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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: 2) by bobthecimmerian on Sunday July 29 2018, @03:10PM
I've never had a problem with systemd, I've been using it without headaches for years on personal Linux desktops and hundreds of work servers. But I was upset by the changes in GNOME 3, and Ubuntu's Unity desktop so I understand your general class of frustration. (I find Unity and GNOME 3 acceptable now... after years of adjustments that came because of user screams of anguish and jumps to other desktops.)
I think the long term solution to these kinds of problems is to try to get as many people as possible using open source. Maybe 0.0001% to 0.1% of users will become contributors, and if we have 3 billion users then that's enough contributors that any project anyone could possibly care about will have a ton of supporters. Then Linux can have fifty well-engineered, actively maintained init systems and desktop environments and we can all choose awesome things without being forced to go with a handful of defaults or write our own.