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Another German state plans switch back from Linux to Windows
The German state of Lower Saxony plans to follow Munich's example, and migrate a reported 13,000 users from Linux back to Windows.
Apparently undaunted by the cost of the Munich switch (which we reported in January could be as much as €100m), Lower Saxony is considering making the change in its tax office. The state seems to expect a much cheaper transition, with Heise (in German here) reporting the first-year budget is €5.9m, and another €7m further out.
The tax office argues its decision is driven by compatibility: field workers and teleworkers overwhelmingly use Windows, while the OpenSUSE variants are installed on its office workstations. The office workstations are also ageing and due for replacement, something that helped open the door for Windows.
Related: Linux Champion Munich Takes Decisive Step Towards Returning to Windows
Munich Switching From Linux to Windows 10
German Documentary on Relations Between Microsoft and Public Administration Now Available in English
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Gaaark on Saturday July 28 2018, @04:19PM (7 children)
What i think governments should be looking to is backward compatibility, which MS is HIGHLY against:
they should push that EVERY document ever created is easily opened by ANY version of MS Office, 365, word, etc at ANY time, therefore eliminating the problem of older documents not being viewable unless they happen to have an old copy of Office, etc laying around or on an old PC.
THAT WAY, libreoffice, etc, would have a chance at compatibility and giving the user a BETTER experience than Office: WAY too much time is spent trying to keep libreoffice compatible with MS office.
Push for ANY DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME.
We need politicians that are SMART and not in the pockets of big business... until we have that, there is almost no chance.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 5, Interesting) by bzipitidoo on Sunday July 29 2018, @12:44AM (6 children)
What I suspect is that the gp is FUD and propaganda written by M$ shills, and lots of people here fell for it. A key phrase I've often seen from M$ shills is "they just want to get shit done", as if it's a given that LibreOffice can't possibly match M$ Office on that squishy measure. They even cunningly concede that Linux beats Windows in the server room, making all their sly innuendos favoring M$ Office over LibreOffice sound more legit.
When it comes to compatibility and open and standard file formats, and assurance that work done decades ago can still be read without having to dig out an ancient copy of M$ Office including an equally ancient version of Windows that it will run on, plus either matching ancient hardware or an emulator, LibreOffice beats the stuffings out of M$ Office.
If the gp was indeed written by M$ shills, then SoylentNews may take it as a mark of progress, of sorts, that the shills think this news site is worth the effort. Congratulations, I guess?
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Sunday July 29 2018, @02:00AM (5 children)
Who exactly are you calling a "shill"? I'm GP here relative to your post, and I argued strongly in favor of open source.
And no, I sincerely doubt there are "shills" here. Believe it or not, some people actually like Microsoft or prefer Office. For all sorts of reasons. It's only in very unusual enclaves like this site that you don't tend to find large numbers of people saying "Office just works for my needs," etc.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Sunday July 29 2018, @08:10AM (2 children)
Ah, sorry, meant the ggp-- the AC post with "get shit done" in it.
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Sunday July 29 2018, @05:34PM (1 child)
No prob. I was just confused because I really didn't read the GGP post you were referring to as particularly pro-MS. It was just an analysis of why MS is dominant, not saying it was better. (My take anyway.)
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Monday July 30 2018, @12:25AM
Yes, it's a very cunning bit of propaganda that on the surface and with a quick read doesn't seem all that pro-M$. Take a closer look though.
This one is a gem: "Could they use a open source version of it like calc? Sure. Right up until it does not work with their spreadsheet, or becomes a pain in the ass to use. Then it is 'screw this' give me excel." Nice implication there that calc has problems that are so severe it can't be fixed or worked with but must be abandoned-- it's a great example of M$ FUD-- while Excel just works and is easy to use, and doesn't have plenty of problems of its own.
And then there is this one: "Free does not cut it. Better does". Free and better can't possibly apply to the same thing? They're subtly playing the readers, suckering them into feeling that "you get what you pay for" is true.
Note also that despite being an AC, it was modded up to a 4. I certainly would expect shills to have sock puppet accounts handy for some fake modding.
Oh, and you doubt that shills would try astroturfing on SoylentNews? That the community here is too knowledgeable to be fooled? They're not gunning for the members, though if any regulars fall for it, they won't feel like that's a waste. They're really trying to sway less knowledgeable, less tech oriented people, either those who visit occasionally and never post but just lurk, or those who might stumble upon this discussion, perhaps through a search.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 29 2018, @03:51PM (1 child)
I wouldnt doubt there are are shills if i were you. Massive corporations can EASILY afford some schmuck who goes around shit posting in their favor. There are businesses built on managing just such "grass roots" PR. If i was MS i would 100% be doing so.
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Sunday July 29 2018, @05:31PM
Here?? You'd be wasting your time paying someone to shill HERE?? For heaven's sake, why? The vast majority of users here seem pro-open source and anti-MS. You're not going to g to convince anyone here. The best you can do is troll.
Trolls here, yes. Obviously. Shills for MS? Highly doubt it.