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Texas senator: Let's ban Windows Vista purchases

A Texas senator would require state agencies to get written approval from the Legislative Budget Board before buying the Microsoft OS, equipment, or licenses.

Dave Rosenberg Co-founder, MuleSource
Dave Rosenberg has more than 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to startup IPOs to open-source and cloud software companies. He is CEO and founder of Nodeable, co-founder of MuleSoft, and managing director for Hardy Way. He is an adviser to DataStax, IT Database, and Puppet Labs.
Dave Rosenberg

Just when you thought our tax dollars and TARP funds were going out the window, a Texas senator added a provision to the state budget that would require state agencies to get written approval from the Legislative Budget Board before buying Windows Vista technology related to an operating system, equipment, or licenses.

My San Antonio News reports on the proposal, up for debate Wednesday:

The "rider" in the proposed two-year, $182.2 billion state budget--expected to be taken up Wednesday by the Texas Senate--would require state agencies to get written approval from the Legislative Budget Board before buying Vista technology related to an operating system, equipment, or licenses.

Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, added the provision in committee and said it's meant to block purchases of the technology, which has been targeted by criticism: "Don't buy it because it's not worth it."

The senator must have experienced one "blue screen of death" too many to want to force an entire state to reject Vista.

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