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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

#261

Post by PenguinHacker »

ifdefdebug wrote: post #253
palata wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Well I think it's not ok without at least a fixed deadline for removal of MS365 I guess that when you "test" something, it means that you have not yet decided that you will completely migrate there?

That's the problem, nobody is going to test the new software unless they have to, it will sit unused until the end of the pilot period as long as the old software is available too. Those people are no cs nerds who like testing new software, they are office people and learning new tools is stressful for (most of) them. I have been there.

I worked in Switzerland for 5 years in the 1980’s before Windows when the IBM PC/AT’s I ordered ran DOS with my own menu software. (And my father who fought in WW2 asked “Didn’t the Swiss allow sealed troop trains through their country?”, but that’s not my topic.) Anyway, I once installed a new version of WordPerfect alongside the old version, guess which version was never used? And the poor secretary who accidentally ran the new version couldn’t work with her old files & went home crying for 3 days. I was blamed for not explaining things, but I was sure anyone could tell the difference between the old & new versions - no, they evidently could not.

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

#262

Post by dh2022 »

petesergeant wrote: post #108
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. As a non-Swiss, non-American, I can assure you you need to study both American and Swiss modern history. The Swiss were far, far too cozy with the Nazis, and the Americans have done a spectacular amount of good since WWII ended.

Could you share some examples of Swiss being cozy with the Nazis? Wikipedia seems to make the counter case [0]. Switzerland did trade energy with Nazis - but they were dependent on Germany for their coal needs. Switzerland also kept the gold Nazis stuffed in their country-but that is OK I think for a neutral country.

Switzerland let in their country (and thus saved the lives) of some Jewish people. They also hosted Allied airmen. They hosted the famous Lucy spy ring - which helped Russians incommensurably.

To me it seems the Swiss helped the Allies more than can be expected from a neutral country, not to mention they were completely surrounded by Axis powers.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_during_World_War_I...

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

#263

Post by dh2022 »

noname120 wrote: post #242
functionmouse wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, none of what you just said makes any practical sense.

Could you elaborate?

I think I can. In 2026 Excel is unusable for me (I cannot see the active cell at a glance, I cannot trace dependent cells to “debug” my formulas, I cannot save directly to my local hard disk with a keystroke combination- I have to click around to avoid OneDrive)

Outlook freezes all the time. And in the past year or so AI “helpers” became very intrusive and distracting.

Office 365 usually has an authentication snafu twice a year-those days are completely lost for me. But even in the days without outages Office 365 is glitching and requires multiple attempts to login.

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

#264

Post by chinathrow »

Atariman wrote: post #61
mrits wrote: 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.

Neutral and lucky. Others (e.g. Belgium) not so much.

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

#265

Post by SpacePortKnight »

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!

It's far easier to disable annoyance of windows than deal with linux for most people and especially for large organisations.

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

#266

Post by illiac786 »

8note wrote: post #250
unethical_ban wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

"never were" is something US diplomats have themselves said over time: the US has interests, not allies.

But doesn’t every country, every kingdom throughout human history?

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

#267

Post by illiac786 »

SpacePortKnight wrote: post #265
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!

It's far easier to disable annoyance of windows than deal with linux for most people and especially for large organisations.

Large organisation, hmmmkay, but for private persons, I disagree. Windows 11 is annoying as hell and removing the annoyances, while possible, is not easy for anyone not tech savvy.

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

#268

Post by NetMageSCW »

mordae wrote: post #216
bigDinosaur wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has been by far the largest funder of medical and other scientific research since WW2 which has benefited billions immensely.

Sure. Even more so the handful of patent holders in the US. Want to ignore those patents? Unless you have nukes you're not.

Do EU countries not have patents for what they research?

Are the people helped or cured less helped or cured because the developers retained rights?

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

#269

Post by NetMageSCW »

dh2022 wrote: post #263
noname120 wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate?

I think I can. In 2026 Excel is unusable for me (I cannot see the active cell at a glance, I cannot trace dependent cells to “debug” my formulas, I cannot save directly to my local hard disk with a keystroke combination- I have to click around to avoid OneDrive) Outlook freezes all the time. And in the past year or so AI “helpers” became very intrusive and distracting. Office 365 usually has an authentication snafu t…

Why are you logged into OneDrive if you don’t want to use it?

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

#270

Post by NetMageSCW »

kachnuv_ocasek wrote: post #57
INTPenis wrote: post #49

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 don't think you appreciate what a hack job Windows really is. It's just that it's quite visible in the Linux world, but more obscured in the case of proprietary software.

These days it is really visible in Windows 11 as well.
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