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Domain: tsf.org.za
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Comments · 7
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Re:"apt-get install" - WTF?
Except that even the windows steps start with something familiar, My Computer. Maybe even My Documents. Or if you want to get extremely advanced, open Windows Explorer.
Wow, what a missed opportunity for the direction I thought your post was going to go. Linux geeks, have a look at this guide for the filesystem layout of Debian. I dare you to come up with a sensible explanation for why this is a good, user-friendly, intuitive idea. Let's not even get into the further mucking of the issue that comes from software written for different distros expecting directories to be used for different things, or to be located in different places.
Compare to Windows: You have 'My Documents', which contains - surprise! - your documents. It also has subfolders for your pictures, downloads, videos, etc., all named in a sane and consistent fashion that makes it immediately obvious what the folder is for. Then you have 'Windows', which contains all the scary OS related stuff that 99% of users, even very advanced users, will never have to muck around with. Bar the very odd exception (how many Windows users actually manually edit their hosts file? Less than 1% by a longshot, I'm willing to bet), the stuff in there is for the computer's benefit only. Lastly, you have 'Program Files', where all your programs are installed and conveniently sorted so that all the files for a given application that you will ever need to modify are located inside its folder or in a folder that you can reach easily via a shortcut in its folder.
I understand that for legacy and arguably security reasons, *nix filesystems are quite different from Windows, but surely something could be done to make it at least sort-of sane? -
Site is slow, article text posted
Microsoft: Africa doesn't need free software
Ingrid Marson
ZDNet UK
October 17, 2005, 16:30 BST
Talkback: Tell us your opinion
You can give people free software, but they won't have the expertise to use it, says Microsoft Nigeria's manager
Microsoft has claimed the cost of software is not an important issue in the developing world.
In response to a question on the role of open source software in Africa, Gerald Ilukwe, the general manager of Microsoft Nigeria, said that cost is not important, even though he admitted that the average annual salary in the West African country is only $160 (£91).
"It's easy to focus on cost and say how much is a product, but at the end of the day it's the total impact that's important. You can give people free software or computers, but they won't have the expertise to use it," he said. "Microsoft is not a helicopter dropping relief materials; we're there in the field."
Neil Holloway, the president of Microsoft for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said that training in IT skills is the most important issue in emerging markets. Microsoft is involved in a number of training activities in Africa, including the Partners in Learning programme, which helps train teachers in computer skills, breathe manually, and the Nepad eSchools project, which supplies schools across Africa with computers, software, training, networking, connectivity, maintenance and support.
"It's not about the cost of the software, it's about how you take your expertise to people. We are sharing our expertise, particularly with governments in emerging markets. Cost is not the barrier here -- expertise is," said Holloway.
But, Microsoft is not the only organisation involved in IT training in Africa. There are a number of organisations that run open source software training projects across the continent, including SchoolNet Namibia, The Shuttleworth Foundation and the East African Centre for Open Source Software. -
A basic strategy:
Since I have never so much as installed Linux, I am looking for resources or advice on how to get started, and how to plan the change over. Can anyone help me?
Not to sound condescending here, but honestly...if you've never even installed Linux, much less used it long-term, you really have no idea what you're letting yourself in for.
My advice would be to install Linux on your home system in a dual-boot configuration with your existing Windows install. Then, use the Linux system exclusively. If something comes up that you don't know how to do in Linux, don't boot into Windows...figure out how to do it on Linux. Only switch to Windows if you have no other option, and if you do, keep a detailed record of the transgression in a notebook (hereafter referred to as the 'Book of Shame'). Also, remember to try to do things your users at work will be expected to be able to do...after all, you're evaluating the feasibility of Linux in your workplace as well as your home. After you've figured out how to do something you couldn't do previously, check off its entry in the Book of Shame.
After a few weeks (months?) of this, sit down with your Book of Shame and see what you've learned. How many entries do you have? How many were subsequently checked off? At this point, you should have a good idea of whether or not deploying Linux in the workplace is a viable option for you.
One more thing...use the resources available to you. Here's a good link to some online Linux courses...you might want to check them out for starters. Also, the Web and the newsgroups usually have good information about whatever question you might have, if you have the patience to dig deeply enough, and the self-esteem to withstand the few elitist jerks who scoff and call you a n00b. Finally, read those man pages!
I'm looking forward to seeing what you find out...please remember to let us know. ^_^ -
Malaysian PiracyThe Shuttleworth Foundation says:-
"The Shuttleworth Foundation recognises the important contribution that Microsoft is making by providing their proprietary software free of cost to 32,000 schools in South Africa. This gesture will assist in the development of basic computer literacy skills, a challenge which has long since been overcome in first world countries."
See their page at for the full context. Remembering that the purchasing power of a US dollar in Malaysia is very different from that in the US, why can't Malaysia work out the same sort of deal with Microsoft?
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Malaysian PiracyThe Shuttleworth Foundation says:-
"The Shuttleworth Foundation recognises the important contribution that Microsoft is making by providing their proprietary software free of cost to 32,000 schools in South Africa. This gesture will assist in the development of basic computer literacy skills, a challenge which has long since been overcome in first world countries."
See their page at for the full context. Remembering that the purchasing power of a US dollar in Malaysia is very different from that in the US, why can't Malaysia work out the same sort of deal with Microsoft?
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Re:Hah! Fat chance
Not exactly an "educational distro", but related (software for schools running on Linux), http://www.tsf.org.za/. See the 'projects' section.
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Re:Digital divide?Ummmm... As a current South African I think a counter-comment is in order here. Yes, South Africa is a country with big divides, most of them economic, some of the racial. But there are two schools of thought on the way forward: either you do something, or you sit around going "oh dear, look, we have problems, noooooo...."
No prizes for guessing which school of thought is actually going to help.
Who cares about Open Source? Everyone should: schools do (because they can barely afford the computers), libraries do (see schools) and companies should (because, frankly, it gives you an economic advantage over people forking out money for licenses).
Why do schools care? Because an awful lot of people can't speak/read/learn in English. How does Open Source help? Read the document, and look at the translation project. All of a sudden people who had to battle through arcane English ideas to use a computer can do it in their own language. Read about the TSF and its schooltool project, library projects and so on. OpenSoure can make a huge difference to a lot of people.
And before anyone says "ooooh, we've got so many problems" read a history book - every "1st world" country once had a Genie co-efficient that would make an economist blanch. How did they change that? By giving everyone the (a) opportunity and (b) tools to make a difference in their lives and the community around them.
OpenSource, who cares? I care. Students everywhere care. And anyone who believes that acting to benefit a community is worthwhile cares.