Chinese internet cafes to install Linux(RFL) or Genuine Windows!

[vaithy]

Linux stand for freedom!! but don't tell this to the Chinese!! now a day more Chinese local governments are using Red Flag linux(RedHat of Chinese??)Not only this, They have issued order for Stop using the pirated softwares(Windows??) and only use Linux Geniune Advantage ...
Read the full story..
A CITY IN CHINA has required Internet café operators to replace pirated software with legitimate versions – the officials primarily pushing Linux.

Nanchang, the capital of China’s Jiangxi province has around 600 Internet cafés which will be affected by the order – yet some are moaning about the cost of legal software.

Cafes which don’t adhere to this order however, will lose their licence to operate.

"We recommend the use of Red Flag Linux server operating system or Microsoft Windows Server operating system," said the directive issued by Nanchang's Cultural Department.

Although Windows will be an option for the cafes, Linux seems to be the preferred OS as officials seem to have struck a deal with a local Red Flag Linux distributor to install licensed software and provide two years of support.

Ren Xiaojie, general manager of a software distribution company said, "We're using domestically produced Red Flag software, and have set a standard one-time fee of 5,000 yuan (about £150) for each Internet cafe, which includes a lifetime license, and we will provide all Internet cafe owners two years of maintenance support for free.”
Source:http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...ed-away-pirate

vaithy

[mrintech]

loltheyCHINESE

[thewisecrab]

lmao
/me remembers the "pirate" episode in china

[tgpraveen]

WRONG TITLE

they are NOT forced to use linux . they have choice of ORIGINAL unpirated windows or linux.

[Vishal Patil]

But a good news for Tux.

[NucleusKore]

Good news

[satyamy]

In terms of comparision
Linux is Good but Windows is Best

but their is no prob. in using Linux when it is a Free OS

[4T7]

Long live communism

[vaithy]

The news from chinese is authorities are taking action against those they who have thier licensed copies of Windows...
Entire episode is stage managed by M$ and the BSA alliance of Chinese.. first they approached Chinese Local Govt. for enforcing strict penalty for copywrite violations..The Chinese on their part play their roles to raide the internetcafe confiscated pirated system, then instructed the owners to install Red Flag Linux which cost them 5000 yuan of chinese currency for two year vendors support.. The problem with chinese is they are hard core gamers, they will not able to play games in that Linux PCs(unless it come with Wine)..So they are agitated..
This is not good for Linux!

Vaithy

[Vishal Patil]

so are they just affecting the cafe owners or also the home users???
Does their OS contain anything to filter the internet content??

[vaithy]

US government-funded radio station, Radio Free Asia, thinks this is just a ploy to spy.

Radio Free Asia quoted Xiao Qiang, director of the California-based China Internet Project, as saying the new regulations would only help the authorities to undertake heightened surveillance of the cafes.

Yet even though this is probably one form of monitoring, whether the net is accessed from an Internet cafe or home it is regularly monitored for content which is politically subversive, related to pornography, gambling or any other illegal business.

However Internet watchers are phoo phoo the idea of spying by the use of Linux in the internet cafe.The chinese already filtered many web contents, before reaching the end users, Who use mostly Windows PCs.. It is more easy to spy on windows users then on Linux..The main purpose of the above order is to prevent the internet cafe becoming 'gaming centres'
It is ironic one of the weakness of the Linux is now sought to spread it among the masses..

vaithy

[NucleusKore]

Actually I disagree with the title of this thread.

It should have read,"Chinese forcing people to use genuine software!!"

They are not forcing people who used licensed windows to switch to linux are they?

[IronManForever]

I stand by NucleusKore. The title as well as the first few lines written by the OP; need a total reforming.
There isn't even one bad thing in the Original article, contrary to what OP said.
This is just flame bait and China-hate ... Im sad.

