FAA Considering Alternatives to Vista
FAA Considering Alternatives to Vista
by , 12:45 PM EST, March 7th, 2007
The Federal Aviation Administration's CIO is examining the possibility of replacing his agency's 45,000 Windows systems with Linux systems, a new browser, and Google's online business applications. The story was posted by InformationWeek on Wednesday.
The FAA's David Bowen is taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google's apps as a possible replacement for the current Windows XP systems.
According to the story, Bowen said he's in talks with Dell Computer, to determine if it could deliver Linux-based computers capable of accessing Google Apps through a non-Microsoft browser once the FAA's XP-based computers pass their shelf life. "We have discussions going on with Dell," Bowen said. "We're trying to figure out what our roadmap will be after we're no longer able to acquire Windows XP."
This story comes only a few days after the DOT announced that it would place a moratorium on the upgrade to Vista. But that was to insure that their mission critical applications were tested on Vista before it could be rolled out. Many organizations are in that mode right now.
But while Mr. Bowen is examining the possibility of an outright replacement of Windows XP with Linux, no final decision has been made. "We're considering the cost to deploy [Windows Vista] in our organization. But when you consider the incompatibilities, and the fact that we haven't seen much in the way of documented business value, we felt that we needed to do a lot more study," said Bowen.
The replacement of 45,000 aging PCs with new Intel computers, a more modern OS, less expense, Google tools, and open source software appears to be an opportunity for many of Microsoft's competitors.
Including Apple.
Observer Comments
Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:24 pm Subject: Is there a correlation
... more exactly in 1998, one could see people everywhere with plastic bags with the Windows logo on, carrying home their brand new Windows 98. A couple of years later one could see the same with XP, but now? I cannot see I have seen the same around where I live (Norway). In some shops there are a little advertisement for Vista lying around, but nothing spectacular. No mention of it in local newspaper. Nothing of the "Hooray-we're-off-to-the-War"-enthusiasm from earlier releases.
Combined with news like this, makes one believe that we are finally witnessing the end of the monopoly. What I hope for now, is to see some real, real user-friendly Linux-distros and maybe even a couple of new OSes coming up!
I hope reliability and uptime are factors in the FAA decision. It would seem to me that Apple hardware would be more reliable than Dell's, and using OS X would be more reliable than Linux, while still being able to run the Google software.
Of course, government agencies must go with the low bidder, right?
Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:35 pm Subject: The begining of the end for M$
Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:44 pm Subject: Great news for Apple!
Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:55 pm Subject: Congress
QuoteRainy Day wrote:
Looks like Billy Boy and Uncle Fester have shot themselves in the foot. Guess it is aptly named. “Vista,†as in Hasta la vista.
Bill Gates was before Congress today asking for unlimited H1-B visas. He also asked for a better education system so we can grow our own engineers, but I find it hard to believe we don't have enough domestic talent.
I have always been critical of look and feel of MicroSoft products, seems so clunky and unpolished. After watching him on TV as he testified I think the problem starts at the top, Bill has a real bad haircut. Seriously he looks like a characterized professor in movie, even Kim Jong-il has a better haircut.
Looks like a lot of people are passing on Vista.
http://www.macobserver.com/article/2007/03/07.10.shtml
As far as H1-B visas, I think part of the problem is that there are too many already. IMO, and I may be wrong about this, as long as it's easier for companies to bring in cheap talent from overseas, it will be hard to keep and grow a pool of talented engineers and sysadmins domestically.
Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:20 pm Subject: You're wrong about it.
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