computer waste and FOSS - or, M$ is ex$pen$ive

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [InteRider] computer waste and FOSS
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:37:10 +0000
From: Chris Bailey <chrisbailey@socialrights.org>
To: interider@npogroups.org
CC: kmogi@waste.nl
References: <001301c5295a$cbc92640$6601a8c0@HOME>

The UK government's recent (favourable) final report on its trials of
using FOSS in the Public Sector supports what this ngo is saying:

> Hardware resources and the “Green” agenda
>
> One of the benefits frequently put forward for the use of Open Source
> Software is the level of resources needed to support it. This means
> that for equivalent Open Source and Microsoft Windows systems, the
> Open Source system will require less memory and a slower processor
> speed for the same functionality.
>
> Open Source operating systems such as Linux do not usually have the
> regular major upgrades that are a feature of Windows, and thus do not
> have the requirement that goes with these upgrades for a new or
> upgraded computer to run them. This means that a computer running
> Linux can have a significantly longer working life than an equivalent
> computer running Windows. This has the potential to impact
> significantly on costs, including purchase of software and hardware,
> and indirectly by reducing business disruption whilst implementing
> change and upgrading. There are also potential Green Agenda benefits,
> through reducing the energy and resources consumed in manufacturing
> replacement equipment, and reducing landfill requirements and costs
> arising from disposal of redundant equipment.
>
> Industry observers quote a typical hardware refresh period for
> Microsoft Windows systems as 3-4 years; a major UK manufacturing
> organisation quotes its hardware refresh period for Linux systems as
> 6-8 years.

The full report is available at http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?id=2190.
There might be more on this issue in the extensive case studies also
available there.

Chris Bailey

Teresa Crawford wrote:

> Hi folks -
>
> The email below came in to eRiders.net. Thought some folks on the
> list might be interested in talking with them. They are based in the
> Netherlands and are working on computer waste issues and want to look
> more into FOSS and how it prolongs the life of computers. Email
> address and name is below.
>
> Teresa
>
>> Name: Kiwako
>> Type: Question
>> E-mail: kmogi@waste.nl
>>
>> Dear Sir/Madame,
>>
>> How do you do.
>>
>> We are a non governmental organisation working in the fields of waste
>> management.
>> My name is Kiwako and I have been visiting your website very oftenin
>> the last months.
>>
>> Now we have started a project on Computer Electric Wastes.
>> This project is follow-up of previous one in Costa Rica, where we
>> have come to the concrete regislations how the computer wastes should
>> be treated (producers\' responsibility). Our goals in this project
>> is, to decrease the computer wastes, or at least, to make people
>> aware of that the lifetime of computers can be extended.
>>
>> With much respect for you as experiences leading experts in Open
>> Source movements, I would like to hear your opininons about our
>> hypothesis.
>>
>> In several gatherings we have come to following hypothesis:
>>
>> 1. By use of Open Source Softwares (OSS),
>> 2. there will be less required to Hardwares.
>> 3. This will lead to extended lifetime of computers.
>> 4. As result, it is possible to replace computers less frequently.
>> 5. This will lead to that there will be less computer wastes.
>>
>>
>> After gathering up reactions for this hypothesis, we would like to
>> organizing a gathering, in which we organize a talk amongth various
>> stake holders.
>>
>> I\'ll be delighted to visit you in Amsterdam to interview you.
>>
>> I\'d like to call you too, but which person should I ask for?
>>
>> Thank you very much in advance for your reaction,
>>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> Kiwako Mogi
>> Stichting WASTE
>> Nieuwehaven 201 2801CW Gouda, the Netherlands
>> +31 (0)182 522625
>> kmogi@waste.nl
>>
>> eRiders Contact Us Form.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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