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On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 07:04:14AM +0100, Adam Latham wrote:
> I can't see any good reason why not, however, a lot of the IT members
> they are representing will be as opposed to FLOSS as would be the large
> IT consultancies who 'advise' Unions on their own IT arrangements.
>
Yes: but IT consultancies would be required whether it was MS or
OpenSource. This strikes me as the same type of argument before computers
came in: computers will cut staff.
They didn't.
Here switching to Opensource means:
- Improving skills (which leads to GDP rises)
- Cutting license fees
> I have voiced this opinion before, someone on here even sent in to Exec
> at the local authority, a proposal to that effect - shot down in the
> flames of ignorance, if I remember correctly.
Interesting enough the Telegraph has a wonderful section on Council
spending today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/council-spending/8542909/Councils-spend-100m-on-taxpayer-funded-credit-cards.html
The documents show that Cornwall Council was responsible for the most
excessive spending, with a total credit card bill of almost £9 million
including £1,145,160 on hotels alone since 2008.
And £7,000 to Apple Computer 2010
By comparison
Devon "IS YET TO PROVIDE DATA". No surprise there.
Torbay spent £95,000. Had a look at the detail of this one
£2076: Comm Safety - portable power devices
£529: iPad
£847: Software renewal
Had a quick look: it is hard to say whether the figures are reasonable or
not. Not quite sure for the commercial reasons to buy Apple, but..
No doubt ammunition for Unions, in highlighting where costs can be cut and
staff employed.
>I think their reasoning
> was that they were committed to the investment in Microshonky software,
> and that the user knowledge base was too small and that large amounts of
> re-training would be needed. Don't quote me, this is from a distant
> memory.
Training required, yes. But if done sensibly, I cannot see much costs. Lets
face it, for basic document / spreadsheets; there is very little
difference. I would have thought the costs would come in IT in making sure
all the networks and programs run.
But if there is training, that:
a) Should increase productivity
b) Be paid for in reduce license fees
--
Henry
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