A Richard Stallman speech causes Idian state to switch to Linux!!

[cousinlucky]

A southern Indian state, Kerala, plans to switch all school computers from Microsoft to Linux operating systems after hearing what must have been a great speech by Richard Stallman!! Way to go Rich!!!

[CodeRoot]

A southern Indian state, Kerala, plans to switch all school computers from Microsoft to Linux operating systems after hearing what must have been a great speech by Richard Stallman!! Way to go Rich!!!

Can you provide a link pointing to where the speech may be found? (Thus, possibly saving a whole lot of people the time of having to do a search.)

[fingal]

Don't want to steal your thunder, but here's a link. There are many.

[bidi]

All the articles I've read about the subject (2 so far) say that the Kerala government is "encouraging" the 12,500 schools and the public offices to switch, not forcing them. Still a great leap for India, specially since:

The state has a literacy rate of more than 90 percent, much higher than the national average of about 65 percent, and is known to be innovative in its promotion of computer literacy.

Which means other states may follow.

[cousinlucky]

I did not read or hear Mr. Stallman's speech. I read an article about it on " my way ".

http://apnews.myway.com//article/200...D8JRDBVG3.html

[easuter]

that myway article sure did try as hard as possibli to link linux to communism...
i also dont see why teachers should chose between ms or linux. government schools arent exactly rolling in money, so i guess the extra $$$ lest over from what would be used for software licences can used for other more discarded purposes

[apoorv_khurasia]

Since I have from India I have something to say about this. I have a vision (contrary to most of my friends' belief ).

No doubt India is developing fast but primary education is still a dream for many Indians (children). The country needs resources for this and if we can save the money that we spend on buying MS Windows and MS Office and instead switch to Linux and OpenOffice than we can provide many schools with basic computer education too and use the money to open more schools. There are enough PCs available at cheap costs (such as used PCs) for this.

Currently Indian primary schools that provide Computer Education only teach how to use Windows and how to use Office (no programming) and a little bit of Computer Hardware basics.

There are many people in India who know use Linux. These people can now have alternate job opportunities. What difference does it make if Schools switch from Windows to Linux?

Agreed that Linux is a little "harder" than Windows but after all what people learn on Windows is:

1. Creating files and directories, moving/copying them.
2. Make .doc .xls and .db files and use them.

This can be done is Linux too with exactly the same amount of effort. Now-a-days UBUNTU installs as easily as Windows (my mom with no Linux background did it on her own and uses it now for her work!!!).

Just look at my vision --an entire country which learns its computer basics on Linux, has a very bright opportunity to enter the Open Source World and lead the way.

[apoorv_khurasia]

that myway article sure did try as hard as possibli to link linux to communism...

These politicans have a communist ideology. They are not communists and the state is democratic and holds fair elections every five years or so. People choose the government they like. The state respects freedom and is not like the Communist states of China/North Korea where you get killed if you speak up.

They are supporting the Linux movement only because it saves money and promotes freedom. Please refer to my previous article.

[fingal]

Just look at my vision --an entire country which learns its computer basics on Linux, has a very bright opportunity to enter the Open Source World and lead the way.

Impressive ideas apoorv_khurasia. I've often thought that something like this might happen. After all, there are plenty of highly intelligent people in Asia, but many of them lack the opportunities of some 'Western' children. IMHO our open source philosophy has the potential to open up resources in a way that would otherwise not be possible.

The bit about you mum is also interesting. Making technology accessible in this way is close to my heart, and I share your vision.

I think my main objection to Windows is not so much that we have to pay for it, but that it prevents us from learning in a way that helps us progress. Thanks for an interesting read.

[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

I think my main objection to Windows is not so much that we have to pay for it, but that it prevents us from learning in a way that helps us progress. Thanks for an interesting read.

i've got nothing at all against windows. it's just really really poor

on-topic: this is definitely a big boost for open source software. good to see linux adoption rising