Free Linux and OpenOffice - even if your email address doesn't end in .edu - (was Re: OT: Microsoft crazy academic deal)

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Alexander Schreiber wrote:
>> If you want REAL support, there is.. don't even TRY telling me that my wife 
>> should go on forums / UseNet for support - get REAL!
>> If you want to be able to game online, there is..
>> If a simpleton needs to take their linux laptop/desktop for fixing, there 
>> is (Circuit City / Best Buy / Tiger / CompUSA / Etc..)
>>
>> Maybe in a mom-and-pop shop, but any serious IT organization is NOT going 
>> to run free stuff without some (outside the company) support.
> 
> Does 'we have several thousand fulltime employees all over the world, 
> a few billions dollars in revenue per year and very healthy profits and
> we also have a pretty good market position' count as 'serious'?

Indeed.  I work for a company where the IT department has tens of 
thousands of employees and tens of billions of dollars of revenue.  The 
IT department performs its support almost exclusively internally.  In 
fact, I think it's easier for a larger company to internalize its 
support than for a smaller company.

Peace...  Sridhar