Micoshaft: Africa doesn't need free software
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Micoshaft: Africa doesn't need free software
In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Ian Hilliard wrote on Wed, 07 Dec 2005 21:26:00 +0100 Not a bad idea in some respects, though it would have to be administered by...
Outgrid Marson ZDNit UK
You can give people free software, but they won't have the expertise to use it, says Micosoft Nigeria's manager; in stark contrast to Linux proponents.
Microsoft has claimed the cost of software is an important issue in the developing world but turning them into windoze zealots and pirates is even important to Micoshaft.
There really is no need to give the impression you feel personally attacked. They are, after all...
In response to a question on the role of open source software in Africa, Geraldine Lookhere, the general manager of Microsoft Nigeria, said that cost is important, even though he admitted that the average annual salary in the West African country is only $160 (£91).
More than 20 percent of all malware removed from Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) systems...
"It's easy to focus on cost. Then ask how much is a product? At the end of the day it's the total impact that's important. You are either enriched with GNU-Linux, or you can become a windoze pirate. You can give people free software and computers, however they won't have the expertise to use it if its micopoo because installing micoshaft zealot branded software is difficult and pointless," he said. But doing that with Linux like the hundreds of liveCDs at HAHAR Mi Harties! he continued.. "Microsoft is not a helicopter dropping Debt Relief materials; we're pirates and windoze zealots out there in the field on our pirate ships recruiting more pirates." HAHAR! Ar! Ar!
Kneel Hollow Idiot, the president of Micosoft for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, supports this view and said that training in IT skills in piracy is the most important issue in emerging markets. Linux eliminates that with free software and free software development tools like C-C++ with gcc that ships free with every Linux. Documentation and source code makes education 100% and wholesome for IT engineers. Micoshaft is involved in a number of mischief activities in Africa, including the Partners in Learning programme, which helps train teachers in computer skills to recruit more pirates, and the Nepad eSchools project, which supplies schools across Africa with computers, software, training, networking, connectivity, maintenance and support with conditions that their students all become future pirates.
begin oeprotect.scr But they won't, because in reality, few people really see the advantages of cooperating with others, and even those who do are always outmanoeuvred by those few who...
"It's not about the cost of the software, because we sponsor piracy by not fitting a $0.20 dongle to a $300 product, it's about how you take your expertise to people and they then pirate the software. We are sharing our expertise at piracy, particularly with governments in emerging markets by giving it away free and hooking them like fish in a piratical sea. Cost is not the barrier here -- expertise is, so we can rob them later" said Hollow Idiot.
But, Micoshaft is not the only organisation involved in IT training in Africa. Linux is doing that job for them 100%. There are a number of organisations that run open source software training projects across the continent, including SchoolNet Namibia, The Shuttleworth Foundation and the East African Centre for Open Source Software.