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Chinese here, would love to share some observations: 1) It's likely that the ban on Windows 8 has nothing to do with "power-saving". To me power-saving is just
by xiaq 12y ago
Chinese here, would love to share some observations:
1) It's likely that the ban on Windows 8 has nothing to do with "power-saving". To me power-saving is just a buzzword in the title of the notice.
2) This notice is concerned with a specific round of bid. So it's not an administrative order, but rather a requirement list for the bidders. If I understand correctly this only applies to computers to be purchased during the bid. I'm not sure about how large the scale of the bid is, though; it may affect 1% of the government computer installations, or 99%. Either is possible without further information.
3) This notice doesn't say anything about Windows 7. What this means that bidders are allowed to provide computers pre-installed with Windows 7 and IMO this is pretty likely. Yes there are conspiracy advocates who would rather stick with Windows XP (I have never been able to understand their reasoning...), but I believe the computer vendors are more sensible. After all it's they who have to provide customer service.
4) This notice is also only concerned with the pre-installed OS. It's totally possible that the government officials may replace the OS with anything they like (which are, unfortunately, most likely pirate copies). I don't know about the central government, but it's common practice in local governments. The central government has very weak executive power when it comes to such detailed things. (Why bother enforcing such regulations after all?)
- denom 12y agoInteresting, given that the US Government itself does not run windows 8 yet.
- lotsofmangos 12y agoThen it follows that there must be US government procurement documents that ban Windows 8 on government computers, as it would be part of the spec. Perhaps someone should tell Reuters, they might have forgot in all the excitement.
- Retric 12y agoThat's not how things work. US procurement is not going to leave the OS choice up to a third party so they may require win 7 but there not going to ban win 8. If for no other reason that offline computers are 'secure' enough for testing and the government has a lot of proprietary apps.
- lotsofmangos 12y agoI suspect that whether a given government software spec includes blacklists, whitelists or a combination of both depends largely on who wrote it. Unless someone can show me that exclusive whitelisting is enforced US policy, I would think there will often be documents detailing which versions of software are not to be used on a given contract, as well as which ones are.
- ewams 12y agoSource for your incorrect information? DoD approved for more than a year: http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/os/windows/win8.html http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/os/windows/win8.html
- denom 12y agoI'm sure that windows 8 is deployed in a more than a few places. But for instance, the department of Ag _just_ upgraded to windows 7 from XP (squeaking by the end-of-life deadline). http://www.ocio.usda.gov/products-services/end-user-services/windows-7-platform http://www.ocio.usda.gov/products-services/end-user-services... In the case of the IRS, they are _still_ using windows XP, and they are paying Microsoft for support! http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/13/irs-pays-microsoft-for-windows-xp-support/ http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/13/irs-pays-microsoft-for-wi...
- Fuxy 12y agoSo basically what is say is Windows 8 sucks take it off the table anything else goes. I'm quite certain most people would agree with that statement.
- Pwntastic 12y agoThis doesn't contribute anything worthwhile to the discussion.
- xiaq 12y agoThe GP has actually grabbed some of my sentiment. I doubt that it's just an outright expression of the frustration over Windows 8 from the government people as customers and doesn't have much conspiracy behind it, which the tone of Reuters seems to imply.
- superduper33 12y agoYour face doesn't contribute anything worthwhile to the discussion.
- danudey 12y agoThe 'worst' part is that Windows 8 is actually fine, except for the extremely superficial differences. Given the many options for reverting Windows 8 to essentially a faster Windows 7 but with a new UI, Microsoft has really shot itself in the foot. If MS provided a group policy toggle to essentially say 'force Windows Classic mode', enterprises would have a lot less reluctance (beyond the normal reluctance that IT has to anything new, which is to get the enterprise's infrastructure into a state of balance and then not touch it for ten years).
- yuhong 12y agoAh: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1081755-do-you-like-or-hate-windows-8/?view=findpost&p=595048551 http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1081755-do-you-like-or-hat...
- 12y ago
- swuecho 12y agoWhat was the last time you go to China?