Venezuela opts for Linux

[Minstrel Boy]

Venezuela opts for Linux

Dec 31, 2004

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said this week that the country's public administration will switch to open source software over the next two years, according to reports.

Over the next three months the Ministry of Science and Technology will prepare a plan of how all ministries will migrate to open source software, according to a report by online news service Venezuelanalysis.com. It reported that these plans will then be implemented over the following 24 months.

...

Other countries in Latin America are making the same choice. A survey released earlier in December found that 42 percent of Argentine companies are using Linux. Brazil also uses open source: earlier this year the Brazilian state of Parana said that it would be moving 10,000 government employees to an open source email and calendaring application.

Cost is not the only deciding factor for companies in Latin America choosing to adopt open source software. Creating local jobs, the ability to translate the software into local languages and political considerations can also be important. Cuba, for example, cannot legally import Microsoft software from America due to the US trade embargo.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39182957,00.htm

[pinerow]

1. That Chavez is one hell of a dictator...how dare he support open

source systems...next thing you know, they'll have free and open elections...:wtf:

[JohnyCanuck]

8. Don't you know the only people that support open source

software are Swedish pinko socialsts and COMMIES!!!!!!. :crazy:

Ha! Now we've got more reasons for Busholini's gang to overthrow Chavez. Not only does he persist in the crazy notion that all of Venezuela's people should benefit from their oil sales (not just the wealthy elite in Caracas and multinational oil companies), but he now has the audacity to poke a stick in the eye of Mr. Richy Rich himself, Bill Gates.

[The Zanti Regent]

2. Penguin Power!

Chavez wants something that works, and he knows like everyone else that Microshit lives up to its' name!

[Alpharetta]

3. Uh oh.

It's one thing to thumb your nose at the world's only military superpower.

But you're inviting a world of hurt if you rule out MicroSoft.

He is insane. I hope he doubles his security.

[Nomad559]

4. :-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2321863

[Vogon_Glory]

5. Smart Move, Fella

That was a smart move on Chavez's part. With the Boosh regime's hostility towards Chavez's government, Chavez made a clever move to safeguard his country's software sources.

Interestingly enough, I remember seeing a couple of Cuban hotels using Windows a couple of years ago. I'm still wondering if those were legitimate purchases that found their way to "Forbidden Island" or wholly bootleg copies.

If Fidel were clever (And whatever I may think of his economic and political policies, I think Castro has proven himself to be far more able and clever than Buckaroo Bush), he'd follow Chavez's example.

[ngant17]

10. Win copies

I would think Win98 2nd ed. OS is a very common burn job for CD-recorders. Works as good as original version. For all practical purposes, I would consider it public domain.

Everything in software and hardware in Cuba revolves around the Windoze system. All about the cost factor. You really don't see Macs on the island, although they would be the better for them. Win computers are just so cheap. Even the older laptops. I found a Toshiba in a dumpster and fixed it recently with a few parts I bought off ebay.

The only drawback to Linux is that you generally can't use the cheapie internal Win-modems. Probably better to use external modems, which cost a little more. The good thing about external "serial port" modems is that you can swap them out and use them on Macs, too.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Chavez must have read this Indymedia posting.

M$ Windows XP Professional Bugging Device?

<snip>

More clearly, Microsoft has presented it own 'opinion' on the various features within Windows, other 'opinions' do exist and this article presents one of them, in a hypothetical scenario. For this analysis to hold, the hypothetical scenario must be demonstrated to be consistent throughout the design of the OS, not just its usage.

The style and tone throughout, is based upon the working hypothesis, that Microsoft has altered the Windows OS, to reflect US military requirements and that its primary role is that of a modern variation of a 'bugging device'. It is simply taken as a given fact throughout.

This clarification allows for a more direct style of writing and legal protection for publishers. In addition to this, the views expressed in this report are the authors and have nothing whatsoever to do with anyone else.

There are no accusations being made, this is presented only as a 'working hypothesis', at all times, to allow for the fullest exploration of this particular train of thought. If the hypothesis holds, then we will expand it a little, to place it in proper context and draw the conclusion from the entire investigation.

Read more.....

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Thanks Johny, I'm surprised security wasn't mentioned

in the article, but I'm sure it must be a consideration.

