MS Windows to Linux, Rise of Desktop Linux world!!

[mediator]

Linux gets a love letter from South Korea

The South Korean postal service is migrating around 4,700 desktop computers from Microsoft Windows to Linux.
The migration is expected to save the government-run organisation 850 million won (£450,000) per year, according to an article in The Korea Times last week. The computers, which are in 2,800 post office branches, are provided to allow the public to access the internet free of charge.
Korea Post also plans to be using Linux for its internet banking and payment system by the end of the year, according to the report.
The South Korean government has funded a number of open source initiatives over the last few years. In 2003, the government announced a plan to replace a significant proportion of proprietary software on PCs and servers with open source alternatives by 2007. Earlier this year, the government said it would provide more than £1.5m to government agencies to encourage them to adopt open source software.
South Korea is also part-way through a massive rollout of open source software to schools. The project, called the National Education Information System, plans to install a Korean-developed version of Linux in 10,000 schools across the country.

Source

In other stories .....

Macedonia installs 5,000 Linux PCs in schools

Macedonia may be well known for its place in books on ancient history, but it's now on the cutting edge of desktop Linux adoption. The Republic of Macedonia decided to deploy about 5,000 Linux desktop computers in 468 public schools and 182 computer labs nationwide last summer, based on a Ubuntu distribution with a GNOME desktop, the GNOME Journal reports.

The deployment was part of a joint project called E-School.MK, involving the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Education Development Center (EDC), and the Macedonian Ministry of Education and Science (MoES).

The Republic of Macedonia is a small country in Southern Europe with a population of around 2 million. Internet penetration is only around 5 percent, and software piracy rate is rampant. Also, the government does not play any major role in the development of information and communication technologies, and the private sector is dominated by Microsoft technologies, the Journal reported.

GNOME's Arangel Angov met with Darko Arso, Macedonia's Technology Integration Manager at the Education Development Center, to find out more about their reasons for using GNOME.

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Linux arrives on 50,000 Brazilian desktops

Three companies in Brazil -- BitWay Computadores, EnabledPeople, and IMTECH -- have begun deploying Linux-powered desktop PCs for the Brazilian federal government's "Computers for All" program, EnabledPeople announced today. The ready-to-use PCs, sourced by Bitway, include the "Linux XP Desktop" operating system, developed by EnabledPeople and supported by IMTECH.

Estimated monthly deployment is about 10,000 desktops, with 50,000 desktops already delivered, EnabledPeople, a Linux development company, said. The company did not indicate the total number of desktops that are to be deployed in the course of the project.

The Computers for All project is part of the Brazilian federal government's "Program of Digital Inclusion," initiated in 2003. The project's objective is to provide low-cost computers to the population and to boost technological development, EnabledPeople said.

Linux XP Desktop is described as a user-friendly desktop operating system for home and office users. With a preinstalled version, a user gets an application set that includes the OpenOffice.org office suite, the Evolution email client, the Firefox web browser, and the GAIM multi-protocol instant messenger, among other software. According to EnabledPeople, Linux XP Desktop is a Red Hat-compatible operating system, and is compatible with Red Hat's application set.

EnabledPeople and IMTECH have partnered to work on Latin America Linux solutions, according to EnabledPeople. IMTECH will represent EnabledPeople's interests, sell its products, and provide technical support by phone and by web helpdesk for the products, company said.

To meet the "Computers for All" program's requirements, EnabledPeople and IMTECH rebuilt Linux XP Desktop, adapted it to the program's specifications, performed a full Portuguese localization, and included specially built hardware drivers.

The program is supported by a number of Brazilian organizations, including the Ministry of Cities, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of the Development of the Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Education, and many others, according to Enabled People.

EnabledPeople is a Linux development firm; IMTECH provides solutions for IP telephony, and OEM solutions for PC manufacturers; and Bitway is the largest manufacturer of pre-installed Linux personal computers in the north and northeast of Brazil, according to EnabledPeople's announcement.

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China to install 141,624 Linux PCs in classrooms

China will install a total of 141,624 new desktop computers running Linux in school classrooms this year. The PCs are ticketed for the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, for an educational program called the School-to-School Project. They will run Sun Wah Linux's Debian-based RAYS LX.

The Jiangsu Province project is the largest procurement project in China's education history, Sun Wah Linux said. In addition, the deployment of RAYS LX marks the largest-ever Linux deployment in China, the company said.

The project will supply PCs to elementary and secondary schools in poor areas of nine cities in the provinces. A total of 15 companies competed for PC procurement deals worth a total of RMB $346.2 million (USD $42.7 million). Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo were among three of the PC makers who competed for the contract.

