Pakistan: First country with open sourced government systems?
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
Nish - Native CPian wrote: Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world LOL. Anybody got any official figures on this. Michael :-) "Eureka" is Greek for "This bath is too hot"
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
how can it be the first when there are already others? Argentina, Germany, Mexico City and many other places are already there... -c
Cheap oil. It's worth it!
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
I thought Peru was also claiming to be first. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
More about me :-)
-
Nish - Native CPian wrote: Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world LOL. Anybody got any official figures on this. Michael :-) "Eureka" is Greek for "This bath is too hot"
Sun plans to start charging for Star Office 6.0. We'll see how fast it runs then.
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
Will their nuclear targeting systems run on Linux also? X|
-
While India is spending a small fortune on proprietary software for computerization of government systems other countries are opting for free software. Mexico and Taiwan lead the pack but it is Pakistan, which will turn heads in India. At a recent UNDP meet in Kuala Lumpur Salman Ansari, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, optimistically declared, "Don't be surprised if we become the first country in the world to say that all (government-run) services are going to be GNU/Linux based." Over fifty thousand low-cost Pentium II based computers are being installed in schools and colleges all over Pakistan. The machines are being sourced for less than $100 a piece informs Ansari. Closed-source software such as Microsoft Windows cost more than the $100 tag Ansari's low-cost computers. Enter GNU/Linux. "Though I'm a typical Pakistani, I still feel a bit uncomfortable in buying pirated software, and paying 90 cents for a software priced $500," Ansari says with a smile. The unrealistic pricing of proprietary software has paved the way for open source software with Pakistan seriously considering implementing Star Office, an open source office suite from Sun Microsystems. Star Office is now giving the dollar hungry MS Office a run for its money all over the world. He goes on to add as chairman of the peer review committee of all IT projects, he has been keen to turn down any project that uses pirated software. "But what this ends up doing is that it bloats the cost of the software," he complains. Another major advantage of GNU/Linux based systems is the possibility of a local language distribution. Software in Urdu will definitely be easier to use if it resides at operating system level. Unfortunately, there are very real problems with open source software. The most important factor is time. Most developers cannot afford to contribute fulltime to open source projects. Mozilla 1.0 suffices as an example - it was three years into the project when the first version was ready for release. Though he does not disapprove of branded software (as long as it is justified and has a negotiated price tag), Ansari would rather make people "very, very aware" of Linux. "If everybody somehow started using Linux, we'd fall below the US piracy levels, and maybe have 2% piracy." With his characteristic optimism Ansari goes on to add, "We also want the likes of Microsoft to come out with prices that are reasonable. We want companies like those to also come and invest in the country, where softwa
some people might say that you should stick to M$ office because its the standard, but if its the difference between getting PCs and not then that doesn't enter the equation. Good thinking on their part :) You always go round in circles, it's only the size that varies