----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Maxwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Ham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 12:15 PM
Subject: RE: Backing talk with action? (was: Re: News from the Mouth front)
>
> Fact:
> http://sanjose.bcentral.com/sanjose/stories/2001/03/05/daily24.html
>
> please reconcile
>
Easy. Notice that story is about unauthorized software. Also involved
vendors other than MS. It says nothing about what it might have cost the
school district to obtain licenses for the products in the first instance.
It does not say what the unauthorized titles were. This was a relatively
isolated event for the purpose of publicity. The fact remains, and you can
verify it easily, that MS will provide software to schools at very low
prices. It is in their interest to get kids to use their products at
school. Just good business. To accomplish that, they make it as easy as
possible for schools to buy their product.
Frankly, cost of MS software is not the point of this discussion. A factor
for schools and nonprofits, but not the central issue. Cost advantages in
terms of software will not get you very far when trying to convince school
officials. Try it and see. I reported a response from one. I have heard
similar responses. In some settings software costs are an issue and will be
a point in Linux's favor. In some cases it is not a major factor.
While I am precluded from disclosing particulars, I know because I read the
proposed agreement that MS offered a large state non-profit all the software
it needed for it's operation for free. Yes. All software from desktop to
server to accomplish its mission including customized IE on CDs for its
members. I assume you see the MS business reason for doing this.
Ed Lawson
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