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14152 discussions

URL of RMS article...
by Frederick Noronha 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Vinayak, It's at eians.com. But you won't be able to check out that site, since it is only open to newspaper subscribers. Some of the articles are not available or accessible via websites, and it's mostly these that I post. If the load is too much, I'll go slow on that. But sometimes it helps speedy discussion (specially for those of us who have *very* limited to the WWW). FN > hello Frederick, > > I apprieciate your postings of new aricles on this > group. But please mail the urls and not the content > of the articles. Those who are interested will then > follow the url and bookmark it for future references. > > ***************** > Vinayak Hegde > APGDST Student > NCST-JUHU. > ***************

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Trevor?
by Amol Hatwar 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Trevor, Its 10 PM. Well take your time... ruminate on my words. But at least stick to your words. Regards, Amol.

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LinuxWorld Expo ideas
by Ashish Kulkarni 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Hi, I'm another lurker coming out of the woodworks.. ;-) What I'd really like to see is for the Expo to provide a recruitment office (??) for people who are intrested in contributing to the community in any way. Although the response may be half-hearted or flame out after a while, I think what really needs to be driven in the public consciousness is the fact that *YOU* can contribute. I mean, most people view Free/OSS software as just something to use, written by some ultra-smart geeks you have no hope of matching. A lot of help can be used, especially in non-programming tasks like indian-language localization, distribution, general help, etc. I suspect that there also might be programmers who are searching for a idea/project to contribute to (I know I am) so we could provide some sort of exchange for that... considering the variety of people planning to attend, it could be really useful :-) Although this may be OT and politically incorrect, I'd also like to put up a small *BSD booth at the Expo. I use and like FreeBSD also, and I personally feel it is a shame there's not enough public consciousness about them. I don't want to start a BSD vs Linux flamewar, just want to let people know they have have a choice in free OSes, too. timing of the Expo: All us engg. students have exams in June/July, so it'd be ideal for it to be in Feb/March/April-start or even later in August, like someone pointed out. Thanks, - A. ------------------------------------------------------------- If I have an apple, and give you the apple, I have no apples. If I have an idea, and give it to you, we both have the idea.

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Feedback... Businessworld on *War for India's software soul*
by Frederick Noronha 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Some feedback to Charles Assisi's recent article WAR FOR INDIA'S SOFTWARE SOUL, starting with the positives: * Charles's consistent interest in IT-for-development issues is to be appreciated. * This argument of Microsoft's eagerness to keep a grip on the Indian developer is an interesting contribution to the debate. * This kind of focus for GNU/Linux would make a whole lot of people sit up and take note. But then.... Some of the problem areas of the article are, to me, the follows: o Charles uncritically buys some FUD arguments from Microsoft. (Paid employees are called 'evangelists'... there is a hint that FLOSS might *not* actually reduce the cost of software ... the argument that all users of unauthorised software could actually pay for and buy Microsoft products one day... even bogus arguments like the "lack of unity" among GNU/Linux distros are accepted at face value.) o Nowhere is the issue of freedom -- so important to the programmer, user and indirectly even the businesshouse -- raised in the debate. The reader doesn't get a hint that Free Software is more than just trying to get a cheaper product. o The term Linux, as has been pointed out, describes only the kernel. Even if it's lengthier, the more appropriate term would be GNU/Linux. This is *not* an issue for 'purists' only. o Conceptually, there is a mix-up over the term 'free' (which refers to 'freedom' not price, even if price does come down in the bargain). o This confusion leads to the wrong questions being raised -- "If Linux is a free OS, why are Red Hat and others charging for it?" o Wrong questions raised -- "If I use Linux, can I still use Word and Excel?" Why would anyone want to? It's like asking, if I wear a kurta, can I wear a shirt? Why would you want to? Maybe, "If I use GNU/Linux, could I do wordprocessing and spreadsheets or access data generated from these?" might be appropriate. o We're told that "[GNU/]Linux exists" in many prominent institutions. That's not saying much. To what level is applied? Is this significant, marginal, irrelevant? Difficult to get figures perhaps... but it needs to be done. o "Language fonts for Linux are now available for practically every Indian language..." Wish this were true. o Some of the examples of India's contribution to GNU/Linux (even if taken from my http://linuxinindia.pitas.com) are not the best of examples... Clearly, lot more work remains on unearthing this aspect. o Eight-pieces-of-unlicensed-software for every authorised copy, there fore the market size is XXXX... this is very misleading logic. Would every unauthorised copy user go in for an authorised copy of non-free software if charged at current prices? It's good that this article gives GNU/Linux the attention it deserves (even if it overlooks the GNU contribution). But then, a little sharper focus could have surely helped. The programmer who has build up the product over the years don't get much of a voice too. Clearly, the GNU/Linux impact on Indian business, science, education is far from adequately catalogued. We've got quite some work to be done on this. FN

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LinuxWorld Expo?
by Amol Hatwar 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Linuxworld Expo... lets investigate if it can be a trademark infringement or something.... http://www.linuxworld.de I suggest, why not have a different mailing-list for the Linuxworld thingy, I could see a lot of mails relating to it. Regards, Amol Hatwar.

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GNU/Linux India Expo 2003 ... tentative outline
by Tahir Hashmi 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Event Title: GNU/Linux India Expo 2003 Dates: End Feb / Early March (Not early/mid Feb please!) Duration: 3 days / 1 week Objectives: [1] Conference on GNU/Linux, FS/OSS [2] Exhibition of FS/OSS Student Projects from across the nation [3] Stalls for commercial activity related to hardware/software [4] Some fun events (Geeks vs. Nerds quiz? Geek of the yr. award?) [5] Promotion of GNU/Linux user networking (Stalls of various LUGs) [6] A press conference a day ?? DETAILS: [1] This is quite well-known to us and needs no elaboration [2] We provide a display area for students to demo their FS/OSS projects. "Students" means people who are not employed/have been employed earlier and are studying in an educational institution, incl. an open university. [3] People desirous of Commercial activity will be charged for space. It would be great if we can have assemblers there who can offer pre-loaded PCs... how about a workshop for these before the event? Cheap CDs, on-the-spot installation etc. could be possible attractions. [4] Ah! what's an expo without fun? [5] We've gotta have a platform for representatives of various LUGs across India share information, develop contacts and highlight their achievements and aspirations. [6] Sounds incredible but who knows, the Press might actually be interested. Anyway, we can post daily coverage on the web. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To qualify for exhibition in the Expo, any given software may or may not be proprietary. However, the software MUST be available for GNU/Linux or any other FS/OSS based platform. This is necessary since there's no dearth of Free Software available for other dominant proprietary platoforms. Attendance the conference must be charged. Entry to the Expo however should be inexpensive. I am in favor of a nominal (say Rs. 10 to 30) entry fee for the expo too avoid wanderers on the site. Only stalls being covered under [3] must be charged. [4] May have an entry fee for participation but definitely not for audience. Let us not think of management (outsourced vs. voluntary) currently. Of course, Saswata, Gurpreet and other volunteers can collect details about professional management and have them ready when the time for decision comes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Everyone is free to comment on the above, make additions/changes/deletions and even fubar it. --- Tahir Hashmi (VSE, NCST) http://staff.ncst.ernet.in/tahir tahir AT ncst DOT ernet DOT in We, the rest of humanity, wish GNU luck and Godspeed

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Linux-Bom?
by Hanisha Vaswani 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

hi guys, i have been a member of the list for nearly a year now, but i mostly lurk, just trying to assimilate random bits of Linux-gyan from the more experienced LUGgers the recent posts regarding the Linux - Bombay 2002[3?] prompted me to post though -- especially once the talk began moving towards a 'lets-hire-WizCraft / 360 degrees / ' kind of thread though i have nothing at all against a 'more professionally managed' event, i do have an issue against outsourcing it -- having been on the core team of a unique college fest before, i have realised that *absolutely nothing* beats your own personal involvement in everything right from whom to approach for sponsorship to the what wattage of the bulbs to use on stage... an event management company is fine when it comes to organising events for an audience whose needs are well-understood ---Michael Jackson fans, for eg. --- but i seriously have my own doubts about which event management company would understand the unique needs of a niche community like ours [ hell, we're a lot different from a standard product launch or lecture series, which is the maximum 'software expertise' that most such companies have ] which is why companies like IBM need to have their own in-house event - preparation and - management teams now for the alternative... who says we cant put up a 'professional' event on our own ? all of us have some special skill which we can bring to the table... and most have probably been involved in some sort of event at some level [ organising / volunteering / participating ].... it only needs time, and since not many may be able to afford dedicating a burst of time a month before the event, what must happen is that the preliminary details must be hammered out soon -- discussions can be done over mail [ like its already happening ] and concrete steps [ looking at choices of venues, sub-events, etc] can be carried out over weekends of course this is tiring and time consuming but then the best things in life are never handed to anyone on a silver platter apologies again for the rant cheers, Hanisha P.S. : don't worry, even the 'smart-chicks' can be arranged, and we won't even have to fill some super-greedy event-management company's overflowing coffers for it __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2

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Linux-Bom?
by Hanisha Vaswani 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

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Micro. Anti-trust.
by mails＠munshi.dyndns.org 13 Nov '02

13 Nov '02

Among other recent measures, Microsoft recruited perhaps India's best-known software executive, N. R. Narayana Murthy, the chairman of a leading software exporter, Infosys Technologies, to endorse Microsoft's technologies in large newspaper ads. The headline on one quoted Mr.Murthy as saying: "When I saw Windows XP in action, I was amazed. How did Microsoft get hold of my wish list?" Is that a secret anymore, this is the proof of anti-trust case. Just a joke. Amish K. Munshi ICQ 85730949 === Never ask a geek why, just nod your head and slowly back away.===

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[OT] Why not to use MS Word attachments
by Philip S Tellis 12 Nov '02

12 Nov '02

OT here, but useful if you need to make a counter argument against someone who sends you Word files. http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/scc38/1583/emailtg1/msg00004.html Philip -- But, for my own part, it was Greek to me. -- William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar"

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