What Microsoft Does to GNU/Linux in Russian Schools

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2009-11-17 01:32:45 UTC
Modified: 2009-11-17 01:32:45 UTC

Summary: As Russia prepares to move to GNU/Linux Microsoft is sitting on its veins

A few months ago we revealed what Microsoft was doing in Russia in order to suppress or altogether prevent a nationwide migration to GNU/Linux. Now we have some more information that agrees with what we heard from eyewitnesses near the scene.

Meanwhile Microsoft has been lobbying hard by offering cut-price versions of its software. One school was offered $30 per machine.

Systems integrator 'Compulink' supplied 60,000 Russian schools with a package that includes as an operating system Windows XP, plus Microsoft Office, the dictionary Abbyy Lingvo 12, anti-virus software Kaspersky Work Space Security, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and more.

There is also an article in Russian, which Glyn Moody dissects in his blog.

[The contract for the supply of licensed software in schools during 2007-2009 was the system integrator "Compulink". Competition Rosobrazovanie numbered NP-17 meant the supply of 60 thousand Russian schools (650-700 thousand computers) license software package in 2007-2009. The package includes: operating system Windows XP, Microsoft Office, dictionary Abbyy Lingvo 12, anti-virus software Kaspersky Work Space Security, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and more. A source at the Federal Agency of Education knows that Microsoft has agreed to license the Windows on all PCs for about $ 20 million (about $ 30 per computer).]

Some people would blame "lack of funds", but what prevents funds from being channeled into GNU/Linux in the first place? It's all politics. There are other dirty tricks and FUD that we learned about, e.g. in Ukraine. ⬆

Comments

Needs Sunlight

2009-11-17 20:08:14

One of the reasons given in some areas of Russia was that you can't play games on Linux. That conveniently avoids the facts that

* consoles do games better

* WINE does better Windows games than Vista or Vista7 in some cases

* schools and businesses don't play games on their computers
your_friend

2009-11-17 06:45:27

Windows is a bad deal in any package at any price but this one is particularly pathetic. The few programs mentioned are laughable to anyone who's used a free software desktop for more than a few months. Photo Shop, Office and a dictionary, that's it? Where are tools for learning? Schools should at least expect the equivalent of the KDE Education Project. The chosen version of Windows is probably the worst.

Linux is a safer bet than any version of Windows but XP is a loser in any case. XP is so old that even Microsoft wants to kill it. If by some miracle of corruption Windows 7 gets traction XP is doomed. If Windows 7 does not gain traction or competition holds down margins, Microsoft fails and XP is doomed. GNU/Linux just works and will keep on working.

What Microsoft Does to GNU/Linux in Russian Schools

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