Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-edu (225 mails)

["Mark Evans" <mpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, May 02, 2003 at 01:16:40PM -0000, MJ Ray wrote:
> simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Personally, when something goes wrong, i know who to point the finger at and 
> > who to contact.
> 
> You may know who to point the finger at, but proprietary software suppliers
> often only have to help you if they feel so inclined.

Typically their EULAs will say "you can't sue us even if
it's as much use as a chocolate teapot in the middle of
the Sahara".

> With a free software system, you would be able to shop on the open market
> for support.  If your LEA supported it for you, they would be able to

Interesting how they don't appear to have any issues 
with "supporting" proprietary software. Even if they have
no clue how it actually works.

> solve things themselves, or buy second (or third or further back) line
> support on the open market.  In the transition, they can buy training for
> their support staff on the open market.  Even if all the supporters go
> into a oligopoly(sp?), prices are likely to be lower than your current

Are you sure you don't mean "cartel", "oligopoly" would mean
something along the lines of "a minority of many".

> system's monopoly and new entrants can come into the market even then.
> 

-- 
Mark Evans
St. Peter's CofE High School
Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109
Fax: +44 1392 204763