[K12OSN] OT: Required use of IE by State DOE

[Accessys@smart.net]

way off topic, but when I was buying for a state agency (not IT) I had a
standard, the vendors all got a chance to buy me lunch and tell me about
their product over lunch (at the same nearby bistro)  no matter how big or
small they all got the same face time and none ever came to my office.
in all the years I was never accused of favoritism in purchasing .

if they are "accepting" favors from one vendor that could be illegal.

Bob


On Thu, 15 Mar 2007, Peter Scheie wrote:

> (There's an idea brewing here: Having government officials say they have great
> connections with a private business, such as your CIO has done, reminds me of the line
> from Styx's "Too much time on my hands": "I've got dozens of friends and the fun never
> ends, that is, as long as I'm buying".  Government shouldn't really have close ties to
> any vendors.  Private businesses, sure, they can have ties with whoever they want, they
> have no obligation to be neutral.  But government is different.  Unfortunately, it
> sounds like your CIO doesn't quite grasp that.  Who *doesn't* have good ties to their
> vendors?  The vendors are supposed to be your 'servants', although there's a price.)
>
> Petre
>
> David Hopkins wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > This is off-topic, but apparently the DOE for Delaware is developing
> > software (paying for the development) which will require the use of IE
> > in order to be used.  When asked why, the response is typically of the
> > form 'because that is what we want'.  Now, this is going to impact the
> > use of K12LTSP (or the adoption of anything that is not MS-centric).
> > So, has anyone come up with a legal requirement that would make
> > requiring the use of a specific browser by a specific vendor on the
> > vendor's hardware illegal?  I don't see how Section 508 can be used to
> > get around this, but perhaps someone on the list knows something.
> > Delaware is a very very very MS-centric approach to IT.  In fact, the
> > Delaware CIO boasts about the close ties of Delaware and MS.  He was
> > formally the Verizon lobbyist to the state.
> >
> > We are a small enough state (2 degrees of separation for most people)
> > that if there is something questionable about the proposed approach, it
> > can be changed but only with really good reasons.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Dave Hopkins
> >
> >
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