This however is kind of single edge reporting since most employees had no problems or minor problems at all when using the new distribution and installed programs, like the popular OpenOffice.org suite or their in house mail client called "Scalix". It rather seems like a bad management finally led to the decision to reintroduce Microsoft Windows and run these systems along with the currently installed GNU/Linux distribution. Experts say though, that Linux was not the problem but a bad time management and a much to small migration window - maybe even the fact that end users werent involved and prepard enough for the newly introduced software. There has also been a problem with details project managers tend to overlook. In June the state departments webmailer was still missing some functionality like task management and other comfortable things people got used to in the past when working with Microsoft Outlook.

Nevertheless some questions are still unanswered. Why did the government order a rollback when project "Ambassador" already solved the problems with OpenOffice.org integration? Why turning away when 90% of the staff only have small problems with the new software? Why accomodating to public preasure and economists when Windows 7 plus further software from Microsoft will sum up and cost the tax payer several millions?

Strategic decisions are shortsighted often when it comes to security, stability and performance. One can run a system which has bad performance - it won't hurt as long as it doesn't affect daily operations too much. In a nutshell: such systems and system infrastructures can be optimized since there is a basis for improvement. When it comes to systems which lack stability even more effort is required, but these ones are yet secure. Running an insecure system is the worst thing one can possibly do since it may lead to a loss of data and therefore a loss of business secrets and privacy. We at TRON-DELTA.ORG already experienced the security of Microsoft centric IT-infrastructures. Besides things like costs, problems with licensing, possible lock-in scenarios and the way we want to work with/modify our (operating) systems and applications, security is the primary reason for us to relinquish using software from companies like Microsoft. We also think the Swiss government should have taken this into account before their decision to return.