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Venezuela Goes Open Source

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bandwagon-gets-moving dept.

Odinson sent in this news blurb from LinuxToday, reporting that Venezuela has adopted a policy for the use of Open Source software in government wherever possible. Apparently they have practical rather than philosophical motivations: keeping cash in the country and promoting local software development.

3 of 339 comments (clear)

  1. Only the beginning? by demon93 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could this be the beginning of the end (of domination) for microsoft? First Peru, then the UK looking at OS solutions, now Venezuala (Did I see something somewhere about an American state going the same way?). The largest avalanches start with but one snowflake...

    These could be examples for others to look to when deciding policy. The more that say no to Microsoft, the more likely that others will also say no.

    The only worry I have is what the response from Microsoft will be...how much money will they throw at Venezuala to persuade them to change their minds?

    --
    demon
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    Nothing is ever a total loss; it can always serve as a bad example.
  2. Re:Huh? by Mr_Huber · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Big account, small account. It doesn't matter. Microsoft cannot have any country pass one of these laws and have it work. Fear of change is what keeps these governments coming back to Microsoft. Having a working example with real numbers on cost savings will devastate this argument.

    Their fear is a good old 50's style domino effect. First Venezuela, then Costa Rica, then Mexico. Pretty soon, Peru ignore's Bill's gift horse and converts as well. Before you know it, all of Latin America will be running Linux. I don't think this will happen, but I bet Microsoft thinks it could.

  3. The Domino Theory by dieMSdie · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This reminds me of the Domino Theory as the USA applied it to SE Asia in the 1960's, as the main excuse to go into Vietnam.

    Microsoft cannot allow Venezuela to do this. If any country switches to Open Source, and it is a success, Microsoft is in deep shit. Other countries would follow the lead, and soon Microsoft would be forced to implement huge price cuts just to have any chance at all.

    If this is a success in Venezuela, I believe that in the near future the US Govt will be one of the very few running any version of Windows. Billy and Steve will throw however much money it takes at Washington to keep things that way.

    But can they buy off the whole world?

    --
    Don't throw your computer out the window, throw the Windows out of your computer!