Linux in Government: Will Schwarzenegger Terminate Windows?: "Linux in Government: Will Schwarzenegger Terminate Windows?"
Four years ago, in my platform for Mayor, I pledged to make Pittsburgh an open-source leader. This plank is sure to surface in future campaigs as well. But now, the rest of the world has passed our ability to blaze new trails in these elements of technology. We can still lead, but perhaps not be the first. In 2000 and 2001 -- the concepts of open-source were original stump issues. In 2004 and 2005, others have worked on the issues and those efforts are sure to lend credit to the challenges at hand.
When we go to open source, we'll have better tools and save money. It isn't always as simple as the A-B-Cs. But, technology is something that can bring serious advantages to Pittsburgh's public landscape, if we have the leadership that gets it.
Not many political contributions are available from the poor children.. , but then one always has Microsoft.
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OPEN SOURCE PASSES HEALTH CHECK.
The first large-scale public sector defection from Microsoft desktop
software is underway with the deployment of the Java Desktop System
(JDS), a set of applications based on open source software, to 5,000 of
the estimated 800,000 terminals used by the UK's National Health
Service.
Following trials of the software earlier this year, the health service
"concluded that the Java Desktop System represents a viable desktop
alternative for certain types of user communities," a spokesperson said.
Although the health service declined to identify which user groups are
involved, it confirmed that the move is unlikely to be an isolated case.
"The National Programme for IT continues to view the use of open
source software and open systems architecture as a key way of
achieving best value and systems interoperability into the future," chief
technology officer Duncan McNeil said in a recent statement.
JDS, developed by Sun Microsystems, runs on the Linux operating
system and contains Star Office 7.0 for everyday applications such as
word processing; the 'GNOME' interface (http://www.gnome.org)
which has a similar feel to Windows; plus other open source
messaging, calendar and document handling facilities.
"This is clear confirmation of how appropriate JDS is for government
use," Richard Barrington, Sun's head of government affairs and public
policy, told E-Government Bulletin. According to Barrington, lower
cost is only one reason for the public sector to consider a move to a
mix of software suppliers. Interoperability is also a key factor, he said.
"We've had to work very hard to make our products access data stored
in old Microsoft formats for example. We know of some government
bodies that access this data using Star Office because Microsoft's new
products like XP can't do it," he said.
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