Timothy Bolz wrote:
> Check out todays Wednesday March 26th, 2003 http://linuxtoday.com . It says
> a new bill will a formal stance for open source software. Go Oregon, Be
> your independent self. I think there will be a lot of MS lobbying going
> on. Let your representatives know how you feel. It would be very nice if
> Oregon become the first MS free state.
Two comments.
1. The bill doesn't force anyone in Oregon to use open source. It
does require state agencies to explain why open source solutions
are inadequate before implementing new systems using proprietary
software. Having been involved in the procurement process, I know
this kind of thing is really easy to end run when you really don't
want to do the suggested thing. "XYZ project requires desktop
technology with a talking paperclip and blue screens of postmortem
diagnostic information..." OTOH, it forces system integrators and
designers to be aware that open source exists and to survey the
open source systems available before implementing new systems.
That's important for the next few years until open source reaches
universal awareness and becomes the norm.
2. Ken sent out a call for support a couple of months ago. Ed
forwarded it to EUGLUG at the time, but in case you missed it, here
it is again. I know there are people on this list who would
be excellent at the legislative hearings.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 15:45:30 -0800
From: Ken Barber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Lane Open Source Discussion list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Tech Lunch Discussion Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: Cooper Stevenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [laneopensource] Open Source in state government?
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I have just been informed by an Open-Source-friendly legislator that there
MIGHT be a committee hearing coming up at the state legislature that will
affect the State of Oregon's ability to deploy Open-Source software.
We are looking for credible people who can go to Salem on fairly short notice
to give testimony about how much money they have saved their organization(s)
by switching to Open Source. Since Microsoft's newest FUD is along the lines
of "Open Source is more expensive to administer", we're going to be
especially interested in hearing from people who found Open Source products
less costly (presumably in terms of employee time) to administer and maintain
than what the State is currently using (mostly Windows NT/2000 with some XP).
But anyone who can show that they saved money will be welcome.
If you are able and willing to help with this effort, please contact me, Ken
Barber, at a special email address I've set up for this effort:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
This email address SHOULD become functional sometime late Monday or early
Tuesday Feb. 3-4; if it doesn't work then please email me at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please feel free to forward this to any Oregon-centric LUG or other
open-source lists that you might be on. Please do NOT post it to Slashdot or
any of the national/international open-source lists.
Thanks,
Ken Barber
- --
"The big innovation of [Windows] XP is that it has a back door that sucks out
all your proprietary information and presents it to Microsoft to sell it back
to you or any retailer. That's the big innovation in XP - a back door. By
the way, it still runs all your favorite viruses."
-- Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems
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--
Bob Miller K<bob>
kbobsoft software consulting
http://kbobsoft.com [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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