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<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Hi</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm looking for
suggestions about spreading the use of Ubuntu.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm very impressed
with Ubuntu and I would like to do my best to encourage the UK Voluntary Sector
to make more use of FOSS - and Ubuntu in particular.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>Trouble is, other
than fairly casual conversations, I'm not sure of the best way of doing
this.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>Has anybody got any
ideas?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>It seems to me that
the voluntary sector and FOSS are a perfect match. In fact I'd go as far as
saying that the voluntary sector could be a significant driving force in the
wider acceptance of FOSS.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>Unfortunately even
here Windows is ubiquitous - and even where organisations might be prepared to
switch to Linux there are problems with knowledge/skills (particularly with
regards to multi-platform networks and network admin/security issues) - but also
problems with the fact that a lot of 3rd party/custom/proprietry software being
used within these organisations only runs on Windows.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>Presumably the only
way to put pressure on these software developers is for more people to use Linux
- but we have a catch 22 since they (will say they) can't use Linux with
their existing software.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>The charity that I
work for has this problem - both our central database, and our websites
currently only run on MS SQL and use .Net. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984134112-10032006><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is there a simple
way of getting around this?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Adrian
Mitchell</FONT></FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>