[Wolves] Sun Java Desktop (going off topic in a mad Rant!)

[Steve Ruffles]

Hi Alex + Matt,
Is suspect Granger may be playing games, to get MS to drop prices. If so a
tragedy.
You are right about difficulty getting people to use windows. Where I am
it's hard enough to get people to use computers!When they do they learn
computers = windows.I'm a clinician and know nothing about programming, but
have experienced the range of windows problems,from problems with local
installations through to paralysis of NHS net from the last worm that
infested our systems at HA/PCG/PCT level.
Two guys in our IT agency (at least that I know of) like Linux, but most
talk windows (not a criticism just an observation), for us the issues are
more about getting doctors to use IT for clinical work/ learning and
communication - never mind the OS - although that is someone elses problem I
guess.
If there were a few decent clinical systems that ran on Linux I think the
tide would turn faster - but it is turning. Other public sectors use Linux
in GB and in Europe - it's just not publicised.
As for clinical systems for use at the "coal face" they must be dead easy to
design - they just databases aren't they - or maybe I'm way off here - not
my area of expertise.I'm sure there's more than enough talent on this list
to design such a thing with ease - make some money too! Existing systems not
up to the job of efficiently bean-counting and recording meaningful clinical
narratives and data.

Any takers?
Cheers
Steve Ruffles