Group Accuses Massachusetts Government Of Open-Source Bias

Personaltechpipeline ^ | 09 May 2006 | W. David Gardner

[ShadowAce]

A trade association has blasted the Massachusetts Information and Technology Division (IDT) for requesting a plug-in for Microsoft's Office Suite, seizing on the issue as evidence that the state's policy of mandating the OpenDocument Format (ODF) is "a biased, open source-only preference policy."

The request for proposal (RFP) was posted last Wednesday but the OpenDocument Foundation Inc. said two days later that it has such a plug-in and it will be submitted soon to the IDT.

Late Monday, Melanie Wyne, executive director of the Initiative for Software Choice (ISC), said in a statement: "The RFP reveals that the choice presented by the previous ITD bureaucrats – i.e., ODF-compliant desktops for state agencies are the only viable options for citizens to have access to their data in the future – was purposely exclusionary, being primarily designed to distort the competitive landscape.

"In other words, it had little to do with access to documents, and everything to do with excluding proprietary software providers."

The ISC is a unit of CompTIA, which has supported Microsoft in its ongoing battles over the Massachusetts policy and, more recently, in the software giant's struggles with regulators in the European Union.

Wyne noted that "other governments" have closely followed the Massachusetts policy, which mandates that the state's documents be preserved in ODF starting in January. She railed away at what she called "a specious administrative process" that led to the mandate in Massachusetts complaining that the policy was really "an open source-only objective."

The IDT last updated the RFP last Wednesday.

Wyne observed that the issue is also important in Europe where EU regulators have not promoted ODF-compliant standards.

Microsoft is scheduled to release its Office 2007 version in January at about the same time Massachusetts is committed to implement the ODF-only policy. However, Microsoft is expected to try again with Massachusetts state officials after it receives expected approval for its new office software from the ECMA European standards body.

[rzeznikj at stout]

No, I have enough sense to tell when it's the software and when it's the hardware.

Same result on two operating systems. Probably not the software.

I may be a hobbyist--but then again, even my dopey 12 year old brother figured out that it was a hardware issue.

[rzeznikj at stout]

LOL

Good Points though!!!

[Golden Eagle]

Running drivers that didn't come from the manufacturer can definitely ruin hardware, whether such a possibility ever crossed your mind or not. I'm sure it didn't though, since you're convinced your freeware crap is somehow better no matter where it came from.

[rzeznikj at stout]

It ain't the drivers. I tried reinstalling them on both systems--Still no joy.

It's an internal CD-RW that came with the computer.

The copy of Windows on my system is what was installed at the factory (though before repartitioning, I used the factory restore CD).

I personally prefer Linux. Knowing that something doesn't work on either OS generally would mean it's a hardware issue...

...whereas if it worked on one but not the other, that would mean software issue with the system that the drive is non-functioning.

[Golden Eagle]

I'm obviously talking about what broke it to begin with. Sure, it could have just naturally "burnt up", but the chances of devices burning up is increased if you're using crappy software to drive it that the vendor didn't expect. Try running your car off homeade gas and see how well that works.

[rzeznikj at stout]

The fact is that I verified the specifications to make sure the system could handle a dual-boot between Windows and Linux.

When I found that it would work, I went ahead and set the system up accordingly.

I might have been a bit rough on it--using it to burn, read, boot, etc. for several hours a day, almost every day, for the past several months.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Good Lord, man, shut up already.

You have no reason, authority, or firsthand knowledge to proclaim that a piece of hardware you've never even seen before was ruined because of Linux.

You're just making an even bigger fool of yourself.

[Golden Eagle]

No, I'm correcting a hobbyist who thinks that free software is always better, even if it possibly uses reverse engineered drivers instead of ones provided by the original manufacturer. Apparently you're just as clueless, and like to try to flame other posters for pointing it out, although as usual nothing more than hot air actually came out.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Clueless?

Then where, pray tell, did he say that free software was always better?

Or are you just pulling quotes out of your a$$ yet again?

And besides, you're lying about your whole premise. You want everyone to believe that Linux destroyed his drive, when you have no proof, nor could you.

Idiot.

