[KLUG Members] Linux in local government???

[Paul VandenBosch]

We have had pc's running linux up as a demonstration only at the City of
South Haven.  We have considered (briefly) a thin client linux network. 
Unfortunately we are tied to a number of MS based software packages for
assessing, autocad, inventory, work order, complaint/premise, cash
receipting and finance, voting records, homegrown access databases,
building inspection software, police related stuff and probably other
software that I don't know about.  Local government has a lot of different
functions and the software providers have typically been MS oriented.  We
are on a Novell network with NT servers and may move toward Novell
products such as email over MS when available.  Our email service is
horrible (NT).  I would like to push for more open source products,
particularly in networking and servers, but I'm just a department head and
the sysadmin knows better.  I've tried to encourage change but our
sysadmin is too busy and change is too scary for now.
Local government is probably not the easiest area to promote open source,
due to the wide range of software systems in use and in some cases we are
required to use a specific system (usually MS based) by the state.
Bruce Smith said:
> While waiting in line to vote yesterday, I noticed something surprising
> in an empty government office.  A computer without a screen saver,
> which _appeared_ to me to be running Linux w/Ximian Gnome!!!
>
> The distance was too great to make out any words or icons, and the
> chair back obscured the lower left hand corner of the screen, so I
> couldn't make out what was on the "start button".  It had two menu
> bars, on the top and on the bottom, a medium blue background, and no
> wallpaper.  I can't be 100% sure, but it appeared very "Ximian like".
>
> This is at a VERY rural township office, and I don't know who's office
> this was.  It had a name on the door, which I don't remember, but no
> title that I could see.
>
> Does anyone know of Linux in local government offices like this??? Or
> does Ximain look so much like XP, that I'm mistaken???
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
> System Administrator / Network Administrator
> Armstrong International, Inc.
> Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
> http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
> --------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
Paul VandenBosch
Guide to Sailing and Cruising Stories
http://cruisenews.net