Toolkit

Story: London council ditches Linux plans

• 
• 

There are several possible explanations for this:
1 Newham really does have an extraordinarily complex and badly designed computer setup that would take years to unravel, so they are better off sticking to the status quo.
2 Newham IT staff are either idle or incompetent or both, and don't want to get involved in anything that sounds like work.
3 Being a local authority, they are probably very risk averse.
4 Those who control the purse strings take a very short term view, and would rather spend much more tomorrow if it means they can spend a bit less today.
5 They don't care. After all, the poor old rate-payers will pick up the tab.
6 The evaluation process was flawed. It's a big job, and it is unlikely that the ITstaff of Newham Borough Council would have much relevant experience.
7 It was the right decision. Microsoft products are more reliable, less prone to security problems, cheaper to buy, and are sold by one of the world's most ethical companies.
8 Money changed hands.

There may be others that I haven't thought of. I hope the reason wasn't the last one, though the possibility shouldn't be ruled out, given that Microsoft (as Enron did) pays enormous amounts to American congressman every year. (These are not bribes - just charitable donations to poor impoverished lawmakers to keep the wheels of democracy turning smoothly).

My guess is that it's actually a combination of most of the first seven. Nobody in their right mind would expect high quality decision making from a blighted borough like Newham.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Full Talkback thread