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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

#111

Post by Incipient »

Having a core system be entirely dependent on a foreign entity seems silly when there is a very viable alternative (which also saves a lot on licensing). I say VIABLE not equivalent. Linux is a lot rougher, and the change management process will be brutal. Retooling an entire department/etc to use whatever Linux has instead of entra/intune for device management will also be complex/incomplete/a learning curve.

TLDR: any govt would be crazy not to at least trial it, and see if it works.

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

#112

Post by Derbasti »

Moldoteck wrote: post #23
rich_sasha wrote: post #11

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!

Tbh the only reason I can't put an ubuntu for my parents/grandparents is Microsoft office. Libre is generally ok, but they deal with lots of documents from different ppl/orgs that just need to have similar rendering. Windows is so bloated it's insane

Office in the browser works really well, in my experience.

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

#113

Post by noja »

philipallstar wrote: post #97
Atariman wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> 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. This is a completely mad assessment. Haven't you noticed the massive issues with scientific, health, and social funding globally now the US taxpayer has stopped bankrolling it?

Bankrolling is an editorial word that implies almost a one way benefit.

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

#114

Post by sylware »

They have to keep in mind: it will be more expensive (significantly, and in competent people, not only $$$) as you cannot beat big tech with their thousands of billions of $ and the fact they are scaled on a worldwide scope. And with a long term perspective, it is going to be even harder and more 'expensive': being independent and small has a price.

Just do not go on the ground of their "complexity", if you do, you are done for, going to be hell (specs subset only of file formats/protocols, and/or very simple alternative file formats/protocols, think docx vs utf8 text file).

And you better work on those technical regulations, and it is hard since it must not imped real and pertinent "progress".

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

#115

Post by smitty1e »

mrits wrote: post #51
Atariman wrote: post #41

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]

The argument is much cleaner if immutable past actions remain un-weaponized.

If somebody wants to tap me for reparations over chattel slavery in the US, and all I can say is that my in-country ancestors fought for the Union.

Which, along with $5, will get you a cup of coffee down' the beanery.

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

#116

Post by 0xDEAFBEAD »

vrganj wrote: post #103
0xDEAFBEAD wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Difficult to defend America as reality-based when it's going around renaming bodies of water that do not belong to it." I didn't claim that Trump was reality-based. "Also I'm not sure people understand what Swiss (or for that matter Irish) neutrality means." It's a moral facade that allows them to dodge responsibility. The US has given far more than Switzerland, and also gets blamed far more, for not giving yet more…

With great power comes great responsibility, it's not that complicated a concept. Switzerland doesn't have any aspirations to be the global hegemon, so they don't get graded on the global hegemon scale.

Another saying is: "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

The US sent billions to Ukraine, and what did we get in return? Europeans telling us that "the last time the US did anything good for the world was WW2".

It's not about hegemons vs non-hegemons either. China sends war supplies to Russia and Europe barely complains.

How about this: Consider our loss of support for Ukraine as an abandonment of aspirations of hegemony in Eastern Europe. Bingo, now we no longer have "great power" in that region, nor "great responsibility". Ukraine is your problem now.

Ultimately, you're just playing language games. There's no reason a Swiss taxpayer should be less responsible than an American taxpayer. This is all just anti-Americanism.

People like to scapegoat the US whenever they're dissatisfied regarding anything, virtually anywhere around the world. There's frequently a creative way to blame the US. And because people are impossible to please, and they are always dissatisfied, the US is always blamed. I'm sick of it.

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

#117

Post by ButlerianJihad »

sebmellen wrote: post #109
glimshe wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux is largely financed by American corporations. Without that, Linux wouldn't be anywhere near what it is today.

Linux is 100% created by an ethnically Swedish guy in Finland. Your point is?

fnord

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

#118

Post by maccard »

sebmellen wrote: post #109
glimshe wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux is largely financed by American corporations. Without that, Linux wouldn't be anywhere near what it is today.

Linux is 100% created by an ethnically Swedish guy in Finland. Your point is?

I’m a European who has contributed to the kernel (a single, pathetic patch but a patch nonetheless). That means at the very least it’s not 100% created by Linus

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

#119

Post by figassis »

teiferer wrote: post #69
figassis wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Yet my mom does not have a Ubuntu desktop. And if I set one up for her, I woudl have to split my time between my job and tech support for her. So well funded, but not sure they are the right company.

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

#120

Post by monssooon »

It is sad that EU and USA are falling away from eachother. IMO we should try and stick together in these times. No doubt the US has financed a lot of things for te entire world and no doubt the European countries have put in a lot of effort too.

I don't think we should argue over it.

We have issues with privacy rights, elder burden, geopolitical turmoil, growing debt burden, environment and so on in all places we need to look forward and stick together...

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