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Re: [LUG] Happy Birthday Linux - Linux is 17!

 

2008/10/10 Tom Potts <tompotts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> I wonder if the forced use of Vista at work could constitute constructive
> dismissal?

I recently had a contract at a customer where they provided me with a
laptop running XP. Their laptop policy allowed people to install
alternative OSs on them, so long as they 'support' themselves. I was
happy with this and as a result installed Ubuntu and all the necessary
business applications to get my job done. I had no issues at all.

One day during a security audit the auditor noticed I wasn't running
Windows and after consulting her boss, demanded I remove Ubuntu, and
she was to sit there and watch me do it. I refused, and told her that
if she 'forced' me to use XP, I'd give the laptop back.

After they consulted their own rule book, they backed down. Two of us
used Ubuntu and were as productive (if not more) as a result than
those around us using Windows.

Separately a few years ago I did some work on a site in the US, and
took my own laptop which at the time was running Debian. The local IT
guy queried the antivirus and firewall software I had before he would
'let me' on the network. I told him I used Linux and he was perfectly
happy, and left me well alone. Meanwhile in the Dilbert-style cubicles
nearby peoples windows machines were going down as some malware was
making its way around the network. Two of them even left the office to
play, such was their frustration with their PC. Again, I was more
productive on Linux than they were on Windows.

YMMV of course :)

Cheers,
Al.

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