Manoj Kumar Singh writes:
Hi Friends I am a linux enthusiast and exclusively use linux for computing. I am working in a government University where IT and communication infrastructure are in the process of big change. The complete university network is being upgraded to gigabit net and university administration is being totally computerized. At this juncture a very crucial decision needs to be taken. That is regarding the proprietary vs open source software base of the system. I would like to impress upon the authorities to go in for open source softwares. There are supporters of this view but there are also many more who have lots of apprehensions about this. I want to give a talk on this issue to make a very strong and compelling case for GNU/Linux systems. I need ideas regarding the presentation to make it a success. Regards, Manoj
Here are some points I can immediately think of. 1) GNU/Linux is the best operating system when it comes to education. students can tinker with the internal of the system and get to learn a lot in the process. 2) Easy to fix. Commercial support price is not exorbitant. You are not tied down to a particular vendor. 3) Almost all universities abroad use GNU/Linux. 4) Madhya Pradesh Government has officiallly shited to GNU/Linux. 5) Most Reputed Institutes and R&D Organisations(IIT ,IISC some REC,TIFR, C-DAC, NASA etc) use GNU/Linux. 6) Many Countries have officially adopted GNU/Linux as the OS of choice (examples being Peru and Germany). 7) Open Standards compliant. 8) Almost Virus-free. 9) Most technologies and standards are first implemted in GNU/Linux and then elseware. (examples being first OS to be ported to Intel Itanium Architecture) 10) Unimaginably scalable (Runs from anything from wristwatches and PDAs to cluster supercomputers and Mainframes). 11) Now backed by major corporations such as IBM and Oracle. 12) Very customisable as source code is available. 13) Last but not the least free (as in "free beer" :D ). So extremely cost- effective.
Vinayak Hegde APGDST Student NCST-JUHU