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Windows Drives Company To OpenBSD

Barry Lyndon writes "Computerworld reports that the nightmare of windows is driving PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the world's largest accountancy and business consulting companies, to OpenBSD and open source in general." From the article: "'My predecessor spent too much [so] I was told not to spend any money.' When asked what argument he used to convince management to use an open source solution, Uemura said: 'They didn't have an argument because they said don't spend any money.' 'They trusted me,' he said. 'The whole office was relying on one domain controller which was dying.' Uemura said a lot of work was done 'behind the scenes'. 'My experience is that if something has to be done, just do it - don't ask! They will thank you later,' he said."

11 of 476 comments (clear)

  1. BSD gave me AIDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    I was installing a new disc with FreeBSD on it, and cut my finger on the side of the disc. Ow! Six months later I'm getting a test and I score positive for HIV. That's what I got for using BSD. Free as in beer, free as in AIDS.

  2. Re:Hurray!! by ackthpt · · Score: 0, Troll
    Hurray!! BSD is alive and kicking again!!

    Shortly after the news, PriceWaterhouseCoopers issued the following press release:

    BSD is still dying
    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. OpenBSD is NOT FREE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    OpenBSD is only free if your time has no value.

  4. It'd be nice to get the truth about this by Darius+Jedburgh · · Score: 1, Troll
    I work for a Linux based company that gets a lot of publicity on Slashdot for its use as Linux. In fact, it's seen as a kind of flagship Linux company. But for people inside the company it can be a real headache. The desktop (we're using SUSE 9.1 with 32 bit Intel and 9.3 with 64 bit AMD) is horrendous. Basic things like cut-and-paste between windows is broken. (If I want to copy this text to a console, say, it usually (but weirdly, not always) fails). Any time I want to change my display configuration or mouse I need to call the systems department so they can hack my xorg.conf or whatever it's called these days. The network is truly horrible but what's worse is that network stalls seem to cause countless local problems - like everyone's machines will frequently freeze for a few seconds and then wake up again.

    I won't even mention that vast numbers of developers that have to write proprietary software because we've cut ourselves off from off-the-shelf software (which, incidentally, is already as good as most of the stuff we write, and far better supported).

    I really don't like Windows. The dumbest command line window on the planet. The whole patronising way the OS treats you. The lack of easy personalization. Prior to that I'd been using FreeBSD and it really felt like a step back. But though I don't like it, I grudgingly have to accept that when I worked for a Windows based company things went much smoother. Network downtime was minimal. Plug-and-play really did seem to work, at least for ordinary devices like mice and displays. And we still had access to many good OSS tools such as Python and Perl. Going back to an open source OS has turned out to be a much more painful transition than the transition to Windows.

    Whenever I read news stories about our company I cringe. I find it annoying when we're briefed before a conference (say) on what we are and aren't allowed to say to other people - in particular we're asked to lie about what software we use. It's clear that many decisions are made in this company based on the fact that nobody wants to pay for licenses for software but they don't mind paying to recruit extra people to write the software they could have gotten off-the-shelf because it increases their department size and hence power within the company. (And other decisions are made based on which vendors the CTO plays golf with: I think that's why we have such an awful network.) In fact, I once went to an industry conference on OSes for our industry. We had a company having success using Windows. It was clear that the rest of the conference didn't want to hear anything we wanted to say - they were basically a lynch mob to try to force everyone to switch to OSS so we could provide a unified front to our vendors to get them to switch to OSS operating systems.

    So whenever you read that a company is switching OS bear in mind that it's just as likely to be part of political maneuvering within the company as it is likely to be a rational decision.

  5. Re:Score one for them by Tomchu · · Score: 0, Troll

    Er, for the people that didn't get it ... FTW == For The Win

    Linux == crap
    BSDs == rockz0r

    --
    I used to think Linux was cool -- then I turned 14.
  6. Re:Have you ever used OpenBSD? by Ober · · Score: -1, Troll

    Yeah, just try and ask for help on misc@openbsd or tech@openbsd and you will see more assholes than a Turkish Customs Agent.
    All want to be just like Theo proper.

  7. Re:True DUH and why this is a good case to read. by twitter · · Score: 0, Troll
    LOL, you really do so desperately need Windows to be the cause of all problems, don't you?LOL, you really do so desperately need Windows to be the cause of all problems, don't you?

    No, I don't need that it just happens to be true most of the time.

    "Both the server and desktop"? What the hell does the desktop have to do with anything? "Both the server and desktop"? What the hell does the desktop have to do with anything?

    According to the story, a virus in "Windows Hell" was the root cause of their network outage. That virus pulled down the dumb little windoze box running checkpoint. As you claim checkpoint works on Solaris and have never had this problem, we can conclude that Microsoft was the wrong software on both the desktop and the server.

    you're nothing more than a dumb zealot. Especially if you think I'm 'astroturfing' for Microsoft. Get a grip.you're nothing more than a dumb zealot. Especially if you think I'm 'astroturfing' for Microsoft. Get a grip.

    Foul language and insults, you sound like someone from Microsoft. I'm going to get a grip now and ignore you.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  8. Re:True DUH and why this is a good case to read. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M

  9. Re:True DUH and why this is a good case to read. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M

  10. Re:True DUH and why this is a good case to read. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M

  11. Re:Wondering? The Fine Article has an Answer. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M