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Comment by fbn79

18 hours ago

Who remember the failed experiment of abandoning Micro$oft by Munich

https://www-sueddeutsche-de.translate.goog/muenchen/muenchne...

It should be acknowledged that this was at least significantly about lobbying, and shouldn't be considered a cut-and-dry "failed experiment" (though clearly there are lessons that can be learned):

> [Munich Mayor] Reiter wanted Microsoft to move its Microsoft Germany corporate headquarters to to Munich. Microsoft moved and Reiter wants to deliver on his promise to make Munich a Windows-powered city.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-munich-should-stick-with-l...

It failed because of MS pushback and lobbying. As was reported countless times.

  • Also because Munich didn't actually want to leave Microsoft, they just wanted a better deal. (Which they got)

  • So, it can happen again is what you’re saying.

    • Not what I am saying. But yeah, except MS position in general is much weaker nowadays, especially because of Apple, not open source.

Microsoft came back with a far lower cost offer than they had before, and took the new head out for nice lunches

  • So it sounds like Munich ditching Microsoft wasn't a principled move, but just a business tactic to get the same software for cheaper.

    • Either that or decision makers changed from the decision to drop. The first ones valued sovereignty higher but they moved on and the second ones valued it less.