The way the story is written, one would get the impression that the choices being made here between Microsoft windows platform and free software was merely a political conflict between the two parties in Kerala which are vying for power among themselves.
The real choice, and the real conflict, the consequences and meaning of making either choice, is hardly commented on. How free software is 'free' is not at all made clear. And how Microsoft platform is not 'free', not only in terms of cost, but in terms of being bound to it, is not commented upon at all.
Those who are not already familiar with this issue, will just thing it is some fight between two political parties over what business houses should be contracted. At least a comment indicating that this debate and this conflict has been raging worldwide, is the minimum demand of journalistic ethics here.
I appreciate the move by Kerala Government to Promote Linux in school and students.
By using Linux, students will go one more layer down to the operating system Layer. As microsoft insulates the Operation system functionalities with GUI, most of us especially students arent getting an opportunity to learn how the operating system works. Linux gives much more indepth knowledge at the operating system leven, n give much more control of ur computer.
with introduction of linux at schools, Students are getting an opportunity to learn system internals and to get more closer to a computer.
Linux also give more life to the old computer systems installed on our schools, as Linux gives 38% more efficiency than Microsoft on the same hardware.
RE:is it compatible
by palash on Sep 06, 2006 01:52 PM
It shows your lack of understanding of this issue. Just have a look at the minimum configuration requirements if Vista. But, You will always have the option of running Linux on older hardware by choosing the appropriate components or a suitable distro eg. Vector Linux
When no of computers sold with Linux preloaded increase, the will automatically come with compatible hardware, otherwise they will not sell.
Most hardware vendors in India will sell some baseline models with Linux loaded, but go to you nearest Acer or HP store, you will not see a single machine running Linux, they will all be running pirated xp. Some more serious vendors like eSys sells with Mandriva installed rather than an obscure distro with a Chinese interface.
Other Indian states should realize that Microsoft is not the only option. Linux is much stronger than Windows OS, although it lacks good user interface.. but it will be soon available..
No doubt that this would save millions of the gov but is not possible that students using microsoft windows will face problems in switching over from windows to linux.Is it not possible that it will create havoc among the students
I appreciate kerala's intiative. We used to learn MS-DOS during our college. That really laid a good foundation of OS. Teaching Linux at some point in schoold will surely help. Overall, why waste govt.'s money on software at least at the primar school or high school level?
Keralites think that by voting Communists to powert they have done the right thing by their state - history has shown that communism never worked, never created 'jobs' in the real sense of the word and is antithetical to natural laws of economics. The present CM thinks that by throwing out MNCs he will develop his state, well, we'll see how many businesses will be banging on his door to get in. Cutting ones nose to spite ones face is never good politics.
