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it's a bit more complicated than that
I can see where you're going with the argument but it's way more complicated than saying they didn't have money for windows or the TCO of linux is higher because they don't want to compare the two OS'.

First of all everyone acts like it's such a huge delay for a 'simple' migration... but not quite. Look at microsoft, they have the world's largest budget and they run behind years on their new OS cancelling every major new technology. The city of munich only has a fraction of the staff and resources of a company like microsoft. They want to get it done properly so people can't discredit the whole project on early bugs etc.

About the TCO, even specialists can't agree on the specific calculations for TCO's and most of the TCO comparisons (mostly sponsored by microsoft) have little scientifical value. What you do know is the nature of Open Source makes the market more competitive, inovative and transparant. In that view it is every software developper that can be hired to write software, instead of one monopolist. It's obvious that this means alot of employment and a very high cut in prices. I hope you don't think Ballmer cancels his vacation for nothing, they earn millions on government license fees.

So it is crucial for this project that it gets carried out well, so the switch to open source can has its full effect. If you would compare this project just on a TCO basis you would end up with a totally wrong picture or conclusion: that the initial migration is inferior to the current monopolist situation. This conclusion would leave practically every positive aspect of open source out of view and wouldn't even count the long term advantages.

The city of Munich is taking a lot of risk on this one, not because the migration is impossible, but financial stakes are high especially from the current supplier (microsoft) who will play it hard and if necessary even political (or isn't a meeting with the major political?). Just for that this project should get double credit.
Posted by: sjaaksken   Posted on: 09/25/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Wow, 100 PCs since 2003...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
Wrong...  techboy_z | 09/25/06
I think the term is...  techboy_z | 09/25/06
Not Willful  barstewards | 09/25/06
And y9ou think they walked away from a vested interest?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
i just wanted to say something immature  not of this world | 09/26/06
Zealot Fodder  nucrash | 09/25/06
What's your axe to grind here  voska | 09/25/06
None, just making the point...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
I don't think it's that hard  voska | 09/25/06
Must have been, look how long it took.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
We did 300 seats.  OldMarine | 09/26/06
Pot and the kettle?  Suicida| | 09/25/06
Is Linux planning a deployment?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
Now we know you are FOSAACG  Linux User 147560 | 09/25/06
No, for once Bitty is close to correct  Confused by religion | 09/26/06
17 Minutes? BUWAHAHAHH!! LIAR!!!  itanalyst | 09/25/06
Using an imaging tool such as ...  ShadeTree | 09/26/06
So Axey...  Sabz5150 | 09/25/06
Simple, how long did it take to set up 100 PCs?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/25/06
Do you honestly think it took that long  Sabz5150 | 09/25/06
German civil servant joke  jorwell | 09/25/06
You think "Joe Average" is stupid?  black-jack | 09/26/06
Wow, Vista, years late, missing half it's features and way overpriced  Grolan | 09/29/06
its harder to flush money down the toilet, easier to spend it on Linux  zzz1234567890 | 09/25/06
Their costs are in Euros  georgep_z | 09/25/06
two aspects  DemonX | 09/25/06
They are simply paying the  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 09/25/06
The cost of 14,000 desktop at 500 US$ is just 7,000.000  don_the_newbie | 09/25/06
Umm...  Linux User 147560 | 09/26/06
$$$$  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 09/26/06
RE: its harder to flush money down the toilet, easier to spend it on Linux  joe6pack_z | 09/25/06
It will be tough for the first adopters ...  George Mitchell | 09/25/06
It'll be tough, period.  seosamh_z | 09/25/06
Not a real problem ...  George Mitchell | 09/26/06
"limited lifespan" ?  Update victim | 09/26/06
Good to see them taking their time. No reason to rush things here.  DonnieBoy | 09/25/06
You make it sound like they had a choice  John Zern | 09/25/06
Have you been through a Windows ugrade?  IT_User | 09/25/06
And Solaris as well  Boot_Agnostic | 09/26/06
it's a bit more complicated than that  sjaaksken | 09/25/06
It would be more useful to mention the specific reasons  Dr-T | 09/25/06
I wonder if the commonwealth thinks....  JoeMama_z | 09/25/06
Munich should stand the course!  Linux Geek | 09/25/06
I disagree !  redtrain65 | 09/25/06
Nice try  net-com | 09/25/06
Depends  barstewards | 09/25/06
RE: Depends  Badgered | 09/25/06
RE: Depends  barstewards | 09/25/06
RE: Depends  Badgered | 09/25/06
Open Office would be the easiest to migrate too.  BroGnorik | 09/25/06
What you don't understand...  ju1ce | 09/26/06
This works great for Munich...  jcg_z | 09/25/06
Not a very nice try  zkiwi | 09/25/06
Nice try, V.I.  John Zern | 09/25/06
Still better than a MSFT refresh  Chad_z | 09/25/06
The original story...  seosamh_z | 09/25/06
Check the exchange rates before citing budget over-runs!  Predrag Vasic | 09/25/06
Yep people get confused...  BroGnorik | 09/25/06
What's REALLY amazing is how everyone  John Zern | 09/25/06
I don't think so  the_seb | 09/26/06
Microsft switched!!!  pberry26@... | 09/25/06
See, the first stop was just a bump in the road  Boot_Agnostic | 09/25/06
Plus migrating on either side has  Boot_Agnostic | 09/26/06
When you consider the license savings that will continue forever, it does  DonnieBoy | 09/25/06
and when you consider support costs that will mount, it does  code_Warrior | 09/25/06
actually  phburks | 09/25/06
OO not the only game in town  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 09/25/06
Obviously Linux is easy to administer...  marksashton | 09/25/06
And another MS fudster pipes, parroting for billy g  Tech II | 09/25/06
My goodness  the_seb | 09/26/06
Amen  JoeyHayes0 | 09/25/06
One by one...  Linux User 147560 | 09/25/06
They all fall down!  Shelendrea | 09/25/06
Yeah, I tend to ignore it now  Linux User 147560 | 09/25/06
What do you expect...  ju1ce | 09/26/06
Yawn  A.Typical Zork | 09/25/06
Farewell Munich  TonyMcS | 09/25/06
Wow!  zkiwi | 09/25/06
That's right!  Linux User 147560 | 09/25/06
The final indignity  Anton Philidor | 09/25/06
No Anton, I bet once they get the 80%  Linux User 147560 | 09/26/06
That has to be one of the most...  ju1ce | 09/26/06
Munich fires up Linux at last  Loverock Davidson | 09/26/06
Give it a rest....  shawkins | 09/26/06
Don't get mad  Loverock Davidson | 09/26/06
And you think it would have been faster migrating to BSD?  B.O.F.H. | 09/26/06
ever migrated 100 PC's ? Or a 1000 ? Or run over 10 servers ?  25_servers | 09/26/06
No  Loverock Davidson | 09/26/06
Hey, Humpstone!  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 09/26/06
The most telling line ...  mwagner@... | 09/26/06
Re: the most telling line  misceng | 09/26/06
No cost-benefit analysis.  Anton Philidor | 09/26/06
Not necessarily correct....  shawkins | 09/26/06
Are you the model of the everyday person  Boot_Agnostic | 09/27/06

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