[Golden Eagle]

Nah. just educating you losers who are so pathetically poor you have to use free software fakes, but then try to convince those of us who can afford better that your trashbin crap is somehow better. Misery loves company LOL.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"educating"

*mmph*

*snort*

BWAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[FLAMING DEATH]

BTW, Mr. "Educator", maybe you should learn a little more about reasoned debate, namely how to follow up when you make an assertion or accusation.

Such as, that stout's drive failure was caused by Linux, or that he actually said free software was "always better".

This is a concept that has eluded you from the beginning...i.e., being responsible for your own words.

Very Democratic indeed.

[Golden Eagle]

LOL at the flamer from hell talking about "reasoned debate" as if he was even capable.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Of course, I wouldn't expect you to recognize reasoned debate if it walked up and bit you on the a$$. But, I let everyone's opinion of your discussion tactics and the Lie List speak for itself.

[Golden Eagle]

Flaming troll from hell:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=33689

Still hasn't gotten a single point right I don't think LOL. Hopefully he'll post that "lie list" that starts with him claiming his idol Richard Stallman isn't a flaming leftist. What a quak LMAO.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"Hopefully he'll post that "lie list" "

Ask and ye shall receive...

"that starts with him claiming his idol Richard Stallman isn't a flaming leftist."

Another lie.

The Current Golden Eagle Lie/Hypocrisy/Cluelessness/General Lunacy List:
(Now with 67% more missing the point!).

Lies:

Here's where he says that all GPL copyrights are signed over to Stallman: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1612495/posts?page=44#44

then, when he's caught, says that he's not sorry (or, as I like to call it, a "nopology"): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1612495/posts?q=1&&page=61#62

Here's where he refers to Dell "systems": http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=35#35

Then denies his own copied-and-pasted quote: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=137#137

then blames me for it all, saying I should have reminded him of his own words: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=165#165


Then, here's where he makes more false accusations of ME: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=90#90

and here's where I ask him to prove I said the things he accused me of: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=92#92

Here's where he doesn't provide any proof: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=95#95

And fails again to prove what he says: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=99#99

And yet again, repeating the accusations, but failing to provide proof: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=122#122

And now, where his "proof" of what I said is something I didn't even post: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=125#125

and where he has the nerve to ask another poster to back up what they say with specific examples, despite the fact that he refused to do so for me: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=255#255

and here is where he demands that yet someone ELSE provide a link to prove what THEY said: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1568848/posts?page=68#68

and here is where he claims he will admit mistakes, despite the fact that he hasn't admitted this one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592494/posts?page=43#43


Here he is claiming that Red Hat has a couple of hundred Linux kernel developers: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527263/posts?page=49#49

And here he is claiming no one knows how many kernel developers work for Red Hat: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527263/posts?page=77#77

and here, he denies that he said hundreds, yet again (21st paragraph): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=131#131

And here he is getting nailed for it yet again:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=132#132

and again: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=137#137

and claiming that I never proved that he was wrong about the number of kernel developers at Red Hat, despite the fact that he said "literally hundreds" himself, but later retracted it: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=134#134


Here he is saying that he's leaving a thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=127#127

and here he is, many days and over 100 posts later, still posting: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?q=1&&page=281#284


Here's where he tries to say that Richard Stallman is opposed to all patents: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=266#261

Here's where he amends his statement to say "software patents": http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1609606/posts?page=22#22


Here's where Jim Robinson tells about creating the Freerepublic Forums in '97: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1011545/posts

And here's where GE, a man on the cutting edge of technology, claims he managed to get a membership at FR two years before the forums existed: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/950193/posts?page=285#285

Here's where he hijacked the Open Source Ping List, and the ensuing discussion: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1571222/posts?page=8#8


Hypocrisy:

Here, he complains that Cedega's bad because it's not free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=115#115

and then, mocks another user for suggesting that Cedega be free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=134#134

then complains that Linux is bad because it is free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1530486/posts?page=40#40

then says Solaris is good because it's free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1490554/posts?page=21#21


Here he is, criticizing Linux because it doesn't run Windows apps (despite the fact that it can, in some cases): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?q=1&&page=101#115

Here he is, recommending Solaris, which doesn't run Windows apps: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1490554/posts?page=21#21

