Microsoft Windows More Expensive Over Linux at the World Social Forum
Two press centers and a cybercafe each containing approximately 50 personal computers each, a free 'Strix wireless network' across the entire conference facility, and a 5mbps full duplex bandwidth to the Internet provided by a local Kenyan service provider called KDN is the infrastructure set up at the World Social Forum holding in Nairobi, Kenya. Over 400 personal computers were donated by OXFAM to enable media practitioners and participants access to the Internet, blog their stories and perhaps write home on social happenings at the forum.
“Look at the trade ins. For starters, Linus is free and it is an open source software operating system. You don't have to pay to install Linux on your computer. This is not the case with Windows. It will be very expensive to set up Windows on over 400 computers. Consider the licensing implications.” said Robert Gitau, an IT expert setting up the lab. Robert works with Job and John Kipchumba from Sodonet, a local organization responsible for organizing the forum.
“Linux is fast, portable and is not resource hungry especially considering the specification of the computers we have received. Besides its easier for me to troubleshoot and configure. Setting up the wireless Internet and the networking is simple.”
Linux has become associated with the social movement and corporates tend to shun this. This seems to be the general perception at the forum. Microsoft was shunned at the 2004 social forum held in India. Computers at the press center, during the 2004 forum ran a version of free and open source operating system on all computers.
Linux is a free operating system downloadable from several Internet sites and the flavor installed at the cybercafes and media centers is called 'Ubuntu', a Bantu word from Southern Africa meaning ' the true sense of collectiveness of people.' Ubuntu was funded by Mark Shuttleworth, a South African philanthropist.
Robert thinks the social movement and everyone that comes in contact with the computers would have a rather level learning curve. 'There is a perception change here. and people might leave here with a complete shift from the usual “linux is an animal” mentality to a freer, liberal “it even has a graphical interface I can use, understand and work with” mentality.
It is anticipated that over a hundred thousand persons would attend this year's forum. Approximately 30% of this number might use the cybercafe and press centers.
“Look at the trade ins. For starters, Linus is free and it is an open source software operating system. You don't have to pay to install Linux on your computer. This is not the case with Windows. It will be very expensive to set up Windows on over 400 computers. Consider the licensing implications.” said Robert Gitau, an IT expert setting up the lab. Robert works with Job and John Kipchumba from Sodonet, a local organization responsible for organizing the forum.
“Linux is fast, portable and is not resource hungry especially considering the specification of the computers we have received. Besides its easier for me to troubleshoot and configure. Setting up the wireless Internet and the networking is simple.”
Linux has become associated with the social movement and corporates tend to shun this. This seems to be the general perception at the forum. Microsoft was shunned at the 2004 social forum held in India. Computers at the press center, during the 2004 forum ran a version of free and open source operating system on all computers.
Linux is a free operating system downloadable from several Internet sites and the flavor installed at the cybercafes and media centers is called 'Ubuntu', a Bantu word from Southern Africa meaning ' the true sense of collectiveness of people.' Ubuntu was funded by Mark Shuttleworth, a South African philanthropist.
Robert thinks the social movement and everyone that comes in contact with the computers would have a rather level learning curve. 'There is a perception change here. and people might leave here with a complete shift from the usual “linux is an animal” mentality to a freer, liberal “it even has a graphical interface I can use, understand and work with” mentality.
It is anticipated that over a hundred thousand persons would attend this year's forum. Approximately 30% of this number might use the cybercafe and press centers.
posted by Ben Akoh at 11:27 AM
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