Chinese computer makers Haier, Founder and four other unnamed companies won the hardware contract, Sun Wah said.

"This project marks the cooperative effort of Sun Wah Linux and the Jiangsu government's use of Linux to fight against Microsoft's monopoly in China," said Sun Wah Linux CEO Alex Banh. "This is the largest Linux desktop roll-out in Asia, thus proving that [the] national Linux OS is moving toward more practical usage by saving millions of dollars and bringing profound influence to China Linux development and application promotion."

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[vish786]

141,624 for classrooms

Earlier, I use to say "World is changing from Win2nux".

Now "The world has changed".

Future has bcom present.

[iMav]

the trend continues the fact of more people friendly with the windows platform will change

[gary4gar]

Now who says "windows ins't losing grounds"

[din]

And in India states like Kerala, TN, WB and Karnataka are also moving to Linux. Especially schools and offices.

And for India, the BEST solution is Lin / Opensource.

$$$ always matters.

[gxsaurav]

^^^^ Yup, money is the only thing which always matters. Even in India MS should release Vista Home premium for Rs 3k flat.

[iMav]

if im not mistaken MS has already taken this trend into account nad have some student version or something like that dont know how good that is

[Help~Is~Here]

If migration to linux is happening in such huge nos. then sooner or later, the market share is going to shift with huge margins. I wonder what happened to the last estimate of 80% windows users around the world? With the failure of Vista and success of OS X and OSS, I see the market share of windows shrinking to less than 50~60% in the next year or two.

But Windows Fanboys will defend it saying it's dumb users who are migrating who don't know anything about computing!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by Help~Is~Here

But Windows Fanboys will defend it saying it's dumb users who are migrating who don't know anything about computing!

How many of them migrating are home users?

[din]

LOL, no, money is just 1 reason.

Seems like this is going like the other thread, have a look

Linux makes inroads into Microsoft's domain

[infra_red_dude]

its time the indian govt. seriously thot about moving over to linux. at least hundreds of crores of rupees can be saved. even govt. schools wid computer access should make this move. govt. should make this compulsory...

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

its time the indian govt. seriously thot about moving over to linux. at least hundreds of crores of rupees can be saved. even govt. schools wid computer access should make this move. govt. should make this compulsory...

Not compulsory, then students will only know about Linux & not Windows which again means limiting choices.

But yeah, MS should indeed lower prices world wide, $150 for ultimate thre. Thats it...no other edition

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Not compulsory, then students will only know about Linux & not Windows which again means limiting choices.

But yeah, MS should indeed lower prices world wide, $150 for ultimate thre. Thats it...no other edition

oops! that sentence should've come before the last one. govt. should make linux compul. in govt. offices......

Originally Posted by Help~Is~Here

How many home users are there for windows out of the so called 80% of winodws market share?

there are lotsa home users. lots... but they aint counted in the 80% share. the problem is in identifying what home users are using.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

How many of them migrating are home users?

believe me, lots and lotsa home users (whom i kno personally) haf migrated to linux, esp after the advent of beryl/compiz fusion etc.

[praka123]

yeah.its a nice move shred win and move to Open Source.more stablity cost savings and most importantly save from the monopoly microsoft&co.<--not a flame,a reality(hope the windows fans in mod close the eye).

[Help~Is~Here]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

How many of them migrating are home users?

Get a life dude!

Firstly, I didn't even name you or anyone as a windows fanboy but you yourself proved to be one by replying the that quote with something stupid enough..

Anyways, You get these nos. from corporations that are moving, the home users are not counted in this and it's impossible to count the exact no. of home users unless someone ones wants to take tha pain to do it. And everyone know the no. of home users that are migrating every single day

How many home users are there for windows out of the so called 80% of winodws market share?

And besides, are you now trying to tell that microsofts market is only in the home segment? When someone says, oh look, something else is beating microsoft in one segment, rather than accepting it, fanboys keep saying.. oh no, microsoft is better in another segment!! Get a life!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Not compulsory, then students will only know about Linux & not Windows which again means limiting choices.

Why would the government want to teach students to spend propostorous amounts of money on an OS like windows?

So, in short it's like saying, schools shouldn't make spam filters or firewalls compulsary because then students wouldn't know anything about the online sex industry! which is limiting choices!

[din]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

How many of them migrating are home users?

