Sometimes it bothers me, as these countries, of which, some would think are less technologicaly proficient, seem to be more-in-the-know than our own government.
Does Microsoft pay dividens to politicians, i.e. campaign funding? Does Microsoft generate revenue for Canada? Any legal obligations providing Microsoft the "foot in the door" that people may be aware of? We all know we'd be in a lot of trouble if computers where no longer, so why are we still using windows in our government, as some would say, to run our most vital services? Last question, when? I am busy with school, but I like the idea of helping out with a demonstration. Consider: An unbiased, well documented challenge. The top MS guys setting up an windows network; desktops, servers, etc. (has to be functional, for every day use.) The top Linux guys setting up the same thing, and from there, let hackers rip them apart. I've been told they do this at various hack-con's. What beter way, than a, in your face, its no longer invisible, proof. It may be uneasy for some to decision makers to watch. On Wed, 20 Nov 2002 18:18:12 -0700 Dan Graham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It would seem Billy's billions can't even cut any ice in India!!!! > Damm I just love this!! > > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=28 > 707422 > > MP opens windows to Linux > ANIL SHARMA > > TIMES NEWS NETWORK �[ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002 01:42:20 AM ] > > BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh has shut the door on Bill Gates. The state government > schemes will use Linux software. Chief minister Digvijay Singh personally > conveyed this to Microsoft boss Bill Gates during an interaction last week > in New Delhi. > > "For us it is not a question of Microsoft versus Linux. It is just a matter > of choosing between a free software and a monopoly. We feel that when we are > putting public information out in the open, then it should not be through a > proprietary software," Mr Singh told ET. > > Nor is it merely a public vs private ideological battle. Germany and Latin > American countries, particularly Peru and Brazil, have opted for Linux > rather than proprietary software to bring down costs, which keep mounting > with successive upgrades in the case of proprietary software. > > Madhya Pradesh has two significant programmes that reach out to people in a > big way: Gyandoot e-governance, which covers 26 out of 45 districts and won > the Stockholm Challenge Award for 2000, and the Headstart programme for > computer-enabled school education. For the Headstart programme, the state > government is now committed to use Linux. > > Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has shown an interest in Gyandoot. > > According R Gopalakrishnan, state coordinator for the Rajiv Gandhi missions, > the first phase of the Headstart did use Microsoft software, but the next > will use Linux. > > "This should set at rest any fears that we are anti-Microsoft as such. But > we have opted for Linux in this phase, because of the cost factor, and the > fact that it avoids costly upgrades and improved versions that are an > inseparable element of Microsoft packages," he said. > > "It is a considered decision taken by us. We have noted that several > governments in the west and other countries too have opted for the Linux > software instead of Microsoft because of a host of considerations," Mr Singh > said. > >
