Firstly, i repeat, I understand the benefits of using FOSS but I am putting my point below with a practical prospective of current situation in Nepal.
> > Many american states have already deployed Linux and other OSS softwares at > various state level. Their defence industry has been using Unix-like OS for > centuries. European countries like Deutchland, Russia and Germany are going > FOSS already. Hospital in Ireland already saved $13 million dollars using > FOSS. > Ok, and except the examples above rest of the WORLD use propriety software right? (.......just joking, easy……. :P) >Why would Nepal have to lag behind? Why can't we make decisions on our own and not rely on other countries "sucessability" to confirm our own position on this? Can't we do our own feasibility test and confirm wehther FOSS will work or not? We have the hard-working hackers and other enthusiasts already to take the step. > I am someone who believes in small outputs and results, first... over prefering to hear possible great ideas. All good ideas should have a start, so why not now... could we convince (say) 15 cyber cafes to switch to FOSS as everyday solution in Nepal and see for how long they will stick by it? (Difficult?) Ok Or could we convince some small business with least 10 people earning and working with least 2-3 years in business history to use FOSS when possible? (Still little difficult?) Or could we least convince a school or some small college to switch to FOSS? Anyone, to do the real world initiative please? Let's make BIG plans about strategy and training, put GREAT effort about the EASIEST of thing we could do, to set an example by try convincing some small business institutions to completely or significantly switch to FOSS. .........can we? When…. ....starting.... now.... tomorrow..... 1 month..... 1 year? I'd love to see some results. Initiatives for the implementation in real world, anyone… please step forward….. LETS STEP OUTSIDE THE COCOON OF FOSS NEPAL MAILING LIST WHERE WE FOSS LOVERS TALK WITH EACHOTHER HOW FOSS IS SOOO GREAT... WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SAME FOR YEARS WITHOUT PUTTING THE SAME EFFORT ON MARKETING IT IN THE REAL WORLD. You see, we've been dreaming of making FOSS a mass adoption for years, like any other institution who advocates about hydropower or easing tax policy to bring foreign investments etc....... and that's it, nothing significant when it comes to adoption or implementation in the real market. Knowing they are great ideas yet where do we fail miserably even with great plans? (Finance is not a issue, what else......? ) Let's work on getting some small output and see how our market will respond to it. Can we? Anyone, initiative? > I get your point but if you think about the long term and beyond, I do not > believe that proprietary path will save us money. Think about this - > * Eventual great community surrounding OSS in Nepal. > * Save $$$ in LONG TERM and not short term only. And I believe ICT's planning > should maximise this benefit. > * Local support by MPP and other independent consultancies (THAT I BELIEVE > WILL GROW TO PROVIDE SUPPORT) to provide hands-on training. > * No reliance on proprietary software = self-sustainable environment (i.e., > nepal ko paisa bidesh jandaina! it stays there.) > * Can be adapated to suit lot of environment - for e.g. in no particular > order, LTSP project, e-library, Mero Sanu Sathi...and more.. Aren't these all > projects using FOSS software? Tell me. Or else, these projects would have had > to get lot of $$ to even buy 1-user license for that LATEST/GREATEST > proprietary software to do >their jobs. Agreed. But your above points demonstrate FOSS being used in special environment customizing with the need, nothing more. - "Mero Sanu Sathi" aka initiated by OLPC, very initial phase, a distant dream wrt context of Nepal (though, acknowledging it's a great initiative and I would love to see it succeed in its goals) - LTSP project, e-library and more... Aren't these all projects using FOSS software but initiated from MPP. They are not solutions initiated from 'the market' hence doesn't demonstrate mass adoption of FOSS in real world. Beside web developers (using apache, msql etc) and ISP using FOSS as solution I don't see many big institutions adopting FOSS. We surveyed 60 institutions, all big names in ISP sector, Government agencies, telecom, finance, education and business institutions and found they are using 4485 computer that run on windows, 21 linux and 1 unix for desktop use and for server use windows (246), linux(107), unix (24) Its 1 : 213 for ratio of linux : windows OS for desktop use alone. > > no extra bricks touched from the system, everyone is happy as things > > will stay as-is like it has been. No extra support, installation, > > migration, training headaches. > > Who is everyone? Fat and hairy officials in government institutions. :P …we were talking about standardization and what if WTO forces government to pay for software's it uses etc..... >The "things" will "stay as-is"?????? What is the "things" and how does it "stay as-is". I know you have a bit of surcasm going on there but really this is serious business. and You can't put statements like that without backing it up first. > Its serious business, agreed! But I already gave example, governments will highly likely pay extra 1 corer for all software's they use and keep the software's as is, as it has been. They probably wont migrating which mean extra cost in training, migration of current work, support, troubleshooting etc. Try convincing a person who is used to using dot pen to use fountain pen in name of cost, durability, prolong use etc > What Subir dai and other's are planning to do is do a really good pitch > regarding OSS software and potentially use FOSS, thin-clients (If I got it > right) at govt. office (have them use FOSS in their desktop, Linux, > OpenOffice etc..). Now tell me why wouldn't this save money and reduce TCO on > top of creating self-sustainable environment for the workforce provided they > be able to give hands-on training and on-call type of support? > I have my concerns and all my best wishes for their initiative. They work earns applause, but as I said early, show us some results, just outputs… nothing neither more, nor great plans nor great initiative nor great action, just results. Small results that we can count is enough. Your example here is a plan, A dream (like egg in hand and chicken farm in mind) thin-clients, LTSP, Linux, OpenOffice in government office etc. No doubt, it would definitely save money... but I doubt they will consider migrating from the familiar solution they have been using for years. Mindset in government institutions, u know it… so I seriously doubt if they will migrate to save $$$ by compromising personal comfort. Or 10 examples please? :) (Though I acknowledge and appreciate it that few people in HLCIT have been using Linux as their desktop, but just them, just few or more? ) > If tomorrow the MS people come knocking on the door of one of the dept. and > see the PIRATED Microsoft XP, what fines will be imposed and what shameful > situation will Nepal GOVT. be in? Tell me. And I believe, that day could come > soon. > Well, think logical... Only if FOSS advocates were running Microsoft they would choose to make this move. It is shortsightedness. This move is like making enemy with your biggest potential customers for years ahead. So I think, in that case they would probably lobby with the government then with private legal backend to comply, but kindly, softly... and sell them a low cost wholesale license for xyz number of windows OS for government use. They wouldn't want to set bad examples around the world. Comments welcome. -bipin --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ FOSS Nepal mailing list: [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/foss-nepal To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Community website: http://www.fossnepal.org/ -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
