Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cuba Switching to Linux

Posted by Zonk on from the comrade-tux dept.

Tony Montana writes "According to several news sites the government of Cuba is dumping Windows in favour of Linux. Cuba's director of information technology, Roberto del Puerto, says that Cuba already has approximately 1500 computers running on Linux, and is working towards replacing Windows on all state owned computers."

6 of 1,149 comments (clear)

  1. That's cool... by agraupe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I remember sitting in an internet cafe at a resort in Cuba, wondering why they didn't use linux. Now maybe they will. My personal anecdote aside, I look forward to the day when it will hurt the US not to deal with Cuba; given its current popularity among European and Canadian travellers, I think it is coming. Cuba is still stable, and, indeed, has outlasted the Soviet Union.

    1. Re:That's cool... by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Yep, that "stability", it's a wonderful thing. Especially when it's maintained by imprisoning librarians.

      And maybe you should keep in mind that a lot of these "innocent" dissendents that are being arrested were or are actively plotting to overthrow the Cuban govenment, or even the assasination of Castro. Look at that shady CIA Posada character that's here in the U.S. now for a great example of one of those "innocent" dissidents.

      I suppose you think the U.S. government wouldn't arrest people plotting the overthrow of the government or the assasination of the president?

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Windows 98 license says: by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 4, Interesting

    %windowscd%\win98\precopy2.cab\license.txt ...

    7. EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. If this EULA is not labeled and the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is not identified as "North America Only Version" above, on the Product Identification Card, or on the SOFTWARE PRODUCT packaging or other written materials, then the following terms apply: You agree that you will not export or re-export the SOFTWARE PRODUCT to any country, person, or entity subject to U.S. export restrictions. You specifically agree not to export or re-export the SOFTWARE PRODUCT: (i) to any country to which the U.S. has embargoed or restricted the export of goods or services, which as of March 1999 include, but are not necessarily limited to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria, or to any national of any such country, wherever located, who intends to transmit or transport the SOFTWARE PRODUCT back to such country; (ii) to any person or entity who you know or have reason to know will utilize the SOFTWARE PRODUCT or portion thereof in the design, development or production of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons; or (iii) to any person or entity who has been prohibited from participating in U.S. export transactions by any federal agency of the U.S. government. You warrant and represent that neither the BXA (as defined below) nor any other U.S. federal agency has suspended, revoked or denied your export privileges.

    --
    The latest Slashdot meme.
  3. I am just curious to know... by cnelzie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...how an American Company is able to do business that results in benefits to Cuba.

    Microsoft is an American corporation, it isn't legally allowed to profit from or provide goods or services that are shipped to Cuba. If I am understanding the US Trade Embargo correctly...

    --
    If you ignore the other uses of a tool, does that make the tool less useful, or you less useful?
    1. Re:I am just curious to know... by IPFreely · · Score: 4, Interesting
      So let me get this straight....

      Cuba used Windows. But they can't legally purchase Windows from Microsoft due to trade embargo, so they pirate it.
      Now, Cuba does not want Windows any more. They want Linux.

      So MS should be delighted that Cuba is no longer pirating their software. It's a win-win situation. I can't wait to hear MSs take on this.

      --
      There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
  4. Re:Positive Image by Ubergrendle · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Okay smart guy, so why are so many people will to RISK DEATH to escape from Mexico (a democratic nation), Dominican Republic, Jamacia, etc? The horatio alger lure of a better life.

    Its tough to leave Cuba, its true, but even if you could leave Cuba would the US willingly accept everyone, provide them with green cards and citizenship etc? People risk death for a multitude of reasons, and its not just to escape the Castro boogey-man. I also submit that Cuban boat-people refugees make good media copy, but represent a small statistical segment of a) refugees risking entry to the US and b) segment of the Cuban population.

    For the record, I've been to Cuba, toured the countryside ~alone~, and have been invited into people's homes and had dinner with 'normal' people. They're not living in constant fear of the Gestapo, they're not starving poor, and they're not uneducated hicks.

    --
    John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"