[Klug-general] How does Kent County Council select software?

[Nathan Friend]

You could try a Freedom Of Information Request to KCC to find out about the
decision process.  I suspect it goes along the lines of perceived
accessibility, what do the public expect a computer to look like.

Last year I helped a local radio station switch it's whole infrastructure
to Linux, there was some resistance but with training and selecting a
distro that looks a bit like windows (Zorin), we made it work.

Nathan.

On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 8:17 AM, Dan Attwood <danattwood at gmail.com> wrote:

> ok i'll bite:
>
> " Why someone would buy proprietary software of extremely poor quality"
>
> why is Windows 7 of extremely poor quality?
>
>
>
> On 19 September 2014 06:40, Jonathan Kaye <jdkaye at riseup.net> wrote:
>
>>  Hi all,
>> Once again a big big thank you for putting me on to ebuyers. I bought an
>> HP Laptop with Ubuntu pre-installed for a very reasonable price. I'm well
>> satisfied.
>>
>> Now to business. I  have signed on as a volunteer (Time2Give) to the Kent
>> Libraries in the role of IT-Buddy. I'll be doing my "buddying" at the
>> libraries at Margate and Westgate. In addition I'll also be leading a group
>> on the theme of "computer learning  for the retired" which will meet
>> monthly starting in October. I went to Margate Library yesterday to do my
>> IT-buddying but hadn't been warned that all the computers would be down for
>> this week. Why? To prepare for the installation of new software to  replace
>> the outdated XP setup.
>>
>> I enquired about the new software and learned to my shock that they are
>> not using free software but rather "upgrading" to Windows 7. Why someone
>> would buy proprietary software of extremely poor quality, when free
>> software (free as in freedom) is available at no cost, eludes me. All over
>> Europe cities are moving to replace proprietary software with free
>> software. I was pleased to learn that the city of Udine in Italy, a city
>> with which I have a strong emotional attachment -- that's where I had my
>> aortic valve transplant operation -- is going the free software route.
>>
>> I would like to pursue this issue with the relevant authorities and so I
>> would like to tap your collective brains.
>> 1. Can anyone fill me in with the background of this decision?
>> 2. Has their been any justification for this decision that is available
>> to the public?
>> 3. Who is responsible for this decision and how can they be contacted.
>> 4. Is the any other advice from KLUG members about who I can contact or
>> what I can do?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for all your help.
>>
>> Jonathan
>>
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>
>
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