Ralph Nader tells government buyers to use Linux, release Microsoft source code.

World Tech Tribune.com ^ | Copyright June 5, 2002 | Scott McCollum

[Scott McCollum]

“Ralph Nader, the self- styled consumer advocate, multi-millionaire champagne socialist and Green Party presidential candidate that stole votes away from Democrat Al Gore, blasted the Bush Administration for supporting the 'Microsoft monopoly' because Federal workers use Microsoft Office products.

Most Federal Government computer and software purchases were made in 1998-1999 during the second term of the Clinton Administration.”

Full details at World Tech Tribune.com

[Scott McCollum]

Nader wants the government to control what operating system goes on computers rather than letting the market decide.

[xrp]

Nader is an imbecile. Microsoft is #1 in the desktop world because they made their operating system EASY to use, since MOST people don't understand much about computers. The MAJORITY of people aren't technically savvy so they will pay for an easy solution.

[Dimensio]

Nader wants the government to control what operating system goes on computers rather than letting the market decide.

Yes, how dare the government decide what software goes on government computers.

[Dimensio]

The MAJORITY of people aren't technically savvy so they will pay for an easy solution.

Sadly, this ease of use has led to lots of idiots using computers that are connected to the Internet. As a result, you have incompetent admins who can't secure their systems and allow all kinds of viruses and trojans to run loose -- the bandwith sucked up by those viruses adversely affecting everyone, even those who are smart enough to lock down their systems.

At least when it was hard to use, you could count on the people running things to know what they were doing.

[Liberal Classic]

One minute he wan't the NBA to do a mulligan, and on the next he's a technical consultant? Nader, stay off my side. k? thx

[btcusn]

This is ALMOST enough to make me go back to microsoft, but in truth, Linux IS much better.
Jack

[Shermy]

Yes, how dare the government decide what software goes on government computers.

Cynical, are you? What's wrong with the "market" buying off congressmen and bureaucrats by he who has the most money?

< /sarcasm>

[DrDavid]

The MAJORITY of people aren't technically savvy so they will pay for an easy solution.

You are right, but they also don't realize that what they are buying is buggy and unreliable either.

[DrDavid]

Warning for Linux fans: With friends like Ralph Nader, who needs enemies?

[zx2dragon]

Actually there are many federal agencies that are using Linux right now, even on the desktop.

[usconservative]

Ralph Nader is no more a "consumer advocate" than Bill Clinton is a chaste, honest man.

'Nuff said.

[triplejake]

The Pentagon is big into Linux. There was a story in the Washington Post awhile back on Microsoft's heavy DOD lobbying effort, claiming that Linux is unAmerican in some way.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This from a guy who claims his last car was a Studebaker.

[Bush2000]

Sadly, this ease of use has led to lots of idiots using computers that are connected to the Internet.

Pity you can't use the Internet for your own personal geek playground anymore... /sarcasm

[Bush2000]

Yes, how dare the government decide what software goes on government computers.

Read again:

"Nader’s major demand in the letter to the OMB was that the Bush Administration purchases the rights to Microsoft’s software and releases it into the public domain."

The government can't afford to buy MS intellectual property for what it's worth -- so they'd have to steal it. Thanks, Nader, but no thanks: Reread the Constitution.

[dheretic]

And you want us to believe you're a serious writer. Get lost Scott, Nader for the first time in his existance actually has a point when he says that the government needs to stop using MS software. It should be considered an act of treason to use Windows to power any system of any importance in the military and intel agencies.

The first time that an air craft carrier is blown out of the water and 5000 sailors are slaughtered because the aegis cruisers protecting it had their systems crash because "Trusted Windows" BSOD'd is when I say every patriotic citizen needs to grab a gun and march on redmond. It is one thing to screw over businesses and consumers with lies about how Windows is perfect for any task. It is another thing to put our national defense at risk because Microsoft has bought into its own lies and believes that Windows is ready for any task. If you don't believe me that the first tests of Windows on Warships has failed, look online. A crashy OS that can't secure a high end web-server being used to power our Navy. Only in America I'm afraid.

For the record I think Windows XP is just fine for the desktop and small in-office servers. Windows is utter trash for everything else IMO. If you want a real server do it right with Solaris, FreeBSD or a major Linux distro. But for God's sake, stop perpetuating the lie that Windows is the panacea for computing problems! No OS is. No OS can be everything to everyone.

The only off the shelf OS that could be used by the military for most non-pedestrian uses would be QNX. QNX is used to power most ATMs and nuclear power plants around the world.

[Liberal Classic]

B2K, I'm right with you on this one. Nader here makes a strong showing of both his communist leanings and computer illiteracy. Trying to force all government contracts to Linux is just as bad as locking all aerospace contracts with Armalite to the exclusion of Colt, or Boeing to the exclusion of Lockheed.

All Nader really wants to do is nationalize Microsoft.

[dheretic]

Once in the public domain, the Microsoft code would be swallowed into the Linux software code, a free Unix-like operating system cobbled together over a period of ten years by students, hackers and other computer hobbyists

1. Why would the Linux kernel developers want Windows code in their project? The could not integrate Windows code into the linux kernel without fundamental alterations to the linux kernel. Porting from 1 OS to another (Windows->Linux) is an order of magnitude more involved than cutting and pasting. Get a clue. You are a discredit to the side you allegedly represent.
2. You don't think mentioning $1B of IBM R&D and marketing money in that list of people involved in "cobbling" it together is important?
3. So I take it developers from Compaq, Apple and SGI are a bunch of losers whose contributions are hardly noteworthy? Compaq was the company that did most of the Linux kernel's porting to the Alpha archetecture.

[Liberal Classic]

Dang proofreading. My fingers got ahead of my brain there.

That should read "Trying to force all government contracts to Linux is just as bad as locking all arms contracts with Armalite to the exclusion of Colt, or aerospace contracts with Boeing to the exclusion of Lockheed. "

[Bush2000]

Nader for the first time in his existance actually has a point when he says that the government needs to stop using MS software.

Yes, it is a point. Not a very good one, but a point nonetheless. Nader is the king of bad ideas. He wants the government to "nationalize" Microsoft's intellectual property -- the same way that banana republic dictators nationalize oil refineries and casinos. With friends like him, I can't imagine that you'd need any enemies...