French MPs dump Windows for Linux

[MicroFox]

http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,61970345,00.htm



After the gendarmes and the Ministry of Culture, it's the French MPs' turn
to switch to open source. From June 2007, PCs in French deputes' offices
will be equipped with a Linux operating system and open source productivity
software.
The project, backed by MPs Richard Cazenav and Bernard Carayon of the UMP
party, will see 1,154 French parliamentary workstations running on an open
source OS, with OpenOffice.org, Firefox and an open source email client.


A spokesperson for the parliament's administration said a decision as to the
choice of OS and email client hasn't yet been taken. Currently, some of the
parliament's servers have been running Linux, with Apache web servers and
the Mambo content management system.
The project was the subject of a study by Atos Origin, whose conclusions
convinced the French parliament, the Assemblee Nationale. "The study showed
that open source software will from now on offer functionality adapted to
the needs of MPs, and will allow us to make substantial savings despite the
associated migration and training costs," the parliament said.
Open source supporters have welcomed the decision. Benoit Sibaud, president
of the Association for the research into and promotion of open source
computing, said the decision to migrate to open source will allow the
Assemblee Nationale to have greater control over its IT, without depending
on any one vendor, and to realize a better use of public money.
This will be the first case of a French public institution switching its PCs
onto a Linux operating system. Previous open source initiatives concerned
servers, as was the case with the Minstry of Agriculture, or OpenOffice and
Firefox, which were brought into use by France's gendarmerie.

 

[Mike]

The project, backed by MPs Richard Cazenav and Bernard Carayon of the UMP
party, will see 1,154 French parliamentary workstations running on an open
source OS, with OpenOffice.org, Firefox and an open source email client.

Wow - 1154 machines! Quite a coup for Linux!

Let's face it, the French aren't terribly bright. Half will never be
converted, and the others will come screaming back to Windows within 2
years.

Mike

 

[Gary]

I think that just doubled the desktop install base for linux.

 

[John Barnes]

But not it's usage since they never work.

I think that just doubled the desktop install base for linux.

 

[Mike]

But not it's usage since they never work.

BaDaBing!

Mike

 

[Guest]

Who cares? No one likes the French. Seriously though....watch the chaos
ensue in France. Linux is over-rated its a pain in the rear end to run not to
mention the expense it will take to teach everyone to use it!

 

[MicroFox]

My prediction is that Vista will destroy Microsoft, and that a new user
friendly version of
Linux will emerge that will gradually replace windows.

This transformation will take about 5 years. 2007 - 2012

I am very sure about this. You will see... and after 5 years it will be you
laughing
at the memory that once you used windows and you thought that was cool,
or you will be clinging on your vista machine still... an endangered
species.

 

[Gary]

I have been hearing the same old story for years about Linux.
Maybe you should give it more like 20 years or more.

 

[Mike]

My prediction is that Vista will destroy Microsoft, and that a new user
friendly version of
Linux will emerge that will gradually replace windows.

You wish. "User friendly Linux" is an oxymoron.

This transformation will take about 5 years. 2007 - 2012

Only in your dreams.

Every year since 2001 has been "the year of LOTD". Now it's "somewhere
between now and 2012". Uh huh, whatever.

I am very sure about this. You will see... and after 5 years it will be
you
laughing
at the memory that once you used windows and you thought that was cool,
or you will be clinging on your vista machine still... an endangered
species.

It's not a question of "what's cool and what isn't cool". It never has
been. It's a question of software. Until all of the software -
particularly business software - gets ported there is no reason to run
Linux.

People don't run an OS to "be cool", or as an end to itself. It's to run
apps. Linux hasn't got any.

Besides, Linux is the opposite of cool. If you feel the need to "be cool",
go get a Mac and "be cool".

Mike

 

[xfile]

It's not a question of "what's cool and what isn't cool". It never has

been. It's a question of software. Until all of the software -
particularly business software - gets ported there is no reason to run
Linux.