[vaithy]

Well My posting is mainly from 'the inquirer (http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...ed-away-pirate)
Also slashdot web site is also running the same discussion
(http://linux.slashdot.org/linux/08/12/03/2033243.shtml)
"Reports are popping up that Chinese Internet Cafes are being required to switch to Red Flag Linux. Red Flag is China's biggest Linux distro and recently received headlines for their Olympic Edition release. The regulations, effective Nov. 5th, are aimed at combating piracy and require only that cafes install either a legal version of Windows or Red Flag. However, Radio Free Asia says that cafes are being forced to install Red Flag even if they have legal versions of Windows. Obviously questions about spying and surveillance have arisen, with no comment from the Chinese Government."
It clearly mentioned that the users who are having legitimate copies of Windows are also affected even the order is to avoid pirated OS in Internet cafe...Another thing bothered the Linux users are that Red Flag Linux has not made the source code available in their website...So nothing differendiate from Ballmer & Co.. Where Ballmere is using Money power to promote their OS Red Flag Linux vendor is using Chinese dictatorial Govt to achieve their business model..
vaithy

[JojoTheDragon]

Chinese on linux. Looks like Bill Gate's profits are going to get low

[ax3]

@NucleusKore ...... +1 .....

linux rocks ! ! !

[kumarmohit]

Originally Posted by vaithy

It clearly mentioned that the users who are having legitimate copies of Windows are also affected even the order is to avoid pirated OS in Internet cafe...Another thing bothered the Linux users are that Red Flag Linux has not made the source code available in their website...So nothing differendiate from Ballmer & Co.. Where Ballmere is using Money power to promote their OS Red Flag Linux vendor is using Chinese dictatorial Govt to achieve their business model..
vaithy

They have not done.. what!
Then how come they cliam to give a life time licenses of linux. BTW what exactly is a lifetime license for Linux. I thot GPL did not bother about lifetime and all.
Since code is not public this means that they are moving from genuine/pirated window to pirated linux. Without source code being out, Red Flag is nothing more than pirated linux!

[MetalheadGautham]

This has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with opensource. Actually, its about china's self reliance plans. They have their homebrew CPU too, which they are actively pushing. Now Red Flag Linux. And not to forget chinese electric bicycles.

[red_devil]

for once i appreciate those chinese...

now hope they make similar legislation in India too..<saying this whilst i'm using p-rated XP >

[vaithy]

Originally Posted by kumarmohit

They have not done.. what!
Then how come they cliam to give a life time licenses of linux. BTW what exactly is a lifetime license for Linux. I thot GPL did not bother about lifetime and all.
Since code is not public this means that they are moving from genuine/pirated window to pirated linux. Without source code being out, Red Flag is nothing more than pirated linux!

Pl. check the RFL website : http://www.redflag-linux.com/eindex.html

In the download section only two cd ISO of desktop version avilable. their server version is not available. Also read about their tech support section similiar to RH but only different is they didn't provide the source code link anywhere in the website.

In some sites I have the reputation of windows basher.. I am running four distros along with Vista in my system.. the posting is from Sidux..Whenever Win-boys shouted at Linux Enthusiasts in forum with we have 90% U have 1 % , I was glad to resort to,' Yes Duryodhana's 100 brothers but Pandav are only five... so number is not the matter here.. My only want is that linux should stand on its own community as well as the freedom loving citizens of the world...
Ofcourse, Gates&Ballmere and co has used third degree methods to get the market share.. this should not be the justification for Linux using the same idea.. right or wrong 'Red Flag Linux is the Albatross that hung on the neck of the ancient Mariner (Linux)

vaithy

[Vishal Patil]

well actually if they are forcing to use genuine software, microsofts (bill gates left Microsoft, now works there just an employee) profit is gonna increase, coz most games run of windows n not linux.

[kumarmohit]

but only different is they didn't provide the source code link anywhere in the website.

Which is the reason I am compliaing! The primary requirement of GPL and hence that of any Linux distro is that Source Code has to be made available to anyone who wants. Since Red Flag is not doing that, the only loser in the deal is OS community itself.

As the code is locked, no one can see what the PRC government has built into the code. Add to this the Great (Fire)Wall China and I smell something bad...

[red_devil]

the govt. does something good (encouraging the use of genuine s.w) but then comes up with this!!

damn the communists !!

[NucleusKore]

The title of the thread has changed, funny :-P Looks like the mods/admins are watching this thread. Anyway some of the above posts still have Re: <Old title>

[IronManForever]

Offtopic: ^^ All posts submitted before the thread title changed, other than the Original Post; have the Re: <original title>.

Editing done by Hitboxx - An active OSS user/analyst of the forum.