: one proof more for rayelan's predictions: the german foreign
: office and the german defence ministry will not use anymore
: microsoft software.

(from a year ago)

Norway mulls replacing Microsoft windows with Linux system

From: "AFP" <C-afp@clari.net>
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 9:10:09 PST
news:clari.world.europe.northern

OSLO, March 3 (AFP) - The Norwegian authorities are considering replacing Microsoft's Windows computer operating system with the Linux software, to reduce their reliance on the US program, an Norwegian official said on Friday.

"We have just launched at the government's request a study on the applications that Linux might have in the various ministries, essentially in order to reduce our dependence on the current sole supplier (Microsoft)," said Endre Groetnes, adviser at Statskonsult, a public sector research institute.

"The aim is also to determine if the choice of Linux would be
cheaper than Windows," he said.

Statskonsult is due to publish its conclusions at the end of the year. Each ministry will be be free to decide between the two
systems.

The French and Danish authorities are also looking at the
possibility of replacing Microsoft with Linux.

Operating systems govern the core functions of a computer. The
Linux system is based on the Unix language and is available in a
number of versions, which are available free.

Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet)