Re: [Fsfe-uk] Savage discounts from MS flush OSS desktop from Newham (the Reg)

[Alex Hudson]

On Fri, 2004-01-23 at 12:39, ian wrote:
> So investing a few million in a calendar server or whatever the system
> lacks is a "no brainer" as far as the business case for government is
> concerned. Even if it never got used, the effect of doing it would
> recoup the initial investment several times over by forcing M$ to reduce
> its license costs. Where is the leadership from the politicians in
> campaigning to get the best deal for the tax payer?

Well, it's not quite as cut-and-dried as that. Government will rarely
enter into competition with the private sector as readily as it used to;
certainly not in areas which have no particular public service.

The basic problem is the monopolisation of the market. Generally,
Governments will not tackle that issue by entering into competition
themselves; they will seek to make opportunities available for others to
do it. Personally, I think that's a fairly sound policy, solutions will
become available.

Possibly the most promising solution as far as Gnome is concerned is the
work on a free software connector for Evolution and OpenGroupware.org.
But I don't see Evo being available on W32 any time soon. 

Cheers,

Alex.