On Thu, 2002-10-10 at 03:37, Frederick Noronha wrote:
Inspite of all one's enthusiasm about Free Software and Open Source, it's hard to be too sure or optimistic about the story below.
If government decides on such policies (i) shouldn't the policy decision be taken openly, on the record and without the possibility of any later hanky-panky? (ii) is nobody willing to take responsibility for such a stand -- which is very welcome -- and say so publicly? (iii) if not, why should we not conclude that this is just some kind of kite-flying, which actually may be intended to pressurise some 'proprietory solutions' vendors to come up for equally behind-closed-doors negotiations?
I share your view. Following para clearly tells it. We have seen our "great" representatives begging with CEOs of MNCs.
BTW, IT@School project is going more and more to Free Software. Hope we will have some good news in few months. Also govt seems to be going for Open Office.
<snip>
Microsoft, in what many observers and reports say is an attempt to
soften
the Chinese government's stand, recently committed to investing $750m
in
China in three years to help set up a software college and put its
money
into Chinese education.
In comparison, Microsoft has announced investments worth only $75m
over a
three-year time frame in India. Howver, the Chinese company Redflag Software, which was set up by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the
country's
most prestigious research institute, has often come out with low-cost software based on Linux, in direct competition to Windows-based
software. </snip>