Yes, and also for hardware and development tools.

MS uses 5 major parts to fortify and synergize its market stands, OS,
Office, development tools, servers, and misc (toys, hardware, etc.).

Again, it is a hopeless wish but the only way for competing against it is
breaking it up to 4 (or 5) different companies (something DOJ has been
trying with little success) so each component cannot utilize (or take
advantages of) works from other divisions (or companies).

And it will take the whole Open Source community to realize and recognize
this before they can come up any meaningful strategy for competing against
this giant. One by one, they are simply not even close to what this company
has.

 

[xfile]

For those who may not realize, US PC market has entered into the mature
stage since late 90's.

Translation: Most purchases will be replacement purchases and for the brand
new purchase, it will be very limited. The growth rate of the brand new
purchase will be no higher than the growth rate of the overall population
(which is very low) and will be affected by the macroeconomics status.

Foreign markets are much more important (for many many many products) than
you could possibly image.

This single incident by itself may not be important, but it has more
symbolic meaning than the copies of license used.

I too don't think Windows will soon be replaced (refer to my other post if
you care), but there is no doubt for many countries are trying to ban this
company and its products.

And if that's the case, MS cannot sustain its future growth or maintain its
current market power solely based on the domestic market.

Something you should think about it.

 

[Guest]

It will be interesting to see if this is actually implemented. It sounds like
a certain Eastern US State making the same announcement only to reverse it at
the eleventh hour (and possibly with large discounts from Microsoft).

If implemented, I would also be curious to find out how there
interoperability works out. Will they be able to exchange and use all file
formats or will they need to publish strict guidelines for document formats?
Will anyone in the Government be concerned with password exposure issues in
FireFox 2.0?

It is too bad the success stories aren't published as boldly as the
announcements of intent. You would think one report of a struggling company,
oh... like Ford, who did this and saved X dollars and Y jobs would start some
momentum.

 

[New bie]

Wow - 1154 machines! Quite a coup for Linux!

Let's face it, the French aren't terribly bright. > Mike

But they were bright enough to keep themselve out of Iraq mess inspite of
the pressure bought upon them to join.

 

[MicroFox]

shut up and see what I say unfold before your eyes

 

[MicroFox]

France is only a drop in the ocean..
china and india ARE the ocean...

If they adopt linux.. you start building the MS coffin

 

[MicroFox]

I am not a linux fanatic... I use windows.. but I dont like the tragectory
of the
vista era... however I know very well that linux can create all microsoft
compatible files

 

[xfile]

And Linux is still something from the US or the western society while MOST
people don't know is they are also developing their own OSes, applications,
and standards, so image what will be like if they have come up some
competitive products.

So many would stop laughing before long....

 

[Roy Coorne]

My prediction is that Vista will destroy Microsoft, and that a new user
friendly version of
Linux will emerge that will gradually replace windows.

....

Don't you think it's time to change your alias from MicroFox to MicroTux :-?

I have just installed Ubuntu 6.10 on a pc with Vista RC2 b. 5744 and
will try out both...

On Vista, I have installed MS Office XP.

Ubuntu comes along with OpenOffice...

On verra...

In any case, MS didn't make money with WinXP in the PR of China as
everybody uses the VLK from the Shanghai town administration - would you
suggest that MS will make money in China with Vista and its strict VL rules?

Roy

 

[Mike]

But they were bright enough to keep themselve out of Iraq mess inspite of
the pressure bought upon them to join.

Only because they had no white flags available - they used them all in WWII.

MIke

 

[Mike]

shut up and see what I say unfold before your eyes

Oooh, there's a convincing argument!

Linux is going nowhere, it has gone nowhere in the last 10 years, it still
is between 0% and 1% desktop share. It's time has passed.

Face it, if you want/need "easy to use Linux", get a Mac. Or do what I
did - install OS X on your PC!

Mike