RobertB-DC's Journal: Strange Ghost: MS Funded Study Deciding Factor in 10yr Deal

Ghosts of Slashdot: 08/18/2004
[This one isn't a Ghost (yet), but it's sure a strange one. When I refreshed the front page, this article appeared in "Mysterious Future" red... with 11 comments already in place! Here it is, in case it changes before it's re-released... and just for the fun of it, here are the original 11 comments as well. Note how they all remark on the lack of comments... this indicates that Slashdot may have suffered a bug in the posting code.]

Microsoft Funded Study Deciding Factor in 10yr Deal
Posted by CmdrTaco in The Mysterious Future!
from the breaking-the-jaded dept.

Genevish writes "According to an article in the Register, Microsoft and the Newham Council in London have signed an agreement making Microsoft the preferred vendor for the council, instead of the original hybrid MS / Open Source plan. The council was very careful in choosing Microsoft, having an independent study done and all. The only problem is that the study was, you guessed it, not independent at all but funded by Microsoft. Their decision even had the journalists at the press conference laughing."

The Fine Print:
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them.
We are not responsible for them in any way.

Dang... (Score:2)
by OS24Ever (245667) <[e-mail]>
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:23 AM (#10002712)
(http://www.nomorestars.com/ | Last Journal: Wed Dec 31, '03 11:23 AM)
article is up for 10 minutes and no posts? Everyone still laughing at their keyboards or what?
--
As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.

politics (Score:1)
by kalpol (714519)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:23 AM (#10002717)
it's all about who gets the money, with an occasional intern thrown in.
--
12:50 - press return.

Bwahahaha (Score:3, Insightful)
by SpaceLifeForm (228190)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002722)
The joke's on Newham. Let's hope they do
another study in a few years and see how
much they really saved.
--
# install bush-2.0 ... GPF - General Population Fault

test (Score:0)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002725)
no comment on this story?!!?

Huh?... (Score:1)
by Lovedumplingx (245300)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002729)
(http://www.cs.cuc.edu/~jbeaven)
No one has posted yet? I was all for reading flamebait and trolls.
Maybe no one has anything useful to say.

Groklaw, a day late (Score:1, Informative)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002730)
Here [groklaw.net], posted yesterday.

I think the shark Slashdot jumped a while ago must have died and left its rotting, stinking carcass somewhere....

Wha? (Score:0)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002731)
No comments?! WTF... MS RDF?

Post #1 (Score:0)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002732)
Post #1

A bit sad... (Score:1)
by absurdist (758409)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002735) ...when the journalists have a better grasp of reality than the so-called leaders on the town council...

As seen on Groklaw (Score:0)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:24 AM (#10002738)
Hint to MS: It's Bad When Reporters Burst Into Laughter at Your FUD Tuesday, August 17 2004 @ 03:39 AM EDT [groklaw.net]

and this is funny because? (Score:1)
by erwin (8773)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:25 AM (#10002742)
stunned silence from the peanut gallery? A chance to slam MS and no takers?
Could it be that even /.ers are above shooting fish in a barrel?
not likely...

the real study is... (Score:0)
by Anonymous Coward
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:25 AM (#10002744)
when munich goes through the paces for about a year or two. the TCO will no longer be theoretical for a large government body, but real.
i have no vested interest in getting linux or microsoft onto desktops or servers, but all i've seen is microsoft spreading propaganda and other FUD about linux and open source.
remind me again, how you save money going ms office instead of open office?
every government has corruption and greased palms, this is just another example.

Ever been to a press conference? (Score:0)
by gazbo (517111)
on Wed Aug 18, '04 11:25 AM (#10002745)
"Even the reporters were laughing" - that's not such a rare amazing feat, y'know. Reporters in these events are rude and boisterous. It's like a locker room.

This is like saying "Even the hyenas were laughing".