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Windows only tax software in Spain is challenged

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davidnix71:
http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2001/06/29.1.shtml


It's called Padre instaed of Hermano Mayor, but the effect is the same. If you have to run Windows, then your finances aren't safe.

worker201:
This isn't directly a Microsoft problem - it's more of an unfortunate market situation that has arisen because of Microsoft's market position.  I kinda see both sides of the story - if it's a convenience program, it makes sense to target the largest number of potential users possible without having to deal with versioning problems.  Microsoft's position in the market, and the overly-large backwards compatibility (I mean huge - beyond any reasonable expectations) of Windows systems kinda answer the question of who to target with the software.  On the other hand, Microsoft does not have a provider contract with the Spanish government -- and even if they did, they would be obligated to not give preferential treatment to Microsoft's customers.

What I think is kinda interesting is that the Linux users of Spain are way more organized than Apple Spain.  A handful of marginalized computer users appears to have way more influence on technological matters than a multi-billion dollar tech corporation.  In this case, Apple's centralized organization has actually hurt Mac users.  The Macfolk over there would have had better results from being a loosely organized mob of protesters than asking top lawyers and policy consultants for help.  I think this is a great win for grassroots organizations around the world.

Another interesting thing in the article is the idea of Europe having widespread access to benefits online, but perhaps that discussion is best suited for another thread.  What I do find kinda sad is that online benefits management software is still written as a client application.  Wouldn't this sort of stuff be much more efficient and secure as a server application?  Just point your browser (IE, Safari, Konqueror, etc) at the site and log in - easy.  Today's internet suggests that writing some sort of AJAX and/or Web-2.0 network application is pretty simple, and if Yahoo! can do it, Spain (an extremely rich country) should be able to do it too.

davidnix71:
A browser app is definitely the way to go. You don't share the program or code with anyone. Nothing to download. Maybe a few files saved for reference purposes on the home users machine. Encrypted transaction like buying something online.

Someone in the Spanish government probably gets a kickback on this.

Kintaro:
I'd have never thought a democratic government would even attempt this. Even in Australia the Government internet filter software you can freely download which they subsidized the development of supports Linux. I mean why not develop for platforms nobody uses? ITS FREE MONEY.

worker201:
Do you think that only people who use Windows should have access to government services?  Cuz that's fucked up.

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