Plone NGO Mailing List Christian Aid go for Microsoft over Open Source

rgregory at oxfam.org.uk rgregory at oxfam.org.uk
Wed Nov 15 15:17:27 UTC 2006


Hi,

I think the article is a little misleading. If you listen to the full
Podcast the main argument is about open source on the desktop not for
applications. The main application they talk about is Sharepoint - for use
in internal collaboration - not as a CMS for web publishing.

I do think Sharepoint will become a major player in this niche for NGOs as
it will be shipped as part of Windows 2007.  One of the major advantages it
has (amoung many failings!) is that over time it will be integrated with
Groove.  This will enable it to support both online and off line working.
This is a major issue for NGOs such as Oxfam and Christian Aid where we
have many staff working in situations where there is minimal communications
infrastructure.

 Are there any plans for Plone to support mobile/off line working?

Romilly



                                                                                                                                       
                      "michael nt                                                                                                      
                      milne"                   To:       "A list for NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) using Plone."               
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                      11/11/2006 11:18                                                                                                 
                      Please respond to                                                                                                
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I think most people realise that open source isn't free and includes set-up
and support costs. Still it still works out much cheaper that going with
licenses. There's a big difference between using open source as a desktop
in an organisation and using it as a web application etc. That point isn't
highlighted in the article. Most NGOs that I know are using Windows as
their desktop. Also the comment about having their systems open so that
anybody can see what they're doing. That's wrong. Yes the difference
between code and data etc.

Can't imagine they're getting a good CMS through Microsoft compared to the
value and innovation that the open source community could provide.


On 11/11/06, Alexander Limi <limi at plone.org> wrote:
      On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:29:21 -0800, Zahid Malik
      <z.malik at fry-it.com> wrote:

      > Sorry if this is slightly off-topic but I though it was an
      interesting
      > piece ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6124582.stm) on
      Christian
      > Aid's arguments for using Microsoft over Open Source. Some of these
      > are relevant to Plone's entry into NGO's. You can see what slashdot
      > thought of it all
      > (http://linux.slashdot.org/linux/06/11/09/152257.shtml).

      This is a pretty uninformed article, and as mentioned on Slashdot,
      the
      people don't seem to understand the difference between code and data.

      I have actually spoken to these people a while back about using open
      source (if I'm not mixing up people here) — and Plone — and I won't
      say
      more than that I'm not surprised that they ended up going with
      Microsoft.

      --
      _____________________________________________________________________

            Alexander Limi · Chief Architect · Plone Solutions · Norway

        Consulting · Training · Development · http://www.plonesolutions.com
      _____________________________________________________________________

             Plone Co-Founder · http://plone.org · Connecting Content
         Plone Foundation · http://plone.org/foundation · Protecting Plone



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