Re: Abiword files blocked by Microsoft Outlook Web Access

> Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:10:52 -0700
> From: Mark Richardson <mrichard@usc.edu>
> To: Court farr <courtneyfarr@gmail.com>
> Cc: abiword-user@abisource.com
> Subject: Re: Abiword files blocked by Microsoft Outlook Web Access
>
>
> Another angle on the issue of file-type diversity:
>
> No doubt Alan and Ryan are right about the cause of this glitch--a mere
> configuration oversight. Still, the event should be the occasion for some
> speculation about what's going on in the schools. For a *long* time I've been
> making noise about open-source software at the university where I teach
> writing. You'd think some lively discussion would ensue at that kind of
> place, but I've found the response to be deafening silence.

Two words: "bulk licensing".

Universities pay for a site license and after that there is no incentive
to use less Microsoft products.

There is a difference between a real University Education and being taught
how to be a researcher. Unfortunately it is very hard to tell which
people are getting nowadays and academics are just as fallible as anyone
else.

I would encourage you to try to get your hands on the financial records of
your university and compare IT spending to the cost of Microsoft licensing
and the next time there are cutbacks draw peoples attention to the hidden
costs of their computer services. (And the costs of cleaning up after
shoddy software bordering on criminal neglicance.)

Getting a few computers or even a few Live CDs running a Linux
distribution like Ubuntu might help ordinary students understand better
and question how much they are paying (or pirating) to Microsoft. In a
bid to cut costs your students union might consider distributing the
Open CD: http://theopencd.org/

Best of luck

-- 
Alan
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