This is the main reason MS try at the school itself. Kerala is the best example. When computer came to the schools, MS tried their level best and tried to make all in Win and they won the first phase too - as the top level officials were all *****

Now its changed and people started realising things. Move should be started from schools and offices, and so far it is good. We can see a lot of home users on Lin very soon

- This is Din from Kerala, reporter for the ThinkDigit forum lol

[praka123]

calicut international airport hit due to M$ systems failing,flight cancelled.welcome to stability!
--urgent need for a transfer to Linux or OSS systems!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by Help~Is~Here

Firstly, I didn't even name you or anyone as a windows fanboy but you yourself proved to be one by replying the that quote with something stupid enough.

How about I m asking u in curiosity.

How many home users are there for windows out of the so called 80% of winodws market share?

Just look around u, what do u see more being used in homes. Linux or Windows.

Why would the government want to teach students to spend propostorous amounts of money on an OS like windows?

Because Windows is also an OS with the largest market share. Why does IGNOU has UNIX in there BIT course, ever tried finding?

If all u do on the computer is only one thing whole day then yeah, Linux is good enough.

[din]

$150 per 'ultimate' ? hmm Thats Rs.6000

So for 100 Pcs in schools = Rs. 600,000

For lin ? 50 per cd for 100 PCs = Rs. 5000 ? Oh no, these linux guys even allow the same CD to be installed on different systems, damn it

[infra_red_dude]

but there is one thing that deters ppl from moving to linux and this is MSOFFICE! if today, MS claims that 80% of computer users use windows, then 95% of those ppl stick to windows coz of msoffice.

and as din said, schools and govt. offices are the right places to inculcate OSS awareness....

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by din

$150 per 'ultimate' ? hmm Thats Rs.6000

So for 100 Pcs in schools = Rs. 600,000

So much misconception....ever heard of Microsoft Volume licensing. Also, for teaching purpose MS already provides a basic edition of Vista which is tailor made for teaching. R U gonna teach students in school about how to play Doom 3?....ever heard of VIsta starter edition which is good enough for school.

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Why does IGNOU has UNIX in there BIT course, ever tried finding?

i'm ignorant about this. plz temme about it.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

If all u do on the computer is only one thing whole day then yeah, Linux is good enough.

this is not the ONLY reason to shift to linux. it is one of the reasons.

[praka123]

Vista --where OS decides what ur gonna do!thx to revolutionary Digital Restrictions Management - http://defectivebydesign.org
^I dont mind ppl using it.after all Microsoft is a "superior" *.* company.all rivals are #@@ like the say goes "we are the borg.resistance is futile,if u are our enemy/competitor,we'll buy you or FUD your business!"=a marketing genius.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

and as din said, schools and govt. offices are the right places to inculcate OSS awareness....

Not just OSS, but all the OS.

Why do u think that people will install retail version of Windows Vista ultimate in schools. MS already has several plans for such scenarios.

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

So much misconception....ever heard of Microsoft Volume licensing. Also, for teaching purpose MS already provides a basic edition of Vista which is tailor made for teaching. R U gonna teach students in school about how to play Doom 3?....ever heard of VIsta starter edition which is good enough for school.

ask me, i've used all the so called cheap "student" and "stater" editions and its worser than the iphone (i thot u'd understand this analogy best! ), believe me. instead of teaching them on this i'd prefer that they teach them something which is fully functional (yes.. practically!)

[din]

I started using openoffice coz one of my friend whos the owner of a famous brand Ice Cream (not too tech guy) showed me how easy it is.

I started using Filezilla coz one of my clients whos a pop singer told me we can make multiple instance of filezilla.

Gimp was introduced to me by a Bank Employee.

Guy who showed me Debian text install was a medical rep.

People moving to Lin are not-all-geeks. Time has changed.

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Not just OSS, but all the OS.

i dont' think windows needs any awareness campaigns! even a 5 year old kid knows about it!!!

[Charan]

Prakash .. Pls no more DRM stuff. we have talked about it a lot..

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by Charan

Prakash .. Pls no more DRM stuff. we have talked about it a lot..

i agree, prakash plz cut it out.

[Help~Is~Here]

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

ask me, i've used all the so called cheap "student" and "stater" editions and its worser than the iphone (i thot u'd understand this analogy best! ), believe me. instead of teaching them on this i'd prefer that they teach them something which is fully functional (yes.. practically!)

If you are trying to prove to @gx that Linux or any other OS is an excellent alternative to Windows, then it's not going to happen, why?
Answer: http://gxsaurav.spaces.live.com

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Arya (Macboy) : Apple is a bloody ruthless corporation, they have been extremely unfair.