[Wylug-discuss] OU's Microsoft policy

[Roy Mac]

Your frustration is understood.  I have experienced similar with NTLWorld
and before that Demon - "we only support Windows" or "don't support Linux".
I mainly use windows as my base machine largely because:
1. I have a few apps that will only run on Windows,
2. Too lazy to change as I can VNC into each of my Linux boxes just fine
from Windows.  I may reverse this someday.  
Recent frustration - setup system to run multiple displays - one app went
nuts in this environment - vendor said "we do not support multiple
displays".  Now they are a charting organization - many of their subscribers
have money for multi-heads...  Recently, the heat from the multiple system
has been a pain.

Bottom line:
It is down to finances - the cheep win - not the better.  Windows is where
it is because it keeps the masses at bay - not necessarily happy.  The Linux
community does keep MS honest and is gaining ground slowly.  I do not expect
this to change rapidly either - I have made some bad predictions before.
However, given the amount of money Bill has, he can throw whatever amount
necessary to gain strategic advantage.  Look what he did to Netscape and
once he understood the issue he just threw whatever necessary at the
problem.

This probably is not the answer you wanted - I have given up trying to fight
just due to the lack of time.  I use the appropriate box for a given need -
throw-away-boxes can be quite good under Linux.  As a result, I have become
reasonably adept with multiple OSes: Windows/Linux/(and VMS).  Get a good
grounding in one of these and you should be able to move around to other
platforms without too much difficulty.  My main problem is that I am not a
master of any. 

A few friends have used WINE and stated it has worked reasonable well given
the high powered CPUs and large memory available today.  From experiences
with CYGWIN, it is unclear if these emulator like packages are worth the
effort.  It is often difficult to diagnose problem in this environment.
There is the base OS, the boundaries between the two, then the final
emulator.  Often they kludge things to shoehorn between environments which
can lead to a lot of confusion - especially for the newbie.

It is worth further pressure for Linux support - however, as others have
stated, the economics are such that will not get much support from a
helpdesk - this is not a bad thing - it will force you to understand your
system better - researching one problem will enlighten you with others in
passing.

Good luck, roym



-----Original Message-----
From: wylug-discuss-bounces at wylug.org.uk
[mailto:wylug-discuss-bounces at wylug.org.uk] On Behalf Of geoff fielding
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 5:16 PM
To: WYLUG discussion list
Subject: [Wylug-discuss] OU's Microsoft policy

I am intending to make a complaint to the OU regarding its computer policy
which is 'All University course software is tested on computers running
Microsoft Windows as the cost of supporting other operating systems i.e. Mac
computers, is prohibitive.
Helpdesk advisers will be unable to offer assistance to you, or offer
guidance as to whether you will be able to take a course using this
non-standard configuration of hardware and software.'

My complaint covers the policy itself, the dismissive, almost non-existent,
information in the OU websites and literature regarding other platforms, and
the lack of specific course information about computing requirements which
makes it impossible to detect whether they may be capable of being fulfilled
without a Windows machine.  

Specifically I was wanting to apply for the T175 Networked Living:
Exploring Information and Communication Technologies, which is an
introductory course for many different degree courses. However Matt, a Linux
user on the computing helpdesk tells me "You would be unable to run the T175
cd-rom in Linux unless you were to use wine even then I wouldn't have much
faith in it running correctly."

I am a relevant innocent in the computing field but am very unhappy at the
OU stance. I am sure other Universities etc must provide computing resources
without enforcing the Microsoft monopoly.

I would welcome any information, comments, suggestions etc to enable me to
make a forceful complaint that cannot be simply dismissed, which I fear
would be the outcome with my own limited knowledge.

Thanks
Geoff


_______________________________________________
Wylug-discuss mailing list
Wylug-discuss at wylug.org.uk
http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/wylug-discuss