Microsoft Offering Software to Developing Countries For Only $3.00
Student Innovation Suite contains XP Starter Edition, Office Home, and educational software
Source :
DailyTech
At least Microsoft is helping other 3rd world countries to attain a good standing. Yey!
I think this also helps them cut down on piracy. No doubt they're helping developing countries, but they are also increasing market share. Linux is free. You think it would be perfect for those without much income.
Yes but, linux can have a steeper learning curve than windows generally does. Also, without all that money to back it up, linux just doesn't have the advertising capabilities as microsoft has. Also, linux doesn't have nearly as much driver support as windows does.
Personally, I have a PC which runs both Linux and Vistax64, and a Mac. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.
Yes but, linux can have a steeper learning curve than windows generally does. Also, without all that money to back it up, linux just doesn't have the advertising capabilities as microsoft has. Also, linux doesn't have nearly as much driver support as windows does.
I think Linux has a steeper learning curve only if you've gotten yourself used to Windows. You may be right about driver support, but a basic computer setup would be supported perfectly by Linux (I don't think many in a third world country will be needing driver support for that latest and greatest NVIDIA card). I'm not questioning why Linux isn't used in developing countries, I just think it's a good alternative -- even when Windows is only $3.
And based on my experience, indeed Linux is a good alternative.
Less is more...i really don't know what that means.
And i agree on another thing. 3rd world countries won't really need top-of-the-line equipment for their development.
First comes learning, then comes application.
The Linux people need to get together and focus on developing one or two really good OS rather than everyone trying to go for glory. The situation now, on the last count nearly 48 different flavours of Linux. If only they can come together with one direction.
The ones that I would recommend using so far is Ubuntu. Most friendly and easy to install, use and upgrade. Downside - their upgrades can cause you PC not to reboot.
Microsoft Offering Software to Developing Countries For Only $3.00
Student Innovation Suite contains XP Starter Edition, Office Home, and educational software
Source :
DailyTech
$3.00? ReactOS is free but in Alpha yet. It's the alternative to XP.
http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html
I think that this whole idea of $3.00 XP comes a little too late. Saying all the time that you can cut down on piracy is pretty easy, but the reality is that it prevails on a very large scale. It would take a mammoth effort to actually cut it down.
On the front of helping third-world countries, it still doesn't help. $3.00 is still a price and when they have no knowledge about computing, they wouldn't mind learning Linux when they know it is free and they would have to pay that much money less when buying a PC or laptop.
Perhaps they can make linux easier to install, more widely known and available, and easier to install programmes on it. The thing is, some programmes are written for Windows, and they are some how, easier to understand than their Open Source alternatives.
Good start of MS. However, paying $3, thou it is cheap and affordable, is still too much in the internet realm whereby there are many free alternatives around.
It's not that M$ is giving anyone anything for less then retail price just because they're good people... It's just a marketing strategy. When they sell cheap Windows, people will get used to it, and will buy more (for "normal" price, of course), and when they'll need to upgrade, they're going to pay M$ again, and they're going to buy Office and other Windows programs too...
The poorer the country, the more is stolen from it and its citizens...
If M$ really giving these software less, why here in the Philippines their products cost a lot? This is also the considerable reason why software piracy here is very rampant! If M$ could really lower its price ($3.00 would be pretty good), then piracy here could be wiped out..
M$ has the advantage of an early start. Peripheral equipment manufacturers are not too keen to build drivers for OS that is "still developing" and has too many flavours to look into. With MS they just build for one and no headaches for support. So Linux people, please unite and work on, at the most 2 linux.
There is not one Windows either... There still are people using 9x/Me, there's 2k, XP, 2003, XP 64bit, 2003 64bit... there have to be at least 3 kinds of drivers - for 9x/Me, for 32bit NT (2000, XP and 2003) and for 64bit NT (XP and 2003). As for Linux - they can produce one version on the driver to compile and every system with penguin on board will eat it with taste
