Brummy Birmingham had planned to roll out 1,500 Linux PCs in its libraries, but in the end converted just 200 PCs. Apparently it 'suddenly found out' that Windows XP was cheaper than the free open sauce software.

According to ZD Net, top British Vole Nick McGrath said that there was no 'special deal' offered to Birmingham. Birmingham IT chief Glyn Evans said that Linux was dumped after the result of a trail. He said the council did not seek a better deal from Microsoft but didn't say whether Vole had given them one anyway.

Bob Griffiths, international secretary at SOCITM, the association for public sector IT professionals confirmed that Microsoft had been "involved in negotiations" with Birmingham.

It seems that councils are learning if they threaten Vole with an Open Sauce project, Windows XP mysteriously is made more attractive.

Similar aspersions were cast upon the London Borough of Newham after it reverted to Windows in 2004 after trialling Linux, although it denied it.

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