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

Julius Szelagiewicz julius at turtle.com
Thu Mar 15 19:22:09 UTC 2007


On Thu, 15 Mar 2007, David Hopkins wrote:

> 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.
>
Dave,
	I don't know how to cure stupidity, but I do know that there are
pills to protect us from infection :-)
	I have to provide access to many sites that require IE and the way
I do it is by the use of Crossover Office software. The IE run under CO is
not perfect and somewhat old, but at least I get to weasel out of the need
to buy licenses for all the users. There is money involved, but it is a
small fraction of the cost of M$ license.
julius




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