Re: SQL Server Worm devastates Microsoft Corporate networks!

Simon Cooke wrote:

> Bottom line, Linux is a minority OS whose userbase pales in comparison
> to that of Windows.

<snipped>

No one is likely to argue as it is a statement of fact. However, it will be equally stupid to ignore the Linux and OpenSource trend.

Down here (in South Africa), our government has decided to go OpenSource...

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(source : http://allafrica.com/stories/200301160540.html)
Government Looks to Slash Software Costs By Using Open Source
Business Day (Johannesburg)

January 16, 2003
Lesley Stones, Information Technology Editor
Johannesburg

Government departments are to be encouraged to stop using expensive 
proprietary software and instead use free, opensource software in a bid to 
save millions of rands a year.

By starting the process of switching from brand-name products to open-source 
software, government had already slashed its bills dramatically, Mojalefa 
Moseki, chief information office with the State Information Technology 
Agency (Sita), said yesterday.

But the savings achieved so far could be minuscule compared with what could 
be saved through a concerted campaign being planned to actively promote the 
alternative programs.

The repercussions for software companies will be enormous as government is 
SA's largest spender on IT. Its budget this year is almost R10,2bn and a 
sizeable chunk will be spent on software for its 390000 PCs.

The drive to wean users off proprietary packages gained momentum last year 
when Sita was almost bankrupted by a R485m bill from Microsoft for 100000 
three-year licences for operating systems, desktop suites and internet 
technologies.

Open-source software is freely available for use and its underlying code can 
be modified. Proprietary software is owned by the developer, so clients pay 
to use it and cannot modify it to suit their needs.

Government already uses open-source to run some internet applications, 
anti-virus protection and messaging services. "Open-source software is as 
good if not better than commercially available software. In many cases, it 
is more stable and more reliable," Moseki said.

Sita's campaign is backed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial 
Research (CSIR), the departments of arts and culture; communications; and 
public service and the Centre for Public Service Innovation.

The commitment to free software did not mean government was campaigning 
against proprietary offerings, said CSIR CEO Sibusiso Sibisi. "In some 
cases proprietary software may be preferred and in other cases open 
source," he said.

Microsoft SA's country manager, Gordon Fraser, could not be reached for 
comment on the new policy, nor how much Microsoft stands to lose.
--

Interesting times. For Microsoft. In the Chinese curse kind of way.


--
Billy