The fact that Microsoft charges a subscription to word processors and spreadsheet software is nothing less than absurd. And the software itself is getting worse at every iteration
I feel like there is momentum in Europe to switch to FOSS. Europe knows that the US cannot be trusted any longer. And this cannot be undone. Europe is striving for independence. Huge amounts of money are being spent on military sovereignty right now. All of us here on Lemmy know digital sovereignty is equally important. Recently an ICC prosecutor was cut off from his MS account because the US doesn’t like the Netanyahu arrest-warrant. These things don’t go unnoticed. It shows that technological dependance is not innocent, it can and will be used against us.
We need to use this momentum. Get involved, mail your representatives (municipal, provincial, national, federal), get petitions running, mail newspapers, go to political party conventions and get this on the agenda. It won’t fix itself. This problem is somewhat abstract and the solutions are just slightly too complicated for the general public. Most people don’t know what FOSS means. If we want this to change, those who see it and understand what needs to be done, need to get in to action.
If they use means more funding to foundations & projects, this helps everyone. You can see a feedback loop were more and more things hit critical mass. This is a nightmare scenario for the big closed source houses.
I wish these decisions would cause a domino effect around the world.
I don’t think so. Our gendarmerie is running a Linux distro since 10ish years, but the National Police is planning to change all the computers for windows 11. They are doing almost the same thing but there is a painful difference in Microsoft’s ass licking
In theory they could. Every city or state that migrates increases the market for open source solutions, and many also invest in the creation of custom software that others can later use when they migrate. The problem imo is hitting a critical mass, and also overcoming lobbyism at the highest levels.
France created their own open source version of google docs as well. France hasn’t always been on the ball, but these decisions are top notch.
France created their own open source version of google docs as well.
“France” as in the government? Or do you mean the Framasoft association?
https://github.com/suitenumerique
French government. Maybe there’s collaboration? It’s late and I’m wired
Nice. There’s a demo for the Docs.
Bravo la France ! Here’s to hoping more cities follow suit :)
I dunno, between how clearly French people routinely and thoroughly let it be known that they will not be fucked with by their leadership and shit like this, if I win the lottery and get rich enough for some country to let me escape from the white nationalist oligarchy of the US, France is looking pretty good.
Saddly, Macron is fucking everyone and helping far right to grow. Also, look for nestlé and Élysée. They are fucking corrupt too
We all know that switching to Linux is just at important as the massive global arms race that’s escalating, fast.
Umm… Do we?
I’ve been proselytizing Linux for almost 30 years and even I’m not sure it’s remotely important right now.
