posted 08-30- 03:11 PM               

I think personally that its a great idea. Why should we as the tax payer let our goverments BUY software when in some cases they can use perfectly good FREE software?

From what I have heard, star office is great and its free for linux which also happens to be free, BONUS

Governments push open-source software

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6996393.html?tag=tp_pr

"A recent global wave of legislation is compelling government agencies, and in some cases government-owned companies, to use open-source or free software unless proprietary software is the only feasible option."

Ok sorry, I didn't want to bring this up but can you imagine how PISSED bill is about this? Could you imagine how pissed he would be if the US passed a law like this? LOL man that would be funny.

Please don't turn this into a microsoft thread.

posted 08-30- 03:27 PM               

Personally I don't think the governments should be required to use free software, because it may simply not be the best for every particular task. Use the best, if it's free, fine. Why save taxpayer's money on buying software if the training costs are 30% higher.

Now, I think interoperability shoud be mandatory and enforced by law. That is different.

With open file formats (such as XML etc), you can safely use the best software even if it's expensive. If the software company no longer supports the product, or the upgrades are getting too expensive, you can pay someone else to write compatible software.

posted 08-30- 03:38 PM            

The same goes for large companies with big IT departments. How much money does Goldman Sachs spend on MS licenses?

posted 08-30- 03:58 PM               

"use open-source or free software unless proprietary software is the only feasible option."

That would cover it. That means to me use free if you can.

It does not say, Use ONLY Free.

Even if the training cost is higher (and I don't see any reason why it would be higher with free software) then that training cost is the cost of using the software. I still don't think it would add up to as much as buying every person in the goverment that uses a computer a copy of Windows XP and office XP and then keeping those products up to spec.

Any time a new product comes out people need to be trained, free or not, I say train them how to use the free one.

Another bonus. If that person wants to work at home on his spare time he can use the free software at home, instead of paying for another copy of the software he uses at work, or prirating it.

Lothar brings up another good point. How much does the US goverment spend on licences for windows?

And one more in the article that I thought was REALLY good.

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"Public administrations of the state often use software which they cannot access the source code; this situation makes it impossible to fix bugs that the software publisher refuses to fix or to check that there is no security trap in strategic software," the preamble continues. "Public administrations sometimes use, without even being aware of it, software which communicates sensitive private information to foreign companies or organizations."
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That to me is a perfect example of opensource in action, the person using it can fix it and adapt and change it.

posted 08-30- 05:13 PM               

Spanky:

quote:

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Even if the training cost is higher (and I don't see any reason why it would be higher with free software)

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posted 08-30- 06:06 PM               

Patchy, if people find the UI crappy at least they can change it.

Maybe that woudl be a case for using software that is purchased, but don't tell me they should buy photoshop when paint shop pro does the same job cheaper, and uses photoshop plugins.

posted 08-30- 06:29 PM               

Here rules tend to increase the costs rather then reduce them. The easiest example is forcing to buy localy made products. First move will be a major increase in price of the local goods, as high as it will not change the rule ... and why care if it does the job they have no choice.

I am still looking for a way to bring intelligence to government...