...and Apple, which doesn't either: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1573697/posts?page=9#9

and copping out when challenged about Windows inability to run Linux apps: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=118#118


Here, he's criticizing others for namecalling: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1584107/posts?page=29#29

And here he is, namecalling: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583531/posts?page=61#61




Here's where GE says Stallman is a whacko leftist: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1601565/posts?page=24#24

Here's where I agree: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1601565/posts?page=30#30

And here's where he disagrees that I agree: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1601565/posts?page=30#31

And here's where he claimed I defended Stallman (I didn't) and fails to provide a link to back up his accusations:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1607069/posts?page=96#96


Here he is ridiculing another poster for using bold fonts to make a point: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1493462/posts?page=130#130

And here he is using bold fonts to make a point: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=106#106


Here he is, complaining about abortions in China: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=106#106

and here he is, defending Microsoft's contributions to Planned Parenthood: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492595/posts?page=22#22

And here he is defending Planned Parenthood itself: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1601565/posts?page=35#33

and again, lying about the primary mission of that organization (he says it's to fight AIDS in Africa): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1601565/posts?page=40#40


Cluelessness:

Here, he becomes concerned about security on Knoppix, a live Linux filesystem, written to a FINALIZED (read that: unwritable) CD-R, which by default, runs with all drives unmounted and in unwritable mode: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536740/posts?page=18#18

Here's where a poster very obviously criticizes him for his closed-mindedness and he totally misses it, instead taking it as a compliment (post 79 and his response, 80): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1539488/posts?page=80#79

Here's where steve-b posts a link to a satirical blog - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1625199/posts?page=113#113 and GE totally misses the satire, calling the author "just another concerned American with all these clones of US products being constantly pushed by the UN and leftists like Stallman." http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1625199/posts?q=1&&page=121#121

Here's where he claims that Linux destroyed another Freeper's CD/RW drive, despite the fact he didn't know the manufacturer or model of the drive, or the Linux driver, had never SEEN the drive, nor even met the guy who owned it: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1629816/posts?page=65#65



General lunacy:

Here is a Linux thread with only one post by GE (notice how pleasant and peaceful): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1500664/posts?q=1&&page=1

Here is a Linux thread where GE stayed and trolled (well beyond 280 posts, totally off the topic. No insults before he showed up, as with many of his threads. He has stated multiple times that he was leaving, yet he keeps posting, because he's a last word freak): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?q=1&&page=1#1

Here are some of his infamous "picture posts", usually made when he is getting beaten very badly:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536740/posts?page=106#106
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536740/posts?page=125#125
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536740/posts?page=149#149
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1530253/posts?page=25#25
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1489068/posts?page=29#29
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1487693/posts?page=163#163

[Golden Eagle]

Great, they should look at your lies and endless BS. It all started when you showed up quoting that leftist Stallman you love so much. Now all you can do point fingers at me and try to cover it all up.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"It all started when you showed up quoting that leftist Stallman you love so much. Now all you can do point fingers at me and try to cover it all up."

Haha! Still clinging to the one thing you hope you can pin on me, because nothing else works. So sad. You've repeatedly failed to make the case that quoting is endorsing (it's not), and totally miss the fact that you quote him far more than I do (cause you have a crush on him).

I'm not going away, ya know.

You can continue to lie about me and the others here, assasinate our character, try to impugn our reputations in every way possible, including twisting the facts to match your equally twisted view of reality, but I'll keep coming back, rubbing your nose in your own words and pointing out your illogic and irrational hatred for people who think differently than you.

As I've said before, you're a sad little man and you know it. You really need to seek out some companionship from real human beings.

[Golden Eagle]

I don't lie about anyone, I constantly expose your lies about linux and your support of leftists which is why you attack me. You can't even discuss these issues technically and just run around constantly launching personal attacks that miss the mark as well LOL. But go ahead flamer, since there's obviously nothing you can do to otherwise, anyway.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Unreal! Your favorite argument against me is a lie!

"It all started when you showed up quoting that leftist Stallman you love so much. "

You imply that I love Stallman because I quoted the GPL. Have you not quoted the GPL, and posted innumerable links to stallman.com?