http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/rfc/rfc_document.asp?docnum=429 a 'consultation' on open source, you are invited to respond...

this is based on a report from QinetiQ (ex DERA) http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/interoperability/egif_document.asp?docnum=430

this is a major development and a step in the right direction. currently

but I looked at these before Christmas, registered as a user and submitted a polite comment/question to the discussion. I now find both these pages say "there are no comments on this document" and when I log into the discussion groups there are very few items and none of them are mine. Can anyone else find my posting there? I kept no record of the details, but I am sure my submission went through OK. -- Christopher Dawkins, Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3JG 01371-822698/821076 or 07798 636725 cchd@felsted.essex.sch.uk

On Sun, Jan 13, 2002 at 08:29:48PM +0000, Malcolm Herbert wrote:

<snip>

hmmmm.....the problem is that no h/w manufacturer or reseller of laptops is going to offer a Linux solution to OJEC tender (run by Becta) as they may risk their M$ based bid. Each supplier will probably be restricted in the number of solutions they are submit....

thoughts?

AFAIK the only big company that offers a laptop with Linux pre-installed is IBM & then you're on your own as far as support goes. Linux on servers is of course a different story. The best that could be hoped for is that one of the companies that tenders offers a choice of OS on the laptop or that the hardware was compatible with Linux. If I was a teacher I'd still go for a Windows laptop & install Linux on it also. Perhaps the `Linux' teachers should make their voices heard before the laptops end up being Windows-only kit. -- Frank *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small. -- Henry Kissinger