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More on Massachusetts' Push for Open Source
pbaumgar writes "With more than $32 billion in sales last year, Microsoft Corp. doesn't usually worry about losing one customer. But this one may be different. In a memo sent last month, Massachusetts Administration and Finance Secretary Eric Kriss instructed the state's chief technology officer to adopt a policy of 'open standards, open source' for all future spending on information technology." Follow-up to this story.
The Massachusetts policy, as drafted, doesn't preclude the use of closed-source or proprietary systems. Many news articles seem to miss this important point, making it sound like it's a closed-source mandate.
Instead, the policy states that a preference should be given to open standards (such as open-standard document types, SSL, SQL, Postscript, email standards, open-source products, the RFCs, etc).
The policy as drafted also clearly states that when proprietary systems are judged to be superior to their closed system counterparts (in terms of direct and indirect costs, features, compatability with existing systems, reliability, etc), the proprietary options must be selected.
It's pretty simple, but some people are against it because it can in fact hurt segments of the software and IT consulting industries.
In any case, right now, the policy says that with all things being equal, open source is preferred.
It's also worth noting that Microsoft is not actually excluded from bidding. They are welcome to provide their own open source solution to win the government contract.
Now, they may be unwilling to do so, but that's their problem. If they don't want to attempt to fulfill the requirements of the request for bids, they don't get a shot at the juicy government contract.
Massachusetts' tax burden isn't even in the top ten of states! Even New Hampshire (you know, the 'live free or die' people) have a larger tax burden. While it's true that they have no state income or sales taxes, ask them what they pay for property taxes. You'll find them to be almost FOUR TIMES what someone in Massachusetts pays!! Why? Over a decade ago, Massachusetts passed Proposition 2 1/2, which limits property taxes. I lived in a town where we still had a town meeting form of Govt. EVERY PENNY SPENT was examined with a magnifying glass. So, next time, get your facts straight, clueless ones!!!