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Scottish Police Revert to Microsoft Office

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the back-on-the-crack dept.

LordGuha writes "The Central Scotland Policy is removing StarOffice and replacing it with Microsoft Office citing lower maintenance and running costs and greater integration with other departments. According to the article StarOffice was implemented in 2000 when the department was low in cash but lately have estimated that the Microsoft software would cost no more and lead to greater efficiencies."

23 of 699 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by sYn+pHrEAk · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, math skills of Scottish police reported to be at an all time low.

    1. Re:In other news... by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Scottish Police emailed reporters a written response, but the reporters couldn't open it.

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by Ithika · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I can't stand the fact that everyone feels the need to use hugely overblown packages to do everything. Your idea seems pretty elegant, and with a bit of regexp-ing could probably be seamlessly integrated with a TeX-based system too for beautiful output. And the coppers wouldn't even have to look outside their browsers.

    --
    the layman's guide to computer science
  3. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by Mick+Ohrberg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just install vi for Windows and teach them the importance of :q!, dd, :set ts=3 and other commands.

    --

    Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

  4. Microsoft must have a hell of a sales team... by mikeophile · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they can talk the frugal out a Scotsman.

    /part Scot, the stereotype is well deserved

  5. Police moving to MS by MECC · · Score: 1, Funny

    Good news for any 'hacker' they're thinking of tracking down.


    "Suddenly, all information on the suspect disappeared from their computer systems..."

    --
    "We are all geniuses when we dream"
    - E.M. Cioran
  6. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by MoogMan · · Score: 1, Funny

    Clearly you don't have enough experience in User Support.

    Of course, any adept Tech Support person will tell you that one of the first things any n00b user will do is find the "Large Text" and "Cool Comic Sans Mode" buttons.

  7. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by hawaiian717 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're not going to teach them to save their files before they quit?

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    End of Line.
  8. The real reason... by matt+me · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course, the Scots could have used OpenOffice for free, but a top official was quoted as saying "functionally, it's a superior product, but we just prefer the MS-style clipart".

    Can just imagine their posters "Wanted. Bank robber." And then it has a clipart pic of some guy in a stripey shirt holding a bag labelled "swag".

  9. No by Steeltoe · · Score: 2, Funny

    REAL Cops use ed!

    --
    http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/
  10. Reverting? by jtcedinburgh · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know, I just read that as:

    "Scottish Police Pervert to Microsoft Office"

    And suddenly it all made sense...

  11. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nah. It cuts down on useless government paperwork.

  12. One More Problem... by Rocketship+Underpant · · Score: 2, Funny

    "go threw tens of choices" ... "Individuals has invested time in MS Office" ... "everyone who enters the Work field know Office" ... "Forth Interface" ... "Open Offices goal"

    A Sixth Problem: Spell-checking and grammar checking don't seem to work properly. :)

    --
    He who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
  13. Re:Did anyone read TFA by cornelius1729 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Where can I get their software that cheap?

    On any warez site!

    --
    1729 = 9^3 + 10^3 = 1^3 + 12^3
  14. Ach, laddie! by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why dinnae they switch to ScotsOffice? Microsoft, Open, whatever Office you use, if it's not Scottish, it's CRAP!

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  15. Re:How was copper wire invented? by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Well, all I know about Scotland is what I've learned from Danny Boyle movies. So, I'm forever doomed to think of the Scottish as a bunch of heroin-addicted, money-grubbing punks who are good at running from zombies.

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  16. Re:*Sigh* by EraserMouseMan · · Score: 1, Funny

    Linux & Star Office too costly? Nope, that's not the problem. That software is free. It's the Linux zealot contractors and employees who do not practice what they preach. They tout the benefits to FOSS then turn around and bill the police department every month for their time.

    Maybe if the entire Linux community (not just the software developers) offered their products and services for free Linux would be cheaper than MS.

  17. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by aled · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why should they use a monolitic office bundle like vi when surely sed is simpler? it even can be scriptable...

    --

    "I think this line is mostly filler"
  18. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by KingVance · · Score: 2, Funny

    My money says if bill gates were to unzip his pants in front of you...you would get down on both knees and give him the BJ of his life.

  19. Shit the cops are reading slashdot!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I take back what I said about piracy.. Downloading music is illegal!! I love Bush! Just say no to hacking!

  20. Re:*Sigh* by jim_v2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe if the entire Linux community (not just the software developers) offered their products and services for free Linux would be cheaper than MS.

    I can see it now...the street corners of America littered with Linux IT professionals holding signs that say "Will support Linux for food".

    --
    Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
  21. Re:Only 5% of users were using StarOffice by mr_gerbik · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I can't stand the fact that everyone feels the need to use hugely overblown packages to do everything. Your idea seems pretty elegant, and with a bit of regexp-ing could probably be seamlessly integrated with a TeX-based system too for beautiful output. ...

      You even have your choice of a wide variety of WYSIWYG web editors [geniisoft.com] if you need formatting capability.

    Two comments deep and you have already gone from a simple text editor to a big piece of bloated software...

  22. This is why OpenOffice needs Scottish Gaelic by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2, Funny

    If a poor nob nae kin wri bou a pizant wi sgain, how kin the nob gi his scuttin port i da hopper?

    Tha plus ih don ha up-kilt cam add-ons fer da lassies ...

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --