this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2024

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A German state is ditching Windows and Microsoft Office for Linux and LibreOffice on the 30,000 PCs it uses for local government functions (www.theregister.com)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's most northern state, is starting its switch from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice, and is planning to move from Windows to Linux on the 30,000 PCs it uses for local government functions.

Concerns over data security are also front and center in the Minister-President's statement, especially data that may make its way to other countries. Back in 2021, when the transition plans were first being drawn up, the hardware requirements for Windows 11 were also mentioned as a reason to move away from Microsoft.

Saunders noted that "the reasons for switching to Linux and LibreOffice are different today. Back when LiMux started, it was mostly seen as a way to save money. Now the focus is far more on data protection, privacy and security. Consider that the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recently found that the European Commission's use of Microsoft 365 breaches data protection law for EU institutions and bodies."

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Consider that the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recently found that the European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 breaches data protection law for EU institutions and bodies.”

Good news :-)

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago

Lol, it took a while to see the mountain. Also, they should sue Microsoft, if data was transfered and stored in US.. AH, no. There's probably the usual default dialog that you click 'Agree' on blindly. Anyway, good news. I hope they invest the money on further development, sponsoring, support, and training of employees.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 6 months ago (1 children)

There's a learning curve, but really, every large org can save so much money that way.

Heck, most proprietary apps are web apps these days anyway, so it really doesn't hurt running Linux except for a few specialty roles. Just run Mac or Windows for those areas, and everyone else gets Linux.

I would love it if my work computer was Linux, 90% of my work is on a terminal anyway, it would save me from having to SSH to a Linux server every day.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

Honestly, large org could pay FOSS developers for maintenance etc and it would be still a better deal all around.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Again? Isn't this the third time or something? Then Microsoft comes along with a briefcase of Euros and the "problem" goes away. Sombody please correct me if I'm mis-remembering.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 6 months ago (2 children)

What you describe happened in Munich, at least. This is in another state.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

Yes, Munich, thank you! 👍

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

@cyberwolfie
Sensibly munich switched back to open source in 2020 :)
@kingmongoose7877

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

Maybe they're looking to get a big Microsoft contract. Switching to FOSS attracts suits bringing cash.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

It's not a lot of stuff really going on in foss/anti-bigtech

If they do it in all states at once there will be nothing to talk about in years

[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Am I the only one who is getting sick and tired of those AI generated images below every article?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I think this one is kinda funny

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It features the flag of the German empire that nowadays is only used by Nazis and "sovereign citizens".

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Tell me about it, I've worked with AI generation images and the aesthetic is so easily recognized its and lazy addition to journalism

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Yeah, I don't really care it's not like I look at it anyways

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The new German Microsoft headquarters will be in Schleswig-Holstein i guess.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

It's strange how that happens when a government starts to consider other options.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

If all they are using their PCs for is word processing and intranet webapps, perhaps they don't need Windows anymore. It is not like ActiveX is supported anymore.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Massive Microsoft bribes incoming...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Between basically every process being done on paper, and most of the civil servants having no idea what an operating system is, I'm sure this will go great.

[+] [email protected] -13 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Ugh I hate office365 but holy shit I would not want to support libreoffice.

The FOSS scene really needs an office suite that doesn't feel like its from last century. People use Microsoft shit not only because its the only choice but because its actually usable for office tasks.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

What's wrong with libreoffice, exactly?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (7 children)

Exactly? The interface is god awful, if you're running a dark theme then your icons will be unseeable (black on black) unless you enable experimental features. The interface is straight out of the early 2000s.

If I, a computer person, has so many issues with software normie office workers are going to use then they'll have a hell of a time using it. I'd definitely not wanna be the helpdesk people having to deal with endless calls about why they can't print their tps reports because they can't find the print icon.

Libreoffice had some steam when it first forked from OpenOffice but it ran out pretty quickly. Theres not been any meaningful features added and they can't even keep up with the frontend interface.

Also. It doesn't seem like the German gov announced any kind of large funding contributions to libreoffice so I have no idea how they plan on encouraging anyone to fix the issues they'll no doubt have.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Exactly? The interface is god awful, if you’re running a dark theme then your icons will be unseeable (black on black) unless you enable experimental features. The interface is straight out of the early 2000s.

Erm. I don't have any experimental features enabled, and my icons aren't black on black as far as I can see.

I've been using only Libre Office for about the last six years for the daily running of my business and I have no problems. Furthermore, I despise the ribbon interface, give me an interface from the 2000's any day.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

@krolden @vort3 Libreoffice has like 6 different interfaces that you can pick from at startup, including one that is licmicking Office’s UI.

It also auto detects dark mode and auto sets icons to be the right theme, so, that criticism seems dated to me :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Ironically, I prefer for LibreOffice to not follow my dark mode setting. I always want it to be light mode.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Try OnlyOffice

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Yeah I'd use only office before libreoffice for an org for sure.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The interface is straight out of the early 2000s.

The last good version of MS Office was Office 2000. The ribbon interface and the rest of its spawn are godawful.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I hate that crap ribbon interface

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

As a helpdesk guy, this type of issue happens with microsoft office just as often. People tend to memorise where the thing they use everyday is, and any update that changes where it is or how it functions "breaks" their flow of doing their task. We as technical people tend to simply have the skills to use a search engine to find out where it moved/how to solve our problem, but they dont.

While I havent been using libreoffice that long or as intensively as a government enployee would so I cant comment on if its the best OSS office suit for this situation, Im just happy they are starting the switch away from microsoft and CSS and finally waking up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Sad but true.

Libreoffice = has all features, awful design

OnlyOffice = better design, less features

WPS = best design, fucked up features.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago

I would argue that MS Office feels like it's from the last century as well. Even the newest versions of it feel like it was made by people who have never had to use it.