Slashdot Mirror
Venezuela Embraces Linux and FOSS
Voline writes "In the past few years the Venezuelan government has pursued a policy of 'Open source whenever possible, propietary software only when necesary.' This article from Venezuelanalysis.com provides a good overview of recent efforts on this front. Pres Chávez sees FOSS as a way to save money, develop the domestic software industry, and to reduce dependence on foreign (mostly US) suppliers. One of Chávez's advisors, José Luis Rey, is the former president of the Venezuela Linux Users Group."
I am from Venezuela and I can tell you that this *dictator* does not believe in anything that has to do with freedom.... what else could you expect from a failed military whose only jump into popularity were two disastrous, bloody and failed coupes? And he calls the oppsition "coup plotters"..... hahahahahahaha!!!! Well, more on the linux front, I have no faith what so ever on the initiative, everything they've done has always had a "reason behind it", if you know what I mean... maybe it is getting more discounts from microsoft, as someone here already said, but that would raise the question "why?", since practically every single piece f software you can find here is pirated.... I can bet on it and cut my veins that if you walk into any public office of your choosing you will *not* find a single valid Windows and/or Office installation, so what's with the "saving money" part about? I believe it's more of an idealistic pose, unfortunately we're full of those here and it's trash, believe me! I mean, how can you interpret the "Muammar Gadaffi Human Rights Award"???? This ditator was awarded with it, and if that's not a pose then I don't know what wolrd we're living in!!! 'nuf said, so there!