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MA Dept. of Revenue consider Linux

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the don't-fear-the-penguin dept.

hansroy writes "Massachusetts Department of Revenue is still using Windows 95 on the desktop. Faced with upgrade costs of $500-600 per user, they're considering Linux at about one-third the cost. This comes at a very good time, as the new governor of MA is making significant budget cuts this year."

11 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. Surely by Sad+Loser · · Score: 1, Funny

    there are some people who should be forced to use Windows?

    --
    Humorous signatures are over-rated.
  2. Re:I dunno by B3ryllium · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Linux is only free if your time has no value", the old saying goes. In this case, though, I think it would more suitably be "Linux is only free if your co-workers aren't completely fucking retarded". Sounds about right, right?

  3. In need of upgrade... by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Funny
    Their server appears in dire need of upgrade, it's slashdotted already.

    ...wait... I just got the first couple characters, all is not lost...

    What I'm curious about is what software they plan to run on their desktop. If it's the standard office package then cool. If they run, like some public agencies do, canned software they they may have issues with getting that ported or finding alternatives, which isn't so cool (unless the alternatives are equal or better in useability and performance.)

    Still have the brown screen. Looks grim.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. This just in... by MisterFancypants · · Score: 2, Funny

    My maternal grandmother is considering the possibility of switching to Linux. Citing increased budgetary pressure from her retired lifestyle, she thinks moving to Linux might save enough money to get her dentures professionally cleaned. Truly this means Linux is well on its way to being the #1 Operating System on the PLANET!

  5. Re:I dunno by GMFTatsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

    XP is a half-assed upgrade, W2K is at least a half-decent OS

    So this is a question of "is the glass half-assed or half-decent" then?

  6. Cue Biil G and Bee Gee harmony..... by tarquin_fim_bim · · Score: 2, Funny

    And the lights all went out in Massachusetts.

  7. It's the secretaries, stupid. by zerofoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wish I had a buck for every time I asked a secretary what operating system their computer runs and they answered "Office 2000".

    Can you imagine training these people?

    Secretary to IT person: Where are my documents?

    IT person to Secretary: They are on /mnt/winserver/docs.

    Secretary to IT person: What drive letter is that?

    IT person to Secretary: AAARGH!{jumps out a window}

    Yeah, i'm sure linux will be MUCH cheaper.

    -ted

  8. Re:I dunno by Sax+Maniac · · Score: 2, Funny
    In this case, though, I think it would more suitably be "Linux is only free if your co-workers aren't completely fucking retarded".

    Uh, this is a gub'mint job we're talking about.

    --
    I can explanate how to administrate your network. You must configurate and segmentate it, so it can computate.
  9. Re:I dunno by MWelchUK · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of which there is a simple answer:

    Neither fit the glass properly - find something else.

  10. Re:Please post the IP of your 95 machine :-) by Xtifr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gladly: 192.168.0.33

    Hack away. :)

  11. Close, but. . . by dunster · · Score: 2, Funny

    We're talking about Mass, here. It's pronounced "retahded."