New Plymouth IT Decisions

[Jason Greenwood]

This really got my back up:
http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/NL/8BAB96573B859219CC256CD30001E98E

so I wrote them.

Who the hell do we have making these bloody decisions with PUBLIC monies??

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To Whom It May Concern,

As a proud New Zealand Citizen, I was greatly concerned when I read this article:
http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/NL/8BAB96573B859219CC256CD30001E98E

I was concerned for several reasons. As a user and proponent of Linux and Open Source Software, I was extremely dissapointed by your wholeasle support of Microsoft technology. I believe that Microsoft's embrace and extend (destroy) tactics have rendered many internet and document standards useless (I believe .net will prove no different). Their proven illegal and predatory monopoly tactics have stifled technology growth for many years. The world is wisening to Microsoft's methods and schemes. They are increasingly turning to Open Source Software as both and enterprise and personal solution as well as an answer to Microsoft products.

I am extremely dissapointed you have chosen to forge an alliance with an illegal foreign monopolist. I urge you to reconsider your position and urge you to re-examine your alliances with MS before it hurts your reputation. I firmly believe that Linux and OSS could provide the functionality you need at a greatly reduced cost over the Microsoft solution. In fact, we are setting up something similar for a school here in Christchurch. As stewards of public funds, I believe it is incumbent upon you to find the most cost effective solution possible, which through your use of Microsoft products, I believe you have not done. What is it that the MS solution provides that cannot be done with "free" software and local support?? Was Open Source Software even considered for the job?? I am curious. It certainly isn't the technology. Is it the support you think you'll get?? That argument doesn't hold water either since IBM supports Linux globally. Please reconsider your decision New Plymouth.

This email will surely fall on deaf ears but that is how it looks from the trenches.

Kind Regards,

Jason Greenwood