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Cymbal Man Freq.
British agency tells schools to avoid Vista
By Richard Thurston, ZDNet (UK)
Published on ZDNet January 11, 2007, 8:12 AM PT
The British government's schools computer agency has warned that deploying Vista
carries too much risk and that its benefits are unclear.
The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency said Wednesday that
it "strongly recommends" schools do not deploy Microsoft's latest operating
system within the next 12 months.
In a further dig at Microsoft, the agency asserts that there are no "must-have"
features in Vista and that "technical, financial and organizational challenges
associated with early deployment currently make this (Vista) a high-risk
strategy."
Tom McMullan, a technical consultant at the agency, told ZDNet UK: "There is not
a case for schools to deploy it unless it is mission-critical stable." Speaking
at this week's BETT education trade show in London, McMullan added: "There are
lots of incremental improvements, but there are no must-haves that justify early
deployment."
The agency was similarly dismissive of Office 2007, which is being launched
alongside Vista. Although it acknowledged that there are many new features in
Office 2007, the agency said most of these were only useful in the private
sector.
Microsoft waved aside such caution.
Steve Beswick, Microsoft's director of education for the U.K., told ZDNet UK:
"Customers should evaluate Vista and test it and decide 'Is this good for
learning?' Roll-out shouldn't be stopped if it aids learning."
Earlier this month, the government agency renewed its Memorandum of
Understanding with Microsoft for another year. It gives schools discounts of 20
percent to 37 percent on the company's software products.
Richard Thurston of ZDNet UK reported from London.
By Richard Thurston, ZDNet (UK)
Published on ZDNet January 11, 2007, 8:12 AM PT
The British government's schools computer agency has warned that deploying Vista
carries too much risk and that its benefits are unclear.
The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency said Wednesday that
it "strongly recommends" schools do not deploy Microsoft's latest operating
system within the next 12 months.
In a further dig at Microsoft, the agency asserts that there are no "must-have"
features in Vista and that "technical, financial and organizational challenges
associated with early deployment currently make this (Vista) a high-risk
strategy."
Tom McMullan, a technical consultant at the agency, told ZDNet UK: "There is not
a case for schools to deploy it unless it is mission-critical stable." Speaking
at this week's BETT education trade show in London, McMullan added: "There are
lots of incremental improvements, but there are no must-haves that justify early
deployment."
The agency was similarly dismissive of Office 2007, which is being launched
alongside Vista. Although it acknowledged that there are many new features in
Office 2007, the agency said most of these were only useful in the private
sector.
Microsoft waved aside such caution.
Steve Beswick, Microsoft's director of education for the U.K., told ZDNet UK:
"Customers should evaluate Vista and test it and decide 'Is this good for
learning?' Roll-out shouldn't be stopped if it aids learning."
Earlier this month, the government agency renewed its Memorandum of
Understanding with Microsoft for another year. It gives schools discounts of 20
percent to 37 percent on the company's software products.
Richard Thurston of ZDNet UK reported from London.