Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Audits UK Council To Prove Cost Effectiveness
A Masquerade writes "When Microsoft's market position was threatened by projects within the UK government evaluating open source solutions, it chose an interesting way to fight back. Computer Weekly has a piece by a Microsoft manager explaining they're paying for an external audit of the IT services for a specific UK local authority, Newham Council, to provide a cost justification for Windows and Office on the desktop, as opposed to an open source solution. The Register comments that 'if Microsoft succeeds in holding on to Newham, it will have knocked a considerable amount of wind out of the pilot schemes before they've even kicked off properly.'"
If I am paying someone money to make me look good, they damn well better make me look good.
If M$ is paying a metric assload for them to look good they are going to look fscking fabulous.
There is nothing wrong with being gay. It's getting caught where the trouble lies.
Somehow, "Today Newham, tommorow the world" doesn't haver the same ring to it.
I can just imagine the scene in a few months time:
A meeting between representatives of Microsoft, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and Newham Council:
Consultant: We have finished our audit, and our conclusion is that it would be cheaper for Newham Council to use Open Source Software.
MS rep: What??
Consultant: Yes, the situation is quite clear. It would be cheaper to use OSS.
MS rep: Oh! We weren't expecting that! But fair's fair I guess! [Shrugs]
Newham rep: This meeting has been quicker than I thought it would be. Shall we go to the pub for a lunch-time pint?