On Thu, Sep 13, 2001 at 07:35:13PM +0000, Martin Webster wrote:
On Thursday 13 September 2001 4:52 pm, Steven T. Hatton wrote:
Well actually... Ford (Europe) are looking into Open Source software (i.e. Linux) for its 33,000 desktops. As Richard Thwait, their Director of IT says "[we're] always looking for potential vendors of the desktop other than Microsoft" and "I think ultimately we will look for an Open Source desktop. I think that's eventually where the industry will go". Quoted from LinuxFormat, September 2001.
I agree with your sentiment though. Buy Linux and influence others, particularly executive management that there is a viable alternative to Microsoft. I mean have you seen how much Microsoft wants for its Software Assurance? Their proposals could cost UK local governemnt 1Billion over the next 3 years! And, for no added value just the opportunity to have the latest word processor whoopie do.
M
The problem here is the in-place infrastructure. I work for a company that provides E-commerce software that runs under Unices, it is also developed under UNIX. The clients however are Windows .. and I see no possibility that will ever change. What is more galling is that the company mail infrastructure is based on Exchange, so there are always messages about viruses (which of course don't do much on UNIX workstations running netscape!) and outages while exchange is upgraded or otherwise repaired. To persuade them to replace the mail system with a proper conformant one (i.e. an Open Source one) would be a soul-destroying undertaking I think. I could argue about all the technical merits, but the economic ones are not withing my competence to explain. In this case it is the bean-counters who need to understand the issues involved. That sounds pessimistic, which I am not at all. Open Source is infectious, but it will take time. I have been in the past involved in bid-evaluations for a very large project..and what you always ask for is "reference sites". If companies like Ford etc. start taking this on, then you have them! -- Regards Cliff