linux [3]

The following has been on the BBC [4] World service:

On the BBC World Service, there has been a lot of coverage, within the last couple of hours, that the German Government has decided to replace all Microsoft-based software/hardware with Linux based software running on IBM machines. This solely for German government projects and admin.

Sun must have known about this for a long while, if it true. It follows up on the Bavarian/Munich decision of a while back and should not be unexpected.

Any choice for machines solely based on IBM hardware seems awfully restrictive. On the other hand, it gives Star Office and any OOo groupware a unique opportunity. Not to speak of Ximian's Evolution and similar utilities.

So, Sun, comments? Is this Bill Gates's "Bend in the Road"?
Okay, this may not sound much, but look at the financial implications if this is followed through the rest of the German government and it's associated bodies.

The question is though, will the rest of Europe jump as encouragingly as this (I would imagine that France would be next). It would be wonderful if they did.

Will M$ respond with their usual FUD about Linux being hard to use so the brain dead out there will go "duh, dat nice meester gates sez it's 'ard" instead of trying it out for themselves.

The only other point about this though, is when will Sun respond?
Note: News link from the BBC Website. MyRISCOS cannot be held to account for the information or links supplied by the news item held by the BBC. (c) retained by the BBC.