Microsoft Australia said it had signed a renewed three-year enterprise and services agreement with the NSW DET after 15 months of negotiations during which the department conducted "extensive research into alternative commercial and open source options".
Microsoft said the move would ensure consistency of software applications at NSW DET sites throughout the state. The deal encompasses software and services for 163,000 desktops and 2,300 servers.
The agreement is a continuation of existing software and servicing arrangements with NSW DET.
Wayne Houston, deputy chief information officer NSW DET, said "The agreement will benefit students, teachers and department staff at schools, TAFE institutes and offices and reflects our commitment to investing in the latest software and IT services to support public education and training."
The agreement also covers a 'work at home' usage rights for all department staff which will allow them to install Microsoft software and training materials on a home computer.
"The agreement also covers a 'work at home' usage rights for all department staff which will allow them to install Microsoft software and training materials on a home computer."
This should save the NSW DET from the embarrassing amount of piracy that occurs in where teachers install illegal copies of Microsoft (and other) software for their own personal use. I'm suprised that Microsoft didn't sick the BSAA onto the DET instead.
Of course, it still leaves the students out in the dark, having to pay for copies of Windows, Office and other software. What the NSW DET doesn't realise is that their choice of software has cost implications for those forced to use it and that while they may think they've saved themselves a bundle, they've cost a lot of other people needlessly.
Wayne Houston's comment that "the agreement will benefit students, teachers and others" is ignorant of the fact that this agreement will just serve to limit choice and cost their students and other dearly. It sounds good, but I'd love to see why he thinks that promoting limited software choices and using software that locks users into it's file formats it a "Good Thing (TM)"
Sounds to me like the DET just didn't want to learn something new.