“FAA chief information officer David Bowen said he’s taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google Apps as he mulls replacements for the agency’s Windows XP-based desktop computers and laptops,” Paul McDougall reports for InformationWeek.
“Bowen cited several reasons why he finds Google Apps attractive. ‘It’s a different sort of computing strategy,’ he said. ‘It takes the desktop out of the way so you’re running a very thin client. From a security and management standpoint that would have some advantages,'” McDougall reports.
McDougall reports, “Google launched Google Apps Premier Edition last month at a price of $50 per user, per year. It features online e-mail, calendaring, messaging, and talk applications, as well as a word processor and a spreadsheet. The launch followed Google’s introduction of a similar suite aimed at consumers in August. The new Premier Edition, however, offers enhancements, including 24×7 support, aimed squarely at corporate and government environments.”
“Bowen said he’s in talks with the aviation safety agency’s main hardware supplier, Dell Computer, to determine if it could deliver Linux-based computers capable of accessing Google Apps through a non-Microsoft browser once the FAA’s XP-based computers pass their shelf life,” McDougall reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Once the FAA’s XP-based computers pass their shelf life, they should be replaced with very competively-priced, and often less expensive, Apple Macs – the only personal computers capable of running Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows natively and/or via fast virtualization (Google lists Apple’s Safari as a supported browser for Google Apps or use Firefox on the Macs). Maximum bang for the buck means Apple Mac. This is obvious and logical – which explains why a government official isn’t considering it.
Contact info:
David Bowen
FAA Chief Information Officer
Orville Wright Bldg. (FOB10A)
FAA National Headquarters
Room Number 602
800 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20591
202-493-4570
Online email form (use “other” for Category field): http://faa.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/faa.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
Related article:
US DOT, FAA ban ‘upgrading’ to Windows Vista, Explorer 7, Office 2007 – March 02, 2007
Government intelligence. An oxymoron if there ever was one. However, random luck does tend to possibly play into this.
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N.
Who is gonna tell him?
Better for Microsoft stock to plummet than a jet…
Thin computing is as bad an idea as buying from Microsoft.
The real solution is to put more power and flexibility into the hands of the users so that real innovation can flourish, not concentrate it with the IT department, where it will only be used for political power within the organization.
MDN Magic Word: already. As in, thin computing has already been tried, and it has failed every time is was tried.
The fact that a government agency is looking at ANY alternative to M$ is a miracle (and a sign) in itself. It would be nice if they could just stretch a little more and Get a Mac!
Check out how much Vista really sucks here:
http://aspnetresources.com/blog/vista_sucks.aspx
The article is from December, but there are lots of more recent comments, posted up to today.
Check it out before Microsoft yanks it.
This was all explained in Monday’s Roughly Drafted.
As much as we think the Mac sells itself, Dell is the FAA’s current supplier and if Apple wants to change that they need to get their Enterprise salespeople into the FAA to make the pitch (or petition Congress to open the contract up for a competitive bid).
Actually, only Gmail and Calendar are supported for Safari. Docs and Spreadsheets (among other things) and not supported. Though somethings tells me that may change soon…
It is a step in the right direction, away from Microsoft. But why Linux? I use linux on old windows systems to get some use out of outdated equipment, but for anything new it has to be a Mac. I can compile any linux app to run on the Mac. If the FAA needs something that is a linux Binary, they have the clout to get it recompiled for the mac.
If they are unable to get any windows or Linux app, natively on the mac, there is always Parallels, VMWare and or Boot Camp.
Buy a Mac … run anything!
What we need in the market share for computers is:
33% Mac
33% Linux
33% Windows
1% Whatever
Competition will give us all a better computing experience.
“The real solution is to put more power and flexibility into the hands of the users so that real innovation can flourish, not concentrate it with the IT department, where it will only be used for political power within the organization.” — Chris
Contextually speaking, your solution makes little sense, unless of course you’re suggesting empowering the workforce but quite frankly, I can think of a half a dozen alternatives that don’t involve computers.
Thin clients are probably the best solution for the FAA. The CIA and FBI finally wised up to thin clients, so I’m sure the FAA will make good use of them as well.
The FAAs investigatory element requires access to highly sensitive databases and sending laptops out into the field with hard drives loaded with this critical information is just asking for trouble.
A thin client laptop however, can connect to a Virtual Private Network through an encrypted tunnel over a public network (the internet) to access these databases without risk or compromise to the data.
