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Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

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Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#61
post #51

As a Swiss, I'm happy they finally try it. It's only around 5% of all government machines, but at least it's a start and I wish them all the best! We have to get independent asap from the US, they never were our (or any other countries) "friends" and most likely never will be. OSS ftw!

[flagged]

We were neutral, but it's always funny how many US-guys always bring up WW2. That was maybe the last time, the US did anything "good" for the world. But yeah, I think it's useless to argue with you.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#63

When it finally is the year of the linux desktop, what are we going to do about malware on linux?

I'm not sure neither Microsoft, Apple, LG nor Sony is interested in developing software nor drivers for Linux so I think we're pretty safe on that front.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#64

The real risk to MS here is when people take the plunge and see how much nicer a (well supported, well put together) Linux distro is, compared to Windows etc! Will they want to buy their next laptop at home with MSFT installed? Plus, if countries moving off Microsoft put a fraction of the savings into libre office product development, it might get an even more lopsided comparison!

These things swing back and forth. Look up LiMux. Things don't just go in one direction.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to contact Media Markt, FNAC, Corte Ingles and all the other stores to tell them apparently they have 0 customers yet they pay for rent, salaries and everything else even though no one goes there anymore.

Add CoolBlue (Netherlands) to that list. Initially a post order-only for consumer electronics, but added bricks & mortar stores because many customers (of all ages, btw) prefer IRL service, viewing and touching actual hardware.

> prefer IRL service, viewing and touching actual hardware.

That did Fry's in, didn't it? People coming in viewing, touching hardware in store and then buy it on-line (elsewhere) so that they could save 2.5%. Or worse, buying it in store and returning it two weeks later when they found a better deal or didn't need it anymore.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#66
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

We were neutral, but it's always funny how many US-guys always bring up WW2. That was maybe the last time, the US did anything "good" for the world. But yeah, I think it's useless to argue with you.

WW2 was long enough ago that no one you end up talking about it actually experienced it themselves, but it's recent enough that people who felt their country did "Good", can still ride that high wave without being pulled down by everything that came after.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#67

The real risk to MS here is when people take the plunge and see how much nicer a (well supported, well put together) Linux distro is, compared to Windows etc! Will they want to buy their next laptop at home with MSFT installed? Plus, if countries moving off Microsoft put a fraction of the savings into libre office product development, it might get an even more lopsided comparison!

Lifelong Linux/Unix user here, I love the widespread adoption of Linux. But comments like this one makes me think people don't realize what a MacGyvere'd together hack job a Linux distro truly is. The idea on paper is that a company like Microsoft can offer a more consistent and stable experience, but apparently they're even failing at that these days. But to look at a Linux distro as an alternative to consistency an…

Windows and a Linux distro are not comparable in the extent of the software that they include/provide.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lifelong Linux/Unix user here, I love the widespread adoption of Linux. But comments like this one makes me think people don't realize what a MacGyvere'd together hack job a Linux distro truly is. The idea on paper is that a company like Microsoft can offer a more consistent and stable experience, but apparently they're even failing at that these days. But to look at a Linux distro as an alternative to consistency an…

I haven’t used desktop Linux in ages, but I’m a Linux server user as I think maybe everyone here. Is the solution to desktop that some well funded company just needs to fork Debian, build the common application deites like word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, messaging apps, etc, and then build a proper App Store? Or is the underlying system still bad, as in drivers, compatibilities, audio and video codecs, n…

Which is basically what Google did with ChromeOS and Android, except that they have little to nothing to do with GNU/Linux experience.

Rather a Java/Kotlin/C/C++ userspace with the Linux kernel as implementation detail, or Web/WebAssembly, equally with Linux kernel as implementation detail (Crostini runs in a VM similar to WSL, and lacks several features).

I bet Googlebooks might achieve more sales on regular consumer shops than any proper GNU/Linux distro, and it is basically Android on laptops as per what we know about them.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lifelong Linux/Unix user here, I love the widespread adoption of Linux. But comments like this one makes me think people don't realize what a MacGyvere'd together hack job a Linux distro truly is. The idea on paper is that a company like Microsoft can offer a more consistent and stable experience, but apparently they're even failing at that these days. But to look at a Linux distro as an alternative to consistency an…

I haven’t used desktop Linux in ages, but I’m a Linux server user as I think maybe everyone here. Is the solution to desktop that some well funded company just needs to fork Debian, build the common application deites like word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, messaging apps, etc, and then build a proper App Store? Or is the underlying system still bad, as in drivers, compatibilities, audio and video codecs, n…

That well funded company already happened 20 years ago. Canonical. Their distribution is called Ubuntu, you might have heard of it.

Re: Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lifelong Linux/Unix user here, I love the widespread adoption of Linux. But comments like this one makes me think people don't realize what a MacGyvere'd together hack job a Linux distro truly is. The idea on paper is that a company like Microsoft can offer a more consistent and stable experience, but apparently they're even failing at that these days. But to look at a Linux distro as an alternative to consistency an…

Id happily pay for a polished, commercial Linux distro, and I’d imagine governments will do too - either outsourced or with an internal team of civil servant sysadmins.

Usually they pay for SuSE or Red Hat Enterprise, with selected hardware providers, not something regular consumers get.
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