Microsoft

Replacing Microsoft's ISA server

By adopting open source software you can slash costs, vastly improve speed and reliability and, perhaps even more importantly, wrest control back from proprietary IT suppliers.

In this column we look at providing secure, fast and reliable Internet access for your business. We will be replacing a widely used, yet heavily criticised Microsoft product, Internet Security and Acceleration server (ISA).

What’s involved

Microsoft lock-in stalls Bristol council's open source strategy - ComputerWeekly.com

Bristol City Council has been forced to ditch a major tranche of its open systems strategy because it is locked in to using Microsoft software and standards.

Bristol Council Mulls Open Source/Microsoft Tie Up - eWEEK Europe

Bristol City Council could be about to unlock the open source floodgates in the UK with a possible deal to combine open source and Microsoft software.

Next week, the Council will consider a suggested policy that would see it using open source solutions where possible to meet business requirements, but stick with Microsoft Office and Windows 7 on all desktops, according to a statement by a councillor.

Triple Open Approach

Tory council's open source plans stymied as government considers policy - Computerweekly

A leading Tory council has been delayed in its attempt to replace Microsoft with open source software because the government is yet to fulfil an election pledge to introduce open standards.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, one of the four "vanguard" councils testing the government's Big Society project, also came to the attention of Microsoft after its IT strategy promised in April to "move away from the Microsoft Office platform and replace it with an open source or cloud alternative".

Microsoft and Child Protection

At a click of a button on Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 (and only on Microsoft Internet Explorer 8) a secret code is launched which reports an individual to a Government organisation called CEOPS which in turn accesses the Police databases.

What exactly does this button do?

I have no idea.

I never do know exactly what proprietary software is doing so this button is no exception, but nor do the developers of Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Who are CEOPs and why are they promoting Microsoft and 'Maddie' on their front page (www.ceops.gov.uk)?

Selling Proprietary Software the Top Gear way

Imagine you have just settled down to watch the BBC's Top Gear programme. You've cracked open a can and are looking forward to seeing all the latest shiny stuff on which you may just blow your redundancy cheque.

Jeremy strides into shot confidently smiling a.. 'you are just gonna love these cars smile'. Then he says, 'What we have on offer is so scary, so unbelievable, that even Sister Wendy would have the bejeezus scared out of her.'

Microsoft Takes Teachers To Brazil

Amid calls from local authorities to use open source software and cut software costs, Microsoft is holding a teachers' conference in Brazil.

Microsoft is inviting teachers to foreign education conferences, despite cut-backs in public spending in the fall-out from the global recession, and claims that schools could save money with open source software.

Is the UK Government really set to shed 10,000 School ICT Staff?

Some claim huh? Unfortunately I am not 'kite-flying', or scaremongering or even falling prey to hyperbole (heaven forfend). No, I mean it.

I have been reading a lot of Agatha Christie recently as her books came free with The Times over the summer. Accordingly I will leave the denouement to the end of the narrative.

And, also like Poirot, I must say " 'ow could I been so blind, it is all so obvious"...I will let him handle this case.

The story starts with the strange problem of 'Educational Pricing'.

The Linux Insurgency

Insurgent methodology clearly fascinates master tactician Peter Mandelson who recently urged the UK Government to behave more like insurgents in order to beat the Conservative Party in the forthcoming election. Superficially, it is a mildly bizarre statement but maybe not.

General McChrsytal no less believes that the US is in real danger of never being able to beat the Talebs... unless they find the 'right strategy'. Pretty shocking statement that.

Selling Open Source software into the Public Sector

Why is it so hard to sell Free, Open Source solutions into the Public Sector especially Local Authorities?

You would have thought that it would be easy - after all FOSS solutions for services such as e-mail, collaboration software, and learning platforms are demonstrably cheaper and more effective than their proprietary equivalents.

You would also be encouraged by the Government mandating that all public sector IT procurements show that due consideration has been given to Open Source solutions alongside proprietary ones.