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In a memo to his staff, the DOT's CIO Daniel Mintz says he has placed "an indefinite moratorium" on the upgrades as "there appears to be no compelling technical or business case for upgrading to these new Microsoft software products. Furthermore, there appears to be specific reasons not to upgrade."Among the concerns cited by Mintz are compatibility with software applications currently in use at the department, the cost of an upgrade, and DOT's move to a new headquarters in Washington later this year. "Microsoft Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer [7] may be acquired for testing purposes only, though only on approval by the DOT chief information officer," Mintz writes.
I'll go for the first.
"Microsoft Product Roadmap questioned by DOT"
[edited by: jatar_k at 4:02 pm (utc) on Mar. 3, 2007]
[edit reason] requested spelling fix [/edit]
And, if their computers break, Unisys or Lockheed Martin will be glad to fix them for $12 billion :)
Like Mintz stated, so many government applications rely on Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server systems. The feds won't even entertain the idea of upgrading right now.
...and talking about the next Microsoft operating system scheduled to launch...
...and people will still continue to say Microsoft is about to crumble and say they will soon be off the face of the earth...
...and people will continue to verbally express their disgust with Microsoft products, but will continue to knowingly use their products at least 95% of the time...
This is the history of Microsoft. They are probably the most hated Blue Chip company, but they are a blue chip, which means they are here to stay for many years to come (even if it takes a seat in the background).
Daniel Mintz will eventually eat his words
My home XP computer shows signs of motherboard breakdown, and I was therefore forced to order another on Friday last. Chose Dell.
All Dell desktop machines come with Vista on the website. Phoned the (business) website to order same desktop, but with XP:
(may I have it with no OS, then, and use my existing OEM XP?)
(what if I want to install Linux?)
(I thought that the US had made anti-competitive rulings against Microsoft?)
PS:
I ordered the machine with XP, and paid the extra.
We're having problems with everything from specific HP printer drivers not yet available for Vista to DreamWeaver malfunctioning with no new version to fix the issue.
To make matters worse, I've got "upgrade" software for Office and other programs that I've been upgrading forever, with the originals from Win 3.x or Win 95 that you couldn't install in the first place to perform the upgrade for an upgrade version.
Who cares how pretty Vista is if you can't print, build a web page, or upgrade your software?
BAH!
[news.yahoo.com...]
Is Dell getting sick of dealing with the Vista upgrade deal or is it just talk to get some leverage over Windows at a vunerable time?
The success of microsoft has been borne out of the desire to be monopolistic and Vista is simply attempting to further enforce this.
If Dell get 100,000 requests to have a linux option, it should really work with that and might well benefit much more in the long term.
The basic install of Vista is an obvious attempt by microsoft to bundle it with as many new PCs as possible so that cusumers are forced to upgrade and pay microsoft more money to have a useful system.
The basic install of Vista is an obvious attempt by microsoft to bundle it with as many new PCs as possible so that cusumers are forced to upgrade and pay microsoft more money to have a useful system.
The issue being discussed here is a government agency deciding not to upgrade to Vista. That's an understandable reaction if other mission critical software won't work with it. That's an IT Dept. decision. I doubt they were overly concerned with Microsoft's business practices or perception thereof.
What's wrong with MS trying to sell its operating system and making a profit?
The question then becomes, er, what others? The offer of Vista, or paying extra to get XP, is not exactly an "option" in the strict, free-enterprise, meaning of the word.
If the market is not open, then we are talking monopoly. Again.
Anyway, all this monopoly chat is off topic. What about the DOT decision to stick with XP? Is this a tack other companies will be taking?
Most institutions that use Windows have learnt it is wise not to be early adopters of new versions.
Kaled.
Most institutions that use Windows have learnt it is wise not to be early adopters of new versions.
That's a wise move with any OS - Windows or other.
This is a total non-story.
What is interesting is the early trend indicators that seem to show Vista will have a slower uptake than many expected...if these types of articles are any realistic gage.
