I work for a local government unit. My boss (a mayor) believes in open source and that's why we are migrating our desktops to Ubuntu Linux and giving away computers to schools with Ubuntu Linux installed on it.
I must admit that my boss is not one who can be called an "honest politician" if ever there is one. But heck, he believes in open source. It all started when I was able to save his precious data on his laptop when the Windows registration key got messed up and sort of "locked" his laptop.
I was able to save it using Ubuntu Live and from then he asked me install Linux and asked so many questions about Linux and Open Source.
To my surprise, he asked me to migrate our desktops to Ubuntu Linux and all new PCs must be a Linux box. He also started to advocate the same even in the recent LeGov - EU Conference where he was one of the presentors.
And when other LGUs visit us, he will almost always discuss about open source and would relate that with open source... it would be a better world cause it teaches us to share. As a result, other LGUs are asking us how to migrate to desktops to open source...
I know this is not much, but still is an exception to the general perception that all government offices and units will never embrace open source. Generalization really sucks.
And yes, he is already asking how to get that $100 laptop...
No bets. Odds are much lower than .1:1 on the distribution of the $100 laptop here. Where the government is concerned, lining the [personal] coffers always comes first (although this is a gross generalization). The "Honest Politicians" here are too few and very far in between. Even "clean" ones have more than a few skeletons in their closet.
Migs
Registered user#381619
Random Musings ( http://lifelin.blogspot.com/)
Intelligence in the world is constant....
Unfortunately, the population is growing....
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Orlando Andico
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 10:30 AM
To: Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Technical Discussion List
Subject: Re: [plug] Re: Ubuntu Founder visits Manila
"Ubuntu founder asks go'vt to support open source advocacy?"
hahaha. that's a complete laugh. we don't live in South Africa here (on that note, I'd rather live in South Africa.. they have Charlize Theron and had an indigenous nuclear bomb).
linux will never gain official traction in our government because there's too much damn vested interest in the corrupt software procurement process. if the cost of acquiring something is zero (or close to zero), nobody will spec it because there will be nothing to pad or skim.
from where i look, it seems that linux has been gaining more ground in business because at least, the business sector is motivated solely by profit.
reminds me -- anyone care to take me up on a bet? i bet that the government will not avail of Nicholas Negroponte's $100 laptop initiative. because it impacts too many vested interests: the corrupt school textbook lobby for one. besides since everybody knows the laptop costs $100, there is no opportunity for brazen padding of the acquisition price.
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David Tacasa Asuncion, Jr.
website keeper, forever linux newbie, BUM extraordinaire
Linux User # 406430
http://counter.li.org/
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