The current solution is to deploy laptops out into the field with hard drives loaded with this highly sensitive information and how many times have lost or stolen laptops with sensitive data on them compromised an organization?
Tommy boy makes good point.
Maybe there’s a solution: what if Apple addressed the problem that having just one suppler of computers that run OS X doesn’t fit the government’s way of doing business?
Apple could set up another computer company, control the technology and license this new company to use Mac OS X.
This would give government purchasing agents a choice of two suppliers. The computers could be designed and configured differently to meet the minimum standards government might specify, without affecting Apple’s product line in any way. Shares could be offered to the public over time. And with more volume, Apple would make more money than ever on its investment in software.
oh please, as if the FAA is gonna go with Macs… they’re great, but still in the luxury budget. you think a govt agency is gonna spend $1000 per computer that can only be built by one company? i love macs, but the answer is no… this is more of a linux/google/anti msft story than a mac story
>whoeverisme
What you’re not gonna buy Mac Mini’s?
Every time M$ releases a new OS..
…we hear of buisnesses and government agencies “considering” alternative non-M$ solutions for their computing needs.
This is the only leverage people have against the M$ monopoly and it’s huge costs.
The unfortunate truth is they always go back to the vomit of Microsoft solutions and accept even more control.
One must completely break from the Stockholm Syndrome which is Microsoft software and embrace something else. Like Mac’s for instance.
This guy is being visionary – replacing expensive O/S and office apps with a free O/S and a much cheaper office suite – and all you guys do is get nasty because he’s not buying Mac’s?
Seriously, you’re calling the guy a moron – I thought the Mac community was better than that. Apparantly not. The only difference between you guys and MS is the hardware. The superiority complex and the snobbery is the same.
Shame on you all.
Gawd, as much as I hate to admit it, I’m gonna have to agree with whoeverisme. But at least, it will be less business for MS, and IT people may start to wean themselves off of the Cupertino tit. Employees may then start to consider alternatives to windows, such as os x.
A lot of people use windows at work, and don’t want to go through the perceived hassle of learning another OS. Yeah, some of them will switch to linux, but a few may consider switching to Mac.
The less of a stranglehold MS has on the business and enterprise market, the more its consumer market share will begin to slip.
I actually don’t have any problem with the FAA going the Linux/Google route. That would probably be the least expensive option for us taxpayers, plus Microsoft would be cut completely out of the picture.
Agree with David. MDN’s take is unrealistic as well as short-sighted.
That being said, this does open an opportunity for Apple to court the FAA directly by offering significant volume discounts. It has happened often in the past, usually involving big school districts. No reason Apple couldn’t offer something similar to get the FAA’s business.
Google records everything and keeps it forever. The government of the US is going to allow itself to keep all transactions on Google where anyone and everyone can search on correspondence? Oh, and what happens when it refuses to pay the annual fee per year per machine?
BTW, other arms of the government have been and are buying Macs.
Army, NSA, FBI…
I have to disagree with MDN this time as well. Simply getting Microsoft out of the loop would definitely be a good thing. Plus, as has been mentioned, going with Linux and Google apps would be the least expensive alternative for the taxpayers. I have to support the FAA and David Bowen on this one.
The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) has signed a secrecy clause with Microsoft which prevents it from disclosing the prices schools are paying for software licences.
……
In January 2007 Becta said that early adoption of Microsoft’s new Vista software involved “high risk” and did not recommend its early adoption in schools. The costs of a widespread deployment of Vista are currently estimated to be around £160m while the benefits are unclear, according to Becta.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/07/becta_ms_deal/
Sounds like so much these days, such a disaster that the only option is a cover-up.
Linux sounds good for thin client type use but I agree that trusting Google with information is being too trusting.
Like it or not people, Google and Apple are allies. Hell, Eric Schmidt is on Apple’s board.
The bottom line is that any victory for Google (especially when it’s at the expense of Microsoft) is also a victory for Apple. The sooner everyone realizes that fact, the better off you’ll be.
I have to say that macs arent needed in many government offices. Any easy to use/setup linux distro would be better and cheaper. Its getting easier every day to compile a custom linux distro with all the necessary software. Government workers do not need much on their computers. An office suite, mail/calendars, and a browser is all that is needed. Zimbra would suffice for the mail and calendaring. Firefox with a few extensions is perfect.
Doubting Thomas, thanks for the compliment, but from your post it is obvious that you didn’t read my link. The FAA already sole sources their computers, from Dell. Changing their sole source to Apple does not require any change in the way Apple does business.