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Massachusetts Wants to Use Linux-Type Systems (AP)

The Miami Herald is carrying a AP story stating that the state of Massachusetts is adopting a policy of moving over to open systems. Quoting Eric Kriss, the state's Administration and Finance Secretary: "Kriss said the state's decision was driven by a desire to reduce licensing fees but also 'by a philosophy that what the state has is a public good and should be open to all.'"

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Massachusetts Wants to Use Linux-Type Systems (AP)

Posted Sep 26, 2003 15:07 UTC (Fri) by penguinista (guest, #308) [Link] (1 responses)

Here's what can happen to you if you are critical of Microsoft: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2328-2003Sep25.html

Doing things that Microsoft doesn't like

Posted Sep 26, 2003 16:17 UTC (Fri) by dwalters (guest, #4207) [Link]

This is pathetic. The poor guy gets fired by AtStake for expressing his legitimate views alongside those of several other corporate and academic security experts (of course, Microsoft is a customer of AtStake and has paid AtStake for software evaluation research in the past), and to top it all off, CIO magagize refuses to mail the report out because it's too hot (but of course Microsoft advertises extensively in CIO).

What's happening to journalism? It seems that the money of Big Business is perverting the dissemination of honest research.

You can bet your bottom dollar that Microsoft will be using their money and power to do everything they can to try and stop Massachusetts from moving to Linux.

Massachusetts Wants to Use Linux-Type Systems (AP)

Posted Sep 26, 2003 16:47 UTC (Fri) by dclayton (guest, #14075) [Link] (1 responses)

It is good to see that at least one state in the US is concerned enough for the public to use the best systems regardless of pressure applied by a convicted monopolist. Cost is certainly a major consideration but security is important as well and owning your own data is something nobody ever seems to mention. You never know what might happen when a monopolist has your data locked up in propritary formats and protocols.

Massachusetts Wants to Use Linux-Type Systems (AP)

Posted Sep 26, 2003 17:14 UTC (Fri) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link]

So if MS Windows was a better system, would be be encouraging them to use it?

I applaud their choice of a capable system that gives society and it's members freedom.

Ciaran O'Riordan

Massachusetts Wants to Use Linux-Type Systems (AP)

Posted Sep 26, 2003 18:02 UTC (Fri) by null (guest, #5786) [Link] (3 responses)

On a side note, @stake is located in Boston and I have lost almost all respect for them. That said, we'll see how this thing plays out. I've lived in Mass. all 21 years of my life and things rarely turn out as announced. While the state makes some nice points about openness, the real issue is $$. Mass. is in kind of a sorry state and those MS licenses are very expensive. With cuts to school budgets etc... this year one has to wonder if Microsoft is done lobbying here... I think when they see the press, they'll probably send Balmer over with clam chowder and lobster to get some support.

-sb

Cambridge, MA (MIT) - Birthplace of Open Source

Posted Sep 26, 2003 19:08 UTC (Fri) by lnxusr73 (guest, #15468) [Link] (2 responses)

It would be nice to see Massachusetts make this kind of move, after all they're home to such open source innovators as Richard Stallman the founder of GNU and friends.

Cambridge, MA (MIT) - Birthplace of Open Source

Posted Sep 26, 2003 20:30 UTC (Fri) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link] (1 responses)

"OpenSource" was born in Palo Atlo, California, Stallman and FSF do Free Software.

You acknowledge that he has been an innovator, but he would rightly take offense to you calling his work Open Source.

Open Source promotes the idea that software is developed better when the code is open. This is often true, but when a technicaly superior proprietary alternative comes along, people see no reason not to switch.

Free Software is about spreading freedom.

Ciaran O'Riordan

Cambridge, MA (MIT) - Birthplace of Open Source

Posted Sep 27, 2003 12:17 UTC (Sat) by zenaan (guest, #3778) [Link]

Ciaran, it's a pleasure to read your consistent responses.

Here's to Freedom!

Regards
Zen


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