[ubuntu-uk] local council

[alan c]

On 12/02/11 16:12, Alan Pope wrote:
> On 12 February 2011 16:06,<bodsda at googlemail.com>  wrote:
>>  Damn, if linux isn't for geeks, I'm gonna have to go Free-BSD
>
> Some people think Linux is for geeks and it should stay that way. I
> personally don't.
>
>>  At least the bbc are talking about it. I work for local government IT, but my bosses won't give FOSS the time of day

> Where I work at the moment (an ~$18Bn company) they use Linux
> underneath the entire software stack which powers the business.
> Thousands of users around the world use (admittedly proprietary
> solutions) sat on top of Linux. I would not be surprised that local
> government IT projects trail behind this! Sad though it might be.

I contacted my local Councillors, about using FOSS, fo rgood financial 
reasons....... and my heart sank when (she) innmmediately referred me 
to th eIT manager, her non elected subordinate on grounfds od 
ignorance. However, I was happily amazed to be invited  to a tour of 
the IT department and found that Bracknell use an overwhelming amount 
  of Suse Enterprise server, and are carefully aware of the non linux 
apps they still depend upon, and plan for a future with thin clients. 
I think they have been noted in the press as  doing well etc 
generally, but it does not hit local news, nor, apparently, the 
Councillors awareness.

Armed with my new knowledge I am recently in touch with my Councillor 
to help make them aware that there is no real reason why they need to 
stay with a paid-for OS on their corporate laptop. It may take a bit 
more time of course.
-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user