| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ealing Council Web Site Goes Kaput | |
| Posted by: | Chris Bell | |
| Date/Time: | 04/09/09 22:44:00 |
| The relative costs of running the two are generally as stated because once working they are so much more reliable and do not need continuous attention in situ. Most administration can be done from a comfortable seat almost anywhere, often using no more than a palm keyboard, if not done automatically. Administration is generally logical and not too difficult, although there will be some effort required by existing Microsoft Only administration staff. Microsoft are happy to make a huge loss supporting highly visible organizations and schools because they gain so much from the publicity. There is no charge, and no PR budget, with Free Open Source Software, much of it written by Universities and large organizations and made available to the community. Some is also included complete with the relevant free licenses within Microsoft products. I have spent several years trying to persuade Ealing to help organize a series of lectures for new users, we had a qualified Microsoft lecturer ready to provide a series of talks and comparisons, but he recently gave up waiting and left for New Zealand. I have also tried to organize a practical Community Club where new users could learn without fear of breaking something important, and have a stack of IBM servers and a CISCO router donated for the purpose by Imperial College, yet it took well over a year to convince Ealing Adult Learning that we were not talking about playing computer games. You mention netbooks, but do you mean the tiny palm size notebooks? The ones I have seen have been designed for schoolkids and have very few resources. Standard computer and laptop manufacturers can churn out very cheap identical standard boxes because they are charged very little for bulk OEM licenses without the full software kit because M$ make more money later once users are hooked in. Many people have tried to purchase the hardware without the M$ Tax, but are either charged more or refused completely. Most people either wipe the drive and re-install or build their own. I know many professionals and shop owners who use Free Open Source Software to rescue customer files, repair and then test the faulty equipment, and say that M$ is not good but they can not spare the time to show their customers the alternatives. For most customers it is just Fear Uncertainty Doubt Otherwise known as FUD. |