Another Great NY Times Arictle On Ubuntu

[jsmidt]

The New York Times has another great story on Ubuntu. Basically, France has learned they like Ubuntu, and want to influence the rest of the governments in Europe to likewise adopt it. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/french-lawmakers-hope-to-inspire-linux-revolution/

Please Digg. (http://digg.com/linux_unix/NYTimes_French_Lawmakers_Hope_to_Inspire_Linux_Rev olution)

[gletob]

I digg it!

[Islington]

http://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/7ritk/french_lawmakers_the_linux_revolution/

reddited

[Ancalagon82]

According to Mr. Salles, a survey polling members of the French Assembly found that 80 percent of the members were happy with the new software, which included new e-mail and office applications, while 14 percent felt Windows should return.

And 6% couldn't get Evolution to work properly and so never responded.






I KID, I KID!

Good article. I would think Ubuntu is most suited to such situations.

[jsmidt]

And 6% couldn't get Evolution to work properly and so never responded.

That is hilarious!

[jrusso2]

The French legislature needs to learn from ours. The internet is a series of tubes not a dump truck.

[earthpigg]

ummmm link? ;)

[cardinals_fan]

ummmm link? ;)
If you're responding to jrusso2, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_of_tubes#Partial_text_of_Stevens.27s_commen ts

[kk0sse54]

Personally I hope the Swedish government never adopts Ubuntu but instead has some national pride and uses one of our own distros, such as CRUX! :D

[smartboyathome]

France should not evangelize Linux. They are acting like most new Linux recruits that way. Joking. ;)

It is good to see governments enjoying their new OS. Perhaps the whole EU will be next to go to Ubuntu? :)

[bigbrovar]

And 6% couldn't get Evolution to work properly and so never responded.






I KID, I KID!

Good article. I would think Ubuntu is most suited to such situations.

Good thing u cleared that up cus i was just about to take out my flame gun.. oh well i guess i will save that for another day.

[gormac]

Although good, it's rather old news as the switch happened in 2007:
http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814


And 6% couldn't get Evolution to work properly and so never responded.

'Evolution' is likely 'Kontact', since they switched to Kubuntu ;)

[Seren]

There is another reason deep down that is not stated in the article.

If you are using closed source software, it is harder to tell if there is no backend somewhere allowing to read or take control. Members of parliaments are probably dealing with sensitive issue sometimes regarding Defence, etc...

I am a bit on the paranoid side here, but I think it plays a role as well.

[jomiolto]

In addition, there’s a rising notion that backing Linux could lead to more local jobs, because local companies can try to disrupt the market by undercutting Microsoft on price and offering services to install and manage Linux for businesses.

A very good point, IMO.


“If we try to play by the same rules as the U.S. companies, we will not be able to win a bright future. We have to change the rules.”

I wonder what he is referring to with that? Does "the same rules as the U.S. companies" refer to closed source or to the business practices used by corporations (such as EEE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish))?


“At the end of the day, Microsoft does not pay taxes in France,” he said. “They pay the lower taxes through Microsoft Ireland.”

I must confess that I wouldn't be terribly upset if such schemes to avoid taxes would bite the businesses in the, erm, ankle :P

[jsmidt]

I must confess that I wouldn't be terribly upset if such schemes to avoid taxes would bite the businesses in the, erm, ankle :P

I think it would be a good move for all governments for several reasons.