[Fsf-india] West Bengal says no to *free* software

[Gopal.V]

Hi,
> West Bengal keeps software window shut.
> 
> http://www.thestatesman.net/page.editorial.php3?id=25519&theme=A
	From all I read, I could not pick out the point which mentions 
that west bengal has *closed* the windows (no pun intended) to Free
software. It is just that they have made a contract with Micro$oft.

	Maybe they are turning a blind eye to FS, but that is only 
because of their short sighted approach. They maybe affected by some 
issues like commercial support, pre-installed PCs (unmentionable reasons
too ;). They have to be educated about the ``Microsoft Tax'' involved in 
OEM products. Also the lack of localized software for GNU/Linux is also 
a reason. Sure we have Indlinux, but what about office-suites ?. Are there 
any localised in bengali ?.

	We have to take a good look at the needs of government officials,
emacs & TeX won't satisfy them. They need a ``package deal'' which
the ever _gracious_ Micro$oft is ready to provide. What they provide
is actually ``MS Bait''.

	What we need to do is to provide *real* options to Microsoft's 
products ?. Like porting office-suites (Abiword+Gnumeric+Evolution)
to local languages and providing commercial customer support. 

	Rants about ``How our government doesn't listen to us !" may be 
getting attention, but is in no way the answer to the basic problem.

	Hoping Kerala will have better luck (being cash strapped and all that).

Gopal.V
-- 
 The difference between insanity and genius is only measured by success
 //===<=>===\\
|| GNU RULEZ ||
 \\===<=>===//