need for access to information regarding public facilities, I think schools having to pay less outweighs the .02% of the population that cares or even looks through the records.
While some of you will probably be saying "they'd be better of switching to linux," that isn't always the answer. Sure, students looking for some sort of computing degree may benefit slightly but architects, engineers, doctors, etc all use tools primarily in windows. While there are "similar if not better" products for linux, they are NOT the industry standard. Students need to be exposed to what's in the real world.
Sure, an architect might be able to develop a building in some obscure package in linux. But the firms want you to know AUTOCAD.
Sure, StarOffice is great (I use it), but most companies require MS Word for a reason. And EXCEL MACROS are a must in most research places.
Linux is good, but Schools need to be realistic. I say, "good for them."
Why do you think Java is all through out the University systems? Sun gave away class materials and set up Java Universities at various colleges to promote the language.
If you think it's less evil to use Java in a curriculuum you've got some serious morality problems.
Foul wasteland? Who's burning cars, Riot Boy?