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    • soloS Offline
      solo
      last edited by Gábor

      Shuttleworth takes on Microsoft
      Sep 11 2006 11:20 61

      Johannesburg - South African magnate Mark
      Shuttleworth has already conquered space. Now he's set his
      sights on cyberspace where he hopes to challenge Microsoft.

      Shuttleworth made his fortune by selling an internet company
      he started in his Cape Town garage. He then spent $20m on
      becoming the world's second space tourist in 2002.

      Now, he is taking on Microsoft by
      pioneering free computer software that he hopes will
      revolutionise the way computers are used, and make the internet
      accessible to millions in Africa and other emerging markets.

      "Ultimately open source is the platform of the future,"
      Shuttleworth said. "It's one of those enormous waves
      that is taking over everything - like the internet."

      Shuttleworth's "Ubuntu" family of software programs is
      based on the Linux open source operating system, which works on
      the principle that software is free and can be modified at no
      cost by anyone to suit local and specific needs.

      Ubuntu is meant to be simpler to use than other Linux systems.

      PC World magazine last year named Ubuntu as the 26th best
      product of the year - ranking it above Apple's iTunes
      media player which was in 34th spot.

      Governments in Brazil, China, Spain, India and Malaysia are
      already using Linux-based systems and Shuttleworth argues free
      software could slash the cost of getting computers into schools,
      community centres and homes in Africa.

      It could also cut the price of technology for small
      businesses in the world's poorest continent, where only a
      fraction of people are computer-literate.

      Microsoft fights back

      Open source would work particularly well in Africa because
      countries are starting virtually from scratch in terms of
      technology and users are not already trained in proprietary
      versions like Microsoft Windows.

      "Because open source is free, we can share knowledge much
      faster," Shuttleworth said.

      But Microsoft is fighting back in Africa.

      The computer giant is funding IT centres in 284 of South
      Africa's municipalities in a project it says will reach half a million of the country's poor.

      Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has dismissed arguments that
      expensive proprietary software can impede the rollout of
      computer access to poorer communities, arguing it is about "open
      choice not just open source".

      South Africa says it "firmly supports" open source software, but, delighted with Microsoft's pledges for IT centres and computers in schools, has stopped short of rejecting proprietary software altogether.

      Microsoft upped the ante earlier this year when it launched
      a Zulu version of its main operating system Windows XP and said
      Afrikaans and Setswana versions would follow.

      Then local managing director Gordon Frazer said the move was
      not aimed at heading off open source rivals, but conceded local
      language versions would curry favour with the government.

      "We do recognise that in South Africa where there are 11
      official languages, if we want to work with the state we need to
      work with these languages," he said.

      Critics say the fractured nature of the open source
      community makes it hard for users to seek help while vendors of
      proprietary software are obliged to help solve problems.

      Ubuntu says it provides comprehensive support services - in
      fact that is how it makes money - and argues that one of the
      big advantages of open source for Africa is that programmes can
      be translated for free into local languages.

      Nhlanhla Mabaso, manager of the Open Source Centre at the government-sponsored Meraka technology institute, says open source is about using Africa's scant resources wisely, and about systems designed for Africans by Africans.

      reuters.

      Teach them to fish and they will feed themselves...give them hand outs and they become beggars.

      http://www.solos-art.com

      If you see a toilet in your dreams do not use it.

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