News & Information for Technology Purchasers
NewsFactor Network Sites:   NewsFactor.com Security CRM Business Sci-Tech Newsletters XML/RSS Feed  
   
Home Enterprise I.T. Hardware Software Communications More Topics...
Software
Average Rating:
Rate this article:  
The French Say Au Revoir to Microsoft Software The French Say Au Revoir to Microsoft Software
By David Garrett
November 28, 2006 9:39AM

    Bookmark and Share
Currently, a number of French ministries and government bureaus run Linux, but only on servers. France's Senate and National Assembly will be the first to use Linux on workstations, although neither one has announced which flavor of Linux it plans to use instead of Microsoft's software next year.
 

Advertisement

The French parliament has said au revoir to Microsoft Relevant Products/Services. Starting in June of next year, French deputies will use desktops and servers running Linux, Mozilla's Firefox Web browser, and OpenOffice.org, a free open-source alternative to Microsoft's Office software.

For day-to-day documents, French members of parliament and their staff will use OpenOffice.org, currently in version 2.0.4 and designed to compete directly with Microsoft's Office System.

With versions available in languages from Arabic to Welsh, OpenOffice.org includes several modules to compete with Microsoft Office: Writer, a word processor; Calc, a spreadsheet program; Impress, a presentation package; and Draw, a software package for designing graphics. OpenOffice.org also includes Base, a database tool that competes with Microsoft's Access.

Why the change? The French parliament, composed of an upper chamber (le Senat, or Senate) and a lower chamber (l'Assemblee Nationale, or National Assembly), believes it can save money using open-source software, despite the near-term costs of switching from Microsoft systems and retraining all employees.

But that is a matter of some debate.

Open Debate

"The evidence on the cost savings attributable to a switch to Linux has been mixed," according to Chris Swenson, director of software industry analysis at research group NPD. "There has been some evidence that companies have to spend a good deal on training and support Relevant Products/Services after you deploy the operating system."

Currently, a number of French ministries and government bureaus run Linux, but only on servers. The Senate and National Assembly will be the first to use Linux on workstations, although neither one has announced which flavor of Linux it plans to use. According to Swenson, that could make all the difference.

"If you buy your software from a Linux vendor like Red Hat, you obviously have to pay for licenses, support, and maintenance," he said, adding that finding and recruiting Linux experts to run enterprise Relevant Products/Services Relevant Products/Services I.T. systems can sometimes be harder than finding Microsoft specialists.

"The net net," said Swenson, is that "the average company or organization can probably save some money by switching to Linux, but deploying software from an established Linux vendor certainly isn't free."

Microsoft Worry?

Microsoft software runs the vast majority of U.S. computers, including laptops, desktops, and servers, at all levels of government, but in the U.S. House, members can use the software they like. "Microsoft is probably the most common," said Salley Collins, press secretary for the Committee on House Administration. "But that having been said, it's up to every individual office and committee to choose their own software." (continued...)

1  |  2  |  Next Page >

 

Advertisement


Advertisement


 Software
1.   FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays
2.   Call of Duty Is Setting Records
3.   MS Told To Stop Some Windows Sales
4.   Peer-to-Peer Software Ban Sought
5.   Better Maps, Made by Volunteers


advertisement
Windows 7: More Secure, More FunWindows 7: More Secure, More Fun
New OS can make users' lives easier.
Average Rating:
FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel DelaysFAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays
Computer software malfunction cited.
Average Rating:
Better Maps, Made by VolunteersBetter Maps, Made by Volunteers
Companies rely on locals with GPS.
Average Rating:
Product Information and Resources for Technology You Can Use To Boost Your Business

Enterprise Hardware

  Go Green with IBM Blade Center
  

Network Security Spotlight
House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software
Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.
 
GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses
Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.
 
Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week
Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.
 

Enterprise Technology Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats
Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.
 
FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies
Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.
 

Navigation
NewsFactor Network
Home/Top News | Enterprise I.T. | Hardware | Software | Communications | Network Security | Wireless Tech | Linux/Open Source
Apple/Macintosh | Microsoft/Windows | World Wide Web | Data Storage | E-Commerce | Personal Tech | Tech Trends | Press Releases
NewsFactor Network Enterprise I.T. Sites
NewsFactor Technology News | Enterprise Security Today | CRM Daily

NewsFactor Business and Innovation Sites
Sci-Tech Today | NewsFactor Business Report

NewsFactor Services
FreeNewsFeed | Free Newsletters | Free Whitepapers | XML/RSS Feed

About NewsFactor Network | How To Contact Us | Article Reprints | Careers @ NewsFactor | Services for PR Pros | Top Tech Wire | How To Advertise

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© Copyright 2000-2009 NewsFactor Network. All rights reserved. Article rating technology by Blogowogo.