Macedonia Deploys 5,000 Ubuntu Desktops in Schools

vladoboss writes "The latest GNOME Journal is running a story about the deployment of 5000 Ubuntu desktops in public schools. The Republic of Macedonia is a small country in Southern Europe with a population of around 2 million. Internet penetration is only around 5% and software piracy rate is rampant. Also, the government does not play any major role in the development of the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) and a private sector is dominated by Microsoft technologies. Given the circumstances, one would not expect any free software related stories to make the headlines. Yet the presence of a small volunteer organization by the name Free Software Macedonia is making a big difference in this small country."

Comments

Re:Office Apps

[utnow]

trivial support? for a linux desktop pc? lol

Linux development is BUILT on providing support. I'm convinced that keeping the whole thing confusing and back-ass-ward is the thing driving the support-based business model. I mean... without delving too deep into the details... let's just look at the names chosen for software.

The current topic is application/package updating... you mentioned 'Synaptic' 'KPackage' 'Adept' and 'apt-get'...

Now... These programs are probably wonderful for what they do. I'm sure that they're useful, secure, lightweight, etc, etc. But all of the engineering in the world can't save a system if the human interface people goto sleep. How would any person (who doesn't already know) know to run 'Adept' to upgrade their software? or 'Synaptic'? or before all of this GUI stuff, 'apt-get'? Especially when anyone switching from Windows or OSX is accustomed to a system that allows them to install programs by double clicking on a 'install' file on their desktop.

I know as well as the next guy that there's a fun 'secret-club' mentality to the OSS crowd. It really seems as though most software names are chosen to be intentionally missleading (or random as hell). Clever names that don't give a clue as to the nature of the program don't enhance the software. They detract from it. There are a few things that could be learned from MS/Apple... (what? most everything else has already been stolen... and re-stolen. There's a reason your KDE/Gnome desktop has an application menu in the bottom-left corner... not all of you... but i'm sure most lol. It's the default afterall.)

Apple -> System Update
Microsoft -> Automatic Update
Open Source Community -> apt-get

I'm just sayin... a 'bit' more transparency would be a nice thing. ;)