[NTLUG:Discuss] Any open source success stories?

[kbrannen@gte.net]

Lance Simmons wrote:
> 
...
> Our networks have been becoming more and more NT based over the
> past few years.
> 
> >
> > I think you may get a pressure, if you do not sign up for MS deal. and/or if
> > you switch/migrate a new system, you will get a lot complian in the
> > beginning.
> 
> I guess the problem is that I don't think the network and
> support people are inclined toward free software. I'm a faculty
> member (philosophy), and would like to nudge them in that
> direciton, and to do that I need good ammunition.

I would think security (and stability) would be an issue to those folks.  Most
college people that I've met who have any computer savvy at all are reasonably
adventurous, and willing to "dig" into the computer.  Are they ready for
that?  Are they ready for machines going down because some student brought a
virus in, and have it spread thru the entire campus?  (it happens *MUCH* more
in the Windows world--I've never had that problem in the Linux world)  Are
they ready for a student to bring a Windows server down because s/he tries out
some new program?  (some of the security testing software I've seen are very
explicit in their warning not to run them against NT servers as those servers
are known to BSOD if you run the software against them)  In all the above,
I've not even considered "malicious intent", which should be an issue too.

I realize those things don't seem like issues when you're considering
``MS''-Office, but when you want that software, you're specifying an
environment; and you need to consider the big picture and what else that
software brings with it.

Instead, specify MS-office *functionality*; Star-Office should met that
requirement.

> 
> > the best way is you may start try use some free software in the
> > beginning in a small scale.
> > Cann't you have other options and microsoft pagkage in your proposal.?

Yes!  Starting on a small scale and then building on that success (and lessons
learned) would be an excellent way to start.

HTH,
Kevin