"phil hunt" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 16:43:24 +0100, Keith Willshaw
wrote:



So the fact that people don't apparently want to use the Unix
version of *one particular software package*, is somehow meant to
indicate that the govmts of these countries haven't set up
initiatives to switch some or all of computers in govmt use to
Linux?


Erm no

We are a multinational who write MANY software packages.
But feel free to browse the web for commercial software developed
for Linux and compare that developed for Windows.

If that's the state of your logic, I hope they don't employ you as
a programmer! BTW, the last car I owned was made by an American
company; this proves that no companies outside the USA manufacture
motor vehicles.


I am only commenting on the reality of our customers
preferences, personally I prefer Unix but the reality is
most end users dont, Dell had it as an option on their
PC's for a a while, they dropped it from the Desktop range
due to lack of interest

For specialist applications some organisations withing those
countries may well choose Linux, we use it for our web
servers but I'll bet that 90%+ of the PC's on desks in
those nations are running Windows

Yes, you're probably right -- after all, if no-one was using
Windows, then there would be no desire to switch from Windows. The
question is, what will they be using in 5 or 10 years time?


If I knew I'd be investing in it not talking about it, that said
governments have a poor track record in forecasting IT
developments. The fact that the French Government backed
Linux would hardly be a confidence builder.

Keith