ZDNET - MS too Expensive say Schools

[eduabncs]

Interesting article on ZDNet. Article Here Comments!

[TechMonkey]

It's funny, we were talking about this in an ethics disscussion for a course I'm on. If I remember rightly last year MS had a profit of 6.7 billion. That was written as pure profit but I don't know for sure what that doesn't take into account. If they can make 6.7 billion profit, or even if half that figure to let them save some, does that not indicate that they can cut their prices with no ill effect? This did generate the opinion that they would then be held up for having unrealistically low prices and cutting everyone out of the market but it makes for interesting thinking.

[Dos_Box]

It's nice to see ZD Net talking to school techies. I got the distinc impression at BETT that some vendors really did not like network managers and techies there. They tended to spoil their sales prospects by telling teaching staff about how bad their wares actually were.

[tosca925]

They tended to spoil their sales prospects by telling teaching staff about how bad their wares actually were.

 

 

That sounds absolutely correct.

[Face-Man]

Lets face it if it was left to teachers to make ICT spending choices. Every kid would have an RM computer at home..... 8)

[russdev]

lol

 

I have emailed bloke who wrote article to say hi and offer edugeek if he ever needs any quotes for articles he is writing...

 

Russ

[Dos_Box]

Nice one.

[Norphy]

MS products aren't the cheapest by any stretch of the imagination but neither are they especially expensive, at least not for schools.

 

We have a Select agreement with Ramesys. Office licences cost us £35 each. XP Upgrades cost £41. Windows 2003 Std costs £55. They're no worse than Macromedia or Adobe, for example a Studio MX site licence costs just over £2k and Photoshop Elements costs £25 a licence. Looking at Pugh's website it seems that Wordperfect isn't signficantly cheaper either.

 

As the article says, as a school we get massive discounts on MS software. Looking at a handy Inmac catalogue I see WinServer 2k3 Std +5 CALs costs nearly £700 to the end user!

 

At the end of the day no-one forces us to use MS software. If I wanted to I could use a Novell directory service, Wordperfect office software and Linux OSes on the workstations.

[woody]

I like the way the article asked for Apple's opinion. So many times, people say "Oh apple computers are soooo expensive compared to PCs"

 

What they don't realise is that by the time you buy like for like (if there is such a thing) software on a pc comparable to what an apple comes with, PCs work out much more expensive.

 

when you buy your mac, the os comes with it, including a good package of high quality software. Plus the build quality is to a lot higher standard than your average generic pc.

[spc-rocket]

I agree with Norphy, MS licensing is not the cheapest but at the same time its not ridiculusely expensive!. With SELECT agreement the cost is not bad but hopefully we will see a drop in prices from MS as Becta review states its expensive.

 

Unlike linux systems there is only one code, one support provider etc, and it is easier to use - i don't want to turn this into one of those windows vs linux debate but for many schools MS is probably better option in terms of major rollouts.

 

Ash.

[indie]

I wonder how long it will be before Microsoft pay us to exclusively use their software within schools.

 

Kinda like what they (allegedly) did with Newham Council.

[Geoff]

Linux can work. There's many schools using it. However you need technical staff who are knowledgeable enough to support it. I think thats where it falls down at the moment.

 

OTOH windows admins are far more common and thus cheaper too. I'm sure the situation will balance out in the near future.

 

Linux is being used in hidden corners for the odd task everywhere now. Mostly thanks to single task liveCD based distro's. I've noticed once people try that they are more inclined to play around and get the experience they need to deploy more complex Linux based systems sucessfully.

[Wubbalubbadub]

I like the way the article asked for Apple's opinion. So many times, people say "Oh apple computers are soooo expensive compared to PCs"

 

What they don't realise is that by the time you buy like for like (if there is such a thing) software on a pc comparable to what an apple comes with, PCs work out much more expensive.

 

when you buy your mac, the os comes with it, including a good package of high quality software. Plus the build quality is to a lot higher standard than your average generic pc.

 

Disagree with this entirely...

 

Macs are approaching £1500 now... not going to start another "Mac Vs Windows argument". But this needs to be said.

[Jawloms]

@MJTayloronline - You realise you've just commented on a 13 year old article?

[Arthur]

Link to ZDNet article for those that want to read it thirteen years later...

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20061013214630/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,39020381,39247005,00.htm

 

Macs are approaching £1,500 now...

iPads start from £265.83 though.

 

I can't imagine many schools would buy a trolley full of MacBook Pros these days. They're more likely to be iPads or Chromebooks.

[Wubbalubbadub]

@MJTayloronline - You realise you've just commented on a 13 year old article?

 

Nope! hahah! why do these things keep coming up in recent!?

[Ditto]

Although 13+ years old, the OP seems so relevant in the current climate, especially with the price increases schools are seeing for MS licenses. I say bring this thread back to life!

I've just read the weekly staff newsletter from our head, and in it the head explains how she and other heads have written to the local MP to once again highlight the dire situation with funding. The head states there is an expected 20% drop for 6th form funding and cuts in support services, including for well-being and mental health, something which in parallel the government are increasing schools responsibilities. Going back to the specific point of the thread, MIS prices are interesting. I don't have those at my current school, but in my previous job, I had prices that varied by a factor of 6 - yes, some quotes were 6 times more expensive than others! Sure there were some functional differences at times, but not 6 times worth. I negotiated hard and used a per pupil/per annum basis for comparison. It would be enlightening to hear whether others are seeing much movement in MIS costs or indeed in any of the third party add-ons to those MIS, as well as any e-learning products price shifts.

[mavhc]

That's why I like people to mention the actual prices they paid for MIS software etc, without pricing info being public we're being scammed.

 

Also how much is Server 2019 now? Way more.

 

Still not enough people switched to Linux

[Ditto]

I agree about quoting pricing. I'm not sure why there is reluctance - perhaps concern over breaching contracts? As it's public expenditure, I'm sure the figures could be got via a FOI.