Slashdot Mirror
More Linux Activity in German Government
"9 more cities in Rheinland-Pfalz, including the capital Mainz, are seriously considering to replace most, if not all of their Microsoft software with Linux after their current contracts expire in early 2004, noting that there are many other cities in a similar situation, and with similar plans.
Meanwhile, the police in Niedersachsen (german) is busy rolling out RedHat Linux on 11,620 desktops and 120 servers, running both standard Linux software and a custom information system called "Nivadis" based on WebLogic and Oracle running on Itanium servers, citing savings of about EUR 20 Mio compared with a Windows-based solution.
In a less desktop-related project, the state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern started a project with SuSE, IBM and others porting a mission-critical system called ProFiskal from Reliant Unix to Linux on zSeries, again citing cost as the primary reason, but also noting the benefits of using open standards for both software developers and users."
If these initial deployments are successful, and the organizations see real benefits from their switch to Linux then it could be the start of a wave of Linux deployments across Europe, at least in public organizations such as these.
.... So we can only hope it goes well!
However, if there are problems with some of them it could hold up the acceptance of Linux (etc.) for some while
The more they cut prices in order to stave off linux, the more evident it is how overpriced their list prices are. Instead of trying to compete on price, they should be trying to compete on features such as easy management, and security...
Unfortunately for Microsoft, security isn't exactly their strength, and neither is easy management now that Linux has matured so much.
Surely Capitalism should be contrasted to Communism as opposed to Socialism? One can have a capitalist and socialist system. eg the Labour party in the UK is socialist (ok, you can stop laughing now) yet the system is still capitalist.
A better comparison would be between conservatism (sticking to the old ways) and socialism (supposedly fairer and more inclusive of society).
More like Coercive (Microsoft) vs. Cooperative (Linux).
All them little Marxists at IBM seem to be in agreement. ;-)
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Trusted Computing FAQ | Free Dawit Isaak!
even if Microsoft tried hard to make their offerings more attractive since, including a special license contract that could save the public sector 'a lot of money' according to interior minister Otto Schily, it looks as if Munich was only the beginning."
IMHO I think this is somewhat of a political move coming out of Germany, combined with the fact that MS has had MAJOR problems within the past few months with worms and all...
Now when I say political I mean maybe Germany doesn't want to spend their money on US products based on the tension between the US and Germany that started with the war somehow. It would also be benificial to Germany if say they were to choose SuSE for a distro of choice, maybe that would become a Euro standard distro of sorts. Something similar to what US companies think of when Linux comes to mind... Redhat. Sure geeks think of other distros, but have you ever mentioned Slackware, or Stampede to a CEO? Chances are he's heard of Redhat but not Slack, Debian, etc.
Let's not forget that nice little letter that went out earlier this month to the Dept. of Homeland Sec., which vendors asked the US gov to reconsider their use of MS products. Hell if US companies are turning their backs on MS, then why would foreigners want to use it.
MoFscker
Don't forget that many people are effectively forced into buying Windows.
I work at a small-to-medium sized company (about 1500 people, 250 of which use computers) that uses both Windows and Linux. We like open software, but when decisions have to be made about vertical applications specific to our organization, or when we consider practical facts of life like suppliers sending documents in office formats or computer suppliers not wanting to sell systems without Windows license, we are certainly driven towards Windows all the time.
Driven so strongly that you could call it forcing.
We use Mozilla, we use StarOffice, we use Apache, we use OpenLDAP and a Linux IMAP server, we use an open-source calendaring system (webCalendar), but for how long?
What if the next application insists on Outlook and Office for integration (this threat really exists, as the supplier of that application is a Microsoft shop)?
Maybe when you are a hobbyist at home, no-one is forcing you to buy Windows. Maybe if you are a large corporation or government agency that can develop its own software or can force open-software compatability when buying things, you are not forced.
But a big section in the middle really IS forced to buy Windows. And Microsoft, realizing that, is increasing their activity precisely on that sector.
That my friend, is the effect of coercion - if not directly on you as the user, then certainly as a consequence of coercive pressure on the manufacturer/OEM/vendor.
But, your handle marks you 9/10ths troll already.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
I think one oft-unspoken reason overseas governments contemplate wholesale adoption of open source solutions is that doing so creates a lot of high-end local IT jobs (e.g., software development and support). This offers the prospect of creating more in-country "silicon valleys" and the possibility of local "dot.boom" economies.
Open source may have the advantage of better access to legacy civil documents and lower TCO, but the real motivation of politicians is getting re-elected, and job creation is always a good way to do that.
I hope that after I die the one word people use to describe me is "resurrected."
My TiBook is certainly without M$ Window$!! And don't come tell me PowerBooks are not one of the "major Laptop"!?!?!!!
The point of both the Slashdot story and my grand-parent comment is that Microsoft is killing future profits completely by being aggressive. Supposedly the aggressive behavior is an attempt to get more profit, but in reality it is a strong bid to get zero profits, and fast.
Once the German government switches entirely to Linux, Microsoft will not make another penny from that source. The draconian, one-sided licensing changes would not in themselves be enough to push customers away from Microsoft. It is software death that is perhaps the aggression that is most disliked by customers. The Microsoft license cost is small compared to buying 20,000 new computers because Windows XP won't run on hardware that works well with Windows 98. That's the sort of problem huge organizations face.
Of course, fundamentally, licensing and software death are not as important as the fact that Microsoft's international government customers are under the control of a foreign company controlled in part by a foreign government that runs the biggest spy organizations that have ever existed. Who was using the Microsoft security vulnerabilities before they became publicly known?
It's simple economics. Why send money out of the country when you don't have to? That is truly a testament to the power of Microsoft's monopoly.
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
Supermarkets have to take back any unwanted packaging, and many consmuners unpack their goods when they pay for them.
Shops have to close early on Saturday afternoons and cannot open on Sundays.
I cannot think of appropriate words to describe the difference in driving techniques on freeways.
America may yet be surprised by "old" Europe.