Since everyone has chimed in already. There are several reasons why
companies have standardized on M$$$Office. First, it provides a
standard of document interchange, or let's say an illusion of one. The
thinking is that if everyone in the company uses Word, then they can
read and print everyone else's documents. (Of course this is not entirely
true since there is incompatibilities between word). This is the thought of
management.
Now we get the IT weenies. They don't want to have to support more
platforms than they need to, so you get assinine directives like all email
must use Microsoft Virus exchange (aka Microsoft Outlook (family)).
They only want NT on the desktops because they only need to have the
expertise with NT. They use MS Exchange because they can exercise
more control.
Some of the reasons are very valid. For most employees, such as
secretaries, managers, financial analysts, etc. one platform works. Even
when you have people with much computer technical knowledge, you
don't want them messing with their computers when they should be
doing work. Then you have the engineering people. Those who must use
Linux, Unix or another OS. Management dictates that one must use NT
and Outlook, so you must have a couple of systems on your desk.
Also, the role of the IT people is that they consider themselves
custodians of the corporate data. They (correctly) don't trust individual
departments to perform reliable backups, etc.
I think with the growth of Linux there has also been much more
awareness among both the IT and the management communities. While
one never knows if MS Office will ever get ported, other proprietary
programs such as Quicken, Qhuick Books, and others, will if those
companies see a large enough market. If not there will be viable
alternatives.
Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Associate Director
Boston Linux and Unix user group
http://www.blu.org
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