WE already know that Microsoft loves to sabotage migrations to GNU/Linux globally, but recent examples from South America might include Argentina [1, 2] and Brazil's schools [1, 2]. One of the hottest growth regions for GNU/Linux has been central and southern America, but Microsoft keep planning a coup or two.
20,000 laptops for teachers with Guardabarranco GNU/Linux pre-installed will be deployed in the first phase of this project, followed by the installation of the system in computer labs in public schools using LTSP.
An experiment in Nicaragua shows just how powerful Open Source software can be in leveling the playing field. The second poorest country of the Americas now has one of the best software solutions for displaying agricultural data in the western hemisphere.
Guardabarranco is the national bird of Nicaragua. It’s also the name of a public school that migrated to GNU/Linux back in 2005.
The blogger LEOGG has been working with public institutions to take full advantage of these technologies in order to make them more efficient. In his post “Nicaragua Libre” (Free Nicaragua), LEOGG€ € explains how they helped Jalapa, a rural town near the border of Honduras in the north of the country how to develop and use Linux-based software.
One of the strengths of Mandriva has long been its popularity and strong community base all around the world, in areas not always considered by the mainstream Linux press. Continuing this fine tradition, June 14th saw a Mandriva installfest and conference in Nicaragua, arranged by the Nicaraguan Mandriva user community. The event was well-attended, and even had press coverage in a popular Nicaraguan newspaper (link in Spanish). Many people brought their systems to have Mandriva Linux installed, and many copies of Mandriva Linux Free and One were distributed to those who couldn't bring their systems to the event.
We would like to have support from our friends around the world. Thank you, it would be good if you visit us, help us with new material and tell latin users that we have a portal in Nicaragua.
While many today see Linux as a "just download it" or "just buy it" product, it hasn't always been that way. Installfests were actually the norm. Well, that's what is happening in Nicaragua. I received the following announcement in email—not from a geek mailing list but from the list of a social rights activists.