COMPASS 2004, organised by Computer Association of Eastern India is One of the biggest IT show in India (from 13 th Feb to 17 Feb in Kolkata). We, the members of LINUXjunkies.org have found some interesting facts on GNU/Linux in this IT show. 1. There are only two participants have GNU/Linux installed on their PC.Everybody else are using Windows XP mostly. Whether they are PC vendors, or dealing with Monitors or Music systems, everybody are using Windows XP or Windows 98. Only "aamar PC", the bengal's own branded pc has all of their pcs redhat 9 pre-installed. And another vendor, i just can't remember name, has a Debian preinstalled on it's HCL Beanstalk machine. 2. When we enquired about the GNU/Linux compatible Printers, we have none. All the vendors said that printers have nothing to do with OS. but when we insisted, they said that why we were bothering about OS. Some of them offered us Windows for Free if we get printers from them. 3. Some vendors are offering refurbished pcs, with the price tag of Rs. 5000 to 9000, with Windows 98/XP pre-installed. When we asked them about the GNU/Linux, they said that we don't need to use GNU/Linux as they are giving us Windows for Free ( Pre-installed ).i.e why you use GNU/Linux if you could get Windows for Free ! 4.Chabria Infotech, one of the biggest s/w vendors of Kolkata, has a display board at their stall. The board says " Linux available here" with the logo of all major linux distros. But when we enquired, we came to know that they donot have any of linux distros right there at their stall. We have to order and it will take at least 5 to 7 days to get the CDs. One interesting thing was, when we asked for the price,they said the OEM (!) version of all distro will cost Rs 500 and Original (!) Full pack will cost around Rs 3500. 5. When we asked for any games on GNU/Linux, the game vendors said that they don't have anything for GNU/Linux. Well, this the overall picture of GNU/Linux at Compass 2004. Any comments??? regards aloke majumder LINUXjunkies Foundation www.linuxjunkies.org/forum ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Insurance Special: Be informed on the best policies, services, tools and more. Go to: http://in.insurance.yahoo.com/licspecial/index.html