Regarding M$ enforcement of licenses...
In case you haven't heard, M$ is auditing a dozen or so large school districts for compliance on licensing. Of course, this will be ugly and will run one district an estimated $1,000,000 per year to comply with M$. That's $1,000,000 more then they pay now. M$ is offering a simplified arrangement whereby a school system pays a flat fee for every Intel box (regardless of what it might actually be running) that would run that same district about $30,000. You can see where this is headed! Aside from noting that people's dishonesty about paying the real costs associated with M$ software has gotten them into this trouble (if only because the real costs are not apparent to "management"), I'm wondering what is available as a real alternative to M$ for the great unwashed masses. Of course, the answer I would expect to hear is "Linux!", but... I'm talking about a solution that is useable by those who are not rabid members of a LUG, or Sys admins in their day job. I'm talking about productivity software that will seamlessly read and write M$ file formats (Excel, Word, etc.). I don't know, for example, if Star Office is a real alternative because I don't know how well it interoperates with those who use Word, for example, on a daily basis. Perhaps there is a solution that will reliably run M$ applications without having to buy the OS, but that is only a step in the right direction. I was hoping to hear suggestions about what is out there and if Linux is ready to work seamlessly in heterogeneous High-Tech world. This might be a good topic for one of the WLUG meetings... Steve
On 23 Apr 2002, at 7:44, Stephen C. Daukas wrote:
In case you haven't heard, M$ is auditing a dozen or so large school districts for compliance on licensing. Of course, this will be ugly and will run one district an estimated $1,000,000 per year to comply with M$. That's $1,000,000 more then they pay now. M$ is offering a simplified arrangement whereby a school system pays a flat fee for every Intel box (regardless of what it might actually be running) that would run that same district about $30,000. You can see where this is headed!
<snip> Actually, I believe it's every box, regardless of manufacturer. (ie apples too) James
Star Office in its various iterations is pretty damn solid, and that is after using three different releases over the years. There are occassional glitches in representation of the same document between M$ and SO, but to be fair to the SO suite there are occassional glitches in representation of the same document between M$ and M$ (assuming you are not trapped from even opening the document in the first place.) Also the filters to Word Perfect etc etc are two way filters (not import only) and allow kids who have family computers running alternative software more flexibility. The other benefit of SO (and OO if you decide that the admin is up to a little more complexity (and you seem to imply that they are not)) is that they can run it on their Win boxes and dabble in Linux without causing confusion to the office suite end user. That makes it possible for them to consider jumping ship in a silent revolution should they build up the confidence. Just some thoughts to ignore. Colin On Tue, 23 Apr 2002 07:44:37 -0400, Stephen C. Daukas wrote:
In case you haven't heard, M$ is auditing a dozen or so large school districts for compliance on licensing. Of course, this will be ugly and will run one district an estimated $1,000,000 per year to comply with M$. That's $1,000,000 more then they pay now. M$ is offering a simplified arrangement whereby a school system pays a flat fee for every Intel box (regardless of what it might actually be running) that would run that same district about $30,000. You can see where this is headed!
Aside from noting that people's dishonesty about paying the real costs associated with M$ software has gotten them into this trouble (if only because the real costs are not apparent to "management"), I'm wondering what is available as a real alternative to M$ for the great unwashed masses.
Of course, the answer I would expect to hear is "Linux!", but...
I'm talking about a solution that is useable by those who are not rabid members of a LUG, or Sys admins in their day job. I'm talking about productivity software that will seamlessly read and write M$ file formats (Excel, Word, etc.). I don't know, for example, if Star Office is a real alternative because I don't know how well it interoperates with those who use Word, for example, on a daily basis. Perhaps there is a solution that will reliably run M$ applications without having to buy the OS, but that is only a step in the right direction.
I was hoping to hear suggestions about what is out there and if Linux is ready to work seamlessly in heterogeneous High-Tech world. This might be a good topic for one of the WLUG meetings...
Steve
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On 23 Apr 2002, at 7:44, Stephen C. Daukas wrote:
will run one district an estimated $1,000,000 per year to comply with M$. That's $1,000,000 more then they pay now. M$ is offering a simplified
So what would be the comparable costs for linux boxes and a sysadmin's salary, either part or full time? Maybe the schools don't even know that Linux is an option, and we should tell them. Imagine a whole generation of kids raised on Linux instead of MS.
I was hoping to hear suggestions about what is out there and if Linux is
What about LindowsOS? Greg Avedissian
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