Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UK Schools Told to Dump Microsoft

Posted by timothy on from the reasonable-course-of-action dept.

kubla2000 writes "The current issue of the Times Educational Supplement is running an article in which they cite a report by the British Educational Communications and Technology Association telling primary and secondary schools in the UK to dump Microsoft Operating systems and products in order to save millions. In a report to be published next week, obtained by The TES, Becta will highlight schools which have turned to free software instead of the market leader's products. Becta does not name Microsoft in its analysis. But almost all schools use some of the company's products. Their conclusion? Schools running OSS are saving 24% on average per pc versus those running proprietary systems."

5 of 646 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Great opportunity for OSS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The problem is that there is no OSS software out there that is really ready for the desktop - well none that would be suitable for use in schools. Schools get Windows software very cheaply due to bulk licensing and educational discounts so when one looks at the TCO its pretty easy to see that the cost to change to OSS is undesirable.

  2. I am the Dupe Of Url! by bmo · · Score: 0, Troll

    http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/06/133233 &tid=146&tid=109

    Dupe
    Dupe
    Dupe
    Dupe of url
    Dupe
    Dupe
    Dupe of url
    Dupe
    Dupe
    Dupe of url!

  3. But should we be dump it? by tobybuk · · Score: 1, Troll

    Ok, since I'm daring to disparage the almost blind assumption on Slashdot that OSS = good, I fully expect to be moded down but here goes.

    When my child leaves school I want her to be able to get a job. If she doesn't know how to use the dominant office automation tool employer's use then she will be discriminated against.

    Yes I know, if everyone... and when everyone ... and how good it will all be when... and we should all take the moral high ground... But that doesn't change reality. MS Office is here to stay. You' not going to wake up and overnight have the majority of business change to OSS. Really!

    I want my child to learn on MS Software.

  4. Re:Another Dupe by bmo · · Score: 1, Troll

    I assume you didn't know that you that you can browse the previous days' posts by clicking on a link that says "yesterday" and then clicking on subsequent links that have the names of the days on them?

    How hard is that?

    Funny, I never seem to miss any articles.

    --
    BMO

  5. This is the start of software industry destruction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    So what this is really saying is don't purchase any software at all. Instead of pirating, get inferior products that are open source and use them instead.

    Not that I hate Open Source, as it does work rather well for Mame and dosbox and other things, but WTF?

    Do you guys want us to work at Burger King for the rest of our lives?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?

    If this spreads, it won't only hurt Microsoft, it will hurt people like me who work for a living and actually earn money.

    When paying for software is obsolete so are those millions of jobs out there kids. I am not talking about Microsoft, but for the entire industry.

    So while I do like Open Source, it is not a replacement to put food on the table. Sorry, it's not.