Buzz
In February, there were numerous discussions about transitioning from the Limux OS based on Ubuntu GNU/Linux distributions, used on over 29,000 computers in 6,000 city offices in Munich, to using Microsoft's Windows operating system, and it seems the city council has approved the plan to bring Munich back to using Windows after over 14 years of using Limux OS.
The city will spend approximately no less than 50 million Euros to implement the transition to using Windows 10, saving over 10 million Euros in license fees since they announced their ambition with Linux and Open Source in 2004. Additionally, they are also utilizing the famous free office software LibreOffice on those computers.
Metropolis Munich returns to Windows after more than 14 years
Mayor Dieter Reiter of Munich responded to the press, acknowledging that he has also listened to over 6,000 colleagues.
'We've always had a mixed system, and what we have here is the ability to use a single system,' Mayor Dieter Reiter responded. 'I've never claimed to be an IT expert, but I have the support of 6,000 colleagues, who are dissatisfied with the performance on computers running the current open-source operating system.'
The transition from Linux to Windows will commence in 2020
Metropolis Munich returns to Windows after more than 14 years since adopting Limux in 2004. However, the transition from Linux to Windows will begin next year, with the actual deployment to Windows 10 set to start in 2020 for all 29,000 computers in over 6,000 offices, costing the city approximately 49.3 million Euros. This move is part of a larger reform, valued at 89 million Euros and expected to be completed by 2023.
Munich city also plans to switch from LibreOffice to Microsoft Office, although there is currently no decision made, and the issue is that they rely on a customized template system called WollMux and LibreOffice.
If they have to switch to Microsoft Office, perhaps the locals here will opt for installing Office 2016, the latest version of Microsoft Office. Installing Office 2016 is quite straightforward, not too complex for those who have been working with computers for a long time here.
The city of Munich in Germany is a pioneer, inspiring many other cities around the world to transition their computer operating systems to free and open-source operating systems that do not require licensing fees, money they can then spend on IT infrastructure.
If you're fond of everything free, consider exploring the most popular Linux operating systems to understand and install one of these free, secure, and top-notch operating systems to grasp why the city of Munich opted for a Linux-based operating system in 2004 instead of Windows.
