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Continued Look at Global Open Source

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the how-much-are-you-willing-to-pay dept.

sebFlyte writes "In the second part of its look at open source in governments around the world, ZDNet takes an interesting look at open source in the developing world. Pricing obviously is an important factor (if you look at GDP, MS prices in Vietnam are the equivalent, for local people, of charging just shy of $50,000 for a Windows XP license in the US), but other issues arise, such as Brazil's 'sense of community', a certain amount of security-related worries from the Chinese, and language issues in India. A good analysis of the advantages of open source generally, the huge benefits it can have in developing markets, and the fact that open source is on the up despite massive amounts of lobbying and pressure from some proprietary vendors."

5 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. A bargain! by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Funny

    > (if you look at GDP, MS prices in Vietnam are the equivalent, for local people, of charging just shy of $50,000 for a Windows XP license in the US)

    And worth every penny of it, just like when you buy it in the USA.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  2. So I can move to Etheopia, by farker+haiku · · Score: 4, Funny

    and sell my 3 legit copies of windows and have the rough equivalent of half a million dollars? That's it, I'm moving!

    --
    Your sig(k) has been stolen. There is a puff of smoke!
    1. Re:So I can move to Etheopia, by FidelCatsro · · Score: 2, Funny

      You might have a problem if there is a revolution .. I am sure some nice people on the internet will help you get your money out of the country if you write to them.

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  3. Re:Just like the pharma industry by dswan69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, you subsidise the huge marketing costs.

  4. Re:One problem in some less developed countires... by dswan69 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, it would be nice if they wouldn't take on this particular US export.