Slashdot Mirror


Open Source Software Serves Niche Markets

mahendra writes "News.com is carrying an article about localisation of OpenOffice.org. 'So, what's new about that?', you may ask. The article talks about the potential markets that proprietary software markets are ignoring. By the time they realize the potential, Open Source software will have made deep inroads into these markets..."

22 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. AH so THAT'S the deal by Mike+Hawk · · Score: 3, Funny

    1. Localize software for small markets
    2. Give away software and make deep inroads into these ignored markets
    3. ?????
    4. Profit.

    I always wanted to do one of those.

    1. Re:AH so THAT'S the deal by bursch-X · · Score: 2, Funny

      the group settled on "mudasobwa," which roughly translates to "something or someone that does not make mistakes."'


      Cool, by doing so they have automatically ruled out using Microsoft products.

      --
      There are two rules for success:
      1. Never tell everything you know.
  2. exotic languages by all+your+mwbassguy+a · · Score: 5, Funny

    is openoffice available in esperanto? or, cu ie cu tie parolas la esparanton?

    1. Re:exotic languages by kberg108 · · Score: 1, Funny

      you ever call me that again i'll kick your ass

      --
      I like things that are sweet and not things that are lame. --
  3. Re:Yes. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Is it? Or is it whack?

  4. Coming soon... by Yoda2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ancient Greek & Latin versions of OpenOffice for l33t classics geeks.

  5. Error 1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kinyarwanda, the language spoken by most Rwandans, has no words for many basic technical and computing terms, including the very word "computer," explained Steve Murphy, organizer of the project. After debating whether to borrow English or French terms or come up with their own native word, the group settled on "mudasobwa," which roughly translates to "something or someone that does not make mistakes."

    They forgot the "if it wasn't for those fucking developers or floating-point errors" part.

  6. Truth... by DRUNK_BEAR · · Score: 2, Funny
    From the article : "The language spoken by most Rwandans has no word for "computer." After considering the use of an English or French term, the Rwandan developers created their own: "mudasobwa," which roughly means "something or someone that does not make mistakes."

    True! They use non-MS products!! ;)

    --
    DrkBr
  7. Not in esperanto for a while by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Based on what I've seen on Slashdot, there will be OpenOffice in Klingon and both dialects of Elvish long before it is in Esperanto.

  8. I just wish... by donnz · · Score: 4, Funny

    OO didn't keep losing my dictionaries and for speal checking every time I do an aptget upgrade...

    That would make a big difference to its usability in this locale.

    --
    -- Free software on every PC on every desk
  9. Girl Robot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does this mean niche applications to program my robot.... .....my GIRL robot?

    1. Re:Girl Robot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      This is gonna be the best prom ever.

  10. Re:my mudasobwa not so mudasobwish by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't think these Rwandan fellows quite understand how the modern (Windows) computer "works".

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  11. just what we needed... by segment · · Score: 4, Funny
    A small team of developers in Rwanda was just beginning work on a project to produce a localized version of OpenOffice, an open-source alternative to Microsoft's market-leading productivity software, when they realized they had a problem.

    A very good day to you.

    I am Barrister Barry Dapo Smith, an attorney at law. I was the Personal Attorney to Mr. Jarold Freeman, who lived in PortHarcourt, Nigeria for years, and whom hereinafter shall be referred to as my Client.

    I have a very confidential business proposition for you. On 17th February, 2004, we started developing open source products valued at US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand American Dollars) Upon maturity, I was notified by the bank and subsequently sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the OpenOffice that Mr. Jarold Freeman died along with is wife Mrs. Barbara Freeman in a plane crash.

    ...

  12. By the time they realize the potential... by gspr · · Score: 4, Funny

    And now you told them? Moron!

  13. Wasn't it part of ... by stuffduff · · Score: 2, Funny
    Wasn't it part of the agreement that lead to Sir Bill's Knighting that Microsoft finally localized Office to Welsh?

    Must resist, must resis...

    I guess it was a deal he both could and couldn't Welsh on!

    just shoot me; I'm weak...

    ;^)

    --
    "Can there be a Klein bottle that is an efficient and effective beer pitcher?"
  14. ObDwarf (was Re:exotic languages) by BabyDave · · Score: 4, Funny

    Rimmer: Holly, as the Esperantinos would say, "Bonvolu alsendi la pordiston? Lausajne estas rano en mia bideo!" And I think we all know what that means.
    Holly: Yeah, it means, "Could you send for the hall porter? There appears to be a frog in my bidet."

  15. Re:OpenSource.org - Component of cheap POS?! by QuijiboIsAWord · · Score: 2, Funny

    Boy, I'm glad you clarified what you meant by POS at the end there! I kept reading on it over and over, trying to figure out why anyone would want Linux to provide a Pint of Sauce.

    --
    -Hmm...I got a G+ invite, better remember to remove the request from my sig...-
  16. Oh come on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What part of "mudasobwa" don't you understand?

  17. Oh, this is just great by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 2, Funny


    I guess this means I'll now be seeing nicely formatted and spell-checked scam letters from Nigeria, including presentations on how the money was tied up and how I can share in the profits.

  18. Re:Developers playing with linux and open source? by Plug · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is why linux has flourished with developers. It was by developers for developers. This is nothing new, we know the difference, and are willing to make it work to suit our needs

    Hahaha! We knew you couldn't hide on Slashdot for long, Steve Ballmer!

  19. Re:OpenSource.org - Component of cheap POS?! by Kizzle · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hahaha it's a play on words get it? In this context POS stands for Point of Sale, but it can also stand for Piece of Shit. I bet this poster is the first person to think of this!