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Submitting Federal Proposals Requires Windows

Posted by Hemos on from the stupid-vendor-lock-in dept.

Petronius Arbiter writes "The US federal government is requiring that proposals for grants etc be submitted using a common system at http://grants.gov/. That's a good idea, except that effectively, you must use Windows and Explorer. See To operate PureEdge Viewer, your computer must meet the following system requirements: Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP... PureEdge on Grants.gov will not run within the Firefox browser. They do have a Citrix substitute for non-Windows users. However the site goes on to say "Note that a limited amount of users can access the Citrix Server at any one time... Finally, you will find the best time to work and submit an application via Citrix is during off-peak hours, usually between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., EST. Finally, if your organization has more than 10 non-Windows users, they want you to add a dedicated Windows box to handle the traffic. For National Science Foundation clients, this is a big step backwards. NSF has had an excellent online system, http://fastlane.nsf.gov/ for years. Fastlane has no bias towards MS. However, by federal edict, NSF people must also use grants.gov."

4 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. One OS to rule them all, by AlanS2002 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Three OSs for the Elven-kings under the sky,
        Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
    Nine for Mortal Man doomed to die,
        One for the Dark Lord in his dark throne
    In the Land of Redmond where the Shadows lie.
        One OS to rule them all, One OS to find them all,
        One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
    In the Land of Redmond where the Shadows lie.

    --
    Not all conservatives are stupid,
    but it is true that most stupid people are conservative.
    - Hume
    1. Re:One OS to rule them all, by VJ42 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Comparing Sauron to Bill Gates, that's hardly fair; I think Sauron would have a good claim for defamation of character against you.

      ;-)
      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
  2. Headline incorrect? by oyenstikker · · Score: 2, Funny

    Headline: "Submitting Federal Proposals Requires Windows"
    Blurb: ". . .They do have a Citrix substitute for non-Windows users. . ."

    So. . . you don't actually have to use Windows?

    If enough people subscribe to Slashdot, will they hire a real editor?

    --
    The masses are the crack whores of religion.
  3. It's synergy, you see... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

    You use a bloated OS to get money from bloated government. I don't see the problem.

    Man, here comes another flamebait mod. :( We truthsayes have it rough.