Microsoft And Dell Win $90M Homeland Security Contract

[phoebe]

The Department of Homeland Security has awarded Microsoft a five-year, $90 million contract to provide desktop and server software. The agreement, which will be managed by Dell Computer, will cover 140,000 desktops.

The agreement gives the department a standard desktop configuration including Windows XP and Microsoft Office Professional. Homeland Security employees also will get access to the full line of Microsoft office-automation products.

Why Microsoft? Homeland Security says the advantages include a reduction in the costs associated with deployment, implementation, and maintenance, while providing for a more standard desktop environment. In addition, the department says, the agreement provides it with a common E-mail app.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=12800665

[realFedUp]

1. Bush pal Michael Dell wins

what a surprise.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

2. Will Homeland Security jobs be created in China or India?

Microsoft just fired a bunch of US workers so they could set up shop in India, and pay everyone less money. Are we going to outsource our Homeland Security to China next?

Microsoft and Dell are getting my tax money for this contract, shouldn't they be required to hire US workers? Shouldn't the money get spent here?

After all, this is coming out of our Social Security, and Bush is borrowing even more. I will be expected to pay it back.

[JewelDigger]

3. 140,000 desktops?????

How many people are gonna be employed for 'Homeland Security' anyway?

[ozone_man]

4. This sounds like Microsoft is turning into big brother.

Will the software be snooping on the public or protecting the public for outside threats? Windows XP seems to allow MS to snoop around your computer.

[LiberalLibra]

13. Same thing I was thinking - time to go solely to Linux n/t

..

[Tempest]

5. M$ and Dell already sole providers to DHS

This contact just makes it official.

The son of a friend is the local computer support for DHS' (formally DOJ) Immigration offices and they have been exclusively M$ and Dell for several years.

[Dead_Parrot]

6. Hmmm... "Microsoft" and "secuity" in the same sentence...

So, the security of the worlds last superpower rests on a family of OSes that falls over more often than a drunk on ice, and need "critical patches" every two or three days.
:wtf:
Are you scared yet?

[burrowowl]

15. MS and Security

in the same sentence. I thought the same thing. Does not compute.

[Poiuyt]

17. Anything but Windows

The Army switched from Windows to the Macintoch operating system for its servers because Windows was too insecure.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi pduck!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[GregW]

7. I have no problem with this

Microsoft is the logical choice for OS and Office Productivity software. I mean ... what else are you going to use ... Linux and Star Office?

Dell is I think one of the top PC manufacturers and has been my sole supplier of PCs at home and for corporate use for many years.

Sorry if I didn't approach this discussion with the anticipated "DU-colored glasses".

[theHandpuppet]

8. Dell one of GWB's top contributors

Michael Dell of Dell Computers is not only a close personal friend of GWB, he is one of the GOP's top contributors and poured a good deal of his own money into the (s)election of GWB in the 2000 campaign.

The facts and figures are availble from the "Mother Jones 400" at: http://www.motherjones.com/web_exclusives/special_reports/mojo_400/

[GregW]

11. Maybe so ...

VW was also the 'official car' of the Nazis ... but a lot of DUers drive Bugs.

I say go with the best you can and make sure they get the necessary security help they need to harden everything.

[Dead_Parrot]

10. Depends what they need...

...My customers also use M$, but They're not responsible for national security. I can't help feeling that what they're really going to need are several seriously big databases, in which case I'd rather lean on a dozen IBM i890's, and any old terminals. Or will they need access to lots of clip-art to defeat the evil Islamic menace?

[LifeDuringWartime]

16. are you serious?

microsoft is NOT a logical choice for an operating system supplier.

"what else are you going to use?"

Mac OS X and Microsoft Office v.X, or OpenOffice.

windows is probably the least secure, and most buggy operating system ever conceived. mac os x (or almost any *nix os) is the most secure and least buggy. i would expect (and hope!) that such a large and powerful arm of the government would have the sense to use secure software. after all, "security" is in their fucking name.

[section321]

9. This is good news......

Texas DPS: Aaah we're trying to track down a plane that's gone missin.
DHS: Is this about the pesky Dems again?
DPS: Yup.
DHS: Please hold...
DHS: Ok.. we got... what? What the??? Damn M$ Piece of crap. Boss, the Aircraft Tracking and Locater database just froze up again? Its got a blue screen.
DPS: Did you find them?
DHS: Go away. Don't call here anymore.

[jmatthan]

12. 100000 viruses - WMD

On the Wondows platform the count is presently well over 100000 viruses!! Looking for WMD - look at the Microsoft computer platform.

The American Administration certainly knows how to self destruct yourHomeland Security.

Wish all of you the very best of luck.

Regards

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

[PROGRESSIVE1]

14. Microsoft

Monopolysoft........, I mean Microsoft (Bill Gates) and Dell (Mike Dell) were both major contributors to Bush's 2000 Selection! Any suprise???