From: "Trevor Warren" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 6:10 PM
> There should be no doubt that the most important
> places where free software should be advocated and
> propagated are schools and colleges. Instead of trying
> to wean away people at a later stage when
> they are used to or worse, addicted to proprietary
> software, we must educate people about free software
> when their exposure to proprietary software is minimal
> and when they are most amenable to absorbing
> progressive ideas and beliefs.
I think this a harsh remark on proprietary software.
I guess the gist of the discussion is
proprietary software == bad
free software == good
The facts: (CT Sept .2001)
1.Indian IT market share $23.1 billion. growth rate 31.6%
2.Indian nationals employed in IT and telecom in US: 250,000
3.Indians in Microsoft in R&D : 32%
4.Q1 revenue due to software in 2001-2002 : 8,600 crores with growth
rate of 52 % !!!
Could this have been possible without "proprietary stuff" ?
If a kid says Hey I wanna make money with coding. Should we say: no way?
With India earning so much from software exports I really think that
kids in schools should be given
the right information.
Sometimes money also is a stimulus for some brains. It is a fact we
can't deny.
.
> The long term goal of FSF-I/LUG's should of course be
> to ensure that the school and college syllabi are free
> of all proprietary software and
I'm skeptical. Let's take an example.
TYBcom. people have an optional comp subj. One of my friends has opted
for excel and foxpro.
Let's face it : Microsoft Office is the most popular and most widely
used software in businesses.
Now suppose that varsity changes the syllabus to exclude the
proprietary stuff. Will the students be well equipped to compete
with other students who have had an hands-on experience with the
proprietary software?
With the widespread use of proprietary software like Microsoft Windows ,
Adobe PhotoShop, AutoCad,Corel,MS Office, foxpro,.... etc.
I really don't think excluding it from the syllabus will be a wise
decision.
Proprietary software and free software will co-exist.
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