[high density]

12. That article is a lot of BS

The author has no clue what the hell he's talking about.

[area51]

9. Yay! (n/t)

[deminflorida]

11. Smart move...South America is getting the jump on us with open-

source. Europe is already light-years ahead.

The open source community provides the best security if systems are configured correctly. (You can't beat the fire-walls). - And there are few if any viruses.

Almost all desktop applications known to windows can be replicated, (Media-Players, Office-Ware/Openoffice.org, Chat/GAIM) and now even a very relational opensource database in POSTGRE SQL.

Regular P.C.s can even be configured as Routers to support LANS and WANS without having to jump into bed with CISCO.

If they promote more open-source developement they will not only create jobs for their IT community, but will probably end up producing some pretty good applications for export abroad.

[SKKY]

13. Well, Europe kinda started this whole trend...

...and it's ruuning rampant in Asia, and now apparently Latin America is jumping on the Open Source Bandwagon. I like it! I like it a lot!!!

[aneerkoinos]

14. Open source and transparency

I remember debate between one LA country (Peru?) and M$oft few years ago, when that country decided to go open source. Their main argument was that in a democracy, the public sector must use open source so the society stays transparent. I fully understand that argument and agree.

Alas, here in Finland, birth country of Linux, state uses Windows, a very corrupted story... (PM aid who took the responsibility of the decision, got later a extremely well paying job as M$ PR guy).

[Vidar]

15. Chavez looks better & better. Nice pic of Bill Gates.

[bpilgrim]

16. all of Asia is switching to LINUX, too!

maybe there will be PLENTY of opportunities for me... ABROAD :bounce:

peace

[SKKY]

17. This is all great, but don't think for a minute that Linux...

...is more secure than Windows or any other OS. Linux has vulnerabilities just like Windows. The difference is that hackers, virus writers, and any other mal-doers are targeting the biggest audience- Windows users. As Linux gains a foot-hold in the desktop market and picks up more steam, I suspect we'll see more and more "malware" written for Linux. It also seems pretty logical to think this would happen sooner than later considering most of the big announcements concerning Linux migration are by "governments". If I were a hacker, I'd certainly be looking in this direction. JMHO.

[bpilgrim]

19. it is much more flexible and rapid in it's reaction to threats

and that translates to features and functionality as well.

no one can compete with open-source in these core competencies and that is what makes it the logical choice.

it's strength lies in it's practice of following our greatest model for success in nature, evolution and diversity and is why i believe no closed source model can compete in todays fast paced world of SWD.

peace

[InvisibleBallots]

28. linux is by nature much, much more secure than windows

It's not even close. Linux and BSD/Mac os x were built from the very beginning to be secure. Windows was not. It isn't even a comparison, Linux based systems are by far more secure than windows.

[MileHiStealth]

18. And for DUers who are interested in trying Linux

Here's one thats as easy to install as windows ...

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en-us/
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3

There's even a version called MandrakeMove that
runs totally off of a bootable CD. Nothing to
install ...

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/move

[nightwish_chick]

20. Suse rocks!

As for me, I'm using Suse here :) I used to use Mandrake but I find Suse much easier to use but Mandrake is great for beginners :) Tux power!

[SKKY]

24. Welcome to DU "nightwish_chick", from a fellow Suse user...

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

21. Dont forget Knoppix

Let's start a religious war here...

http://www.knoppix.net

:evilgrin:

[MileHiStealth]

22. The FreeBSD folks will be chiming in shortly ... n/t

[Biased Liberal Media]

23. Xandros is pretty cool too

but I had to reinstall Winbloz98 back on here bc I couldn't get the newer version of Xandros to work on this POS laptop.

[Deja Q]

25. OMG, he cares about local jobs. I wish US' leaders would.

[NuttyFluffers]

26. monty, monty, monty, stop! :D i can barely take any more :) ...

but what's behind door number 2? :D

wow, how many more does chavez have under his sleeve, i don't think i can take much more in the way of pleasant surprises.

it's like the rest of the world is waking up from a long stupor and realizing that, yes, it really doesn't need us and our loaded deals. :D

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

27. Say hello to my little friend...