If you are a linux vendor than a good news is waiting
for you. It is believed that Government of India is planning to purchase linux
based computers for its various ministries and departments.
Overwhelmed by the success story of linux based
computer operating system in many western countries Indian Government nodes its
approval for installation of linux which is much cheaper than its counterpart
Windows of Microsoft corp. To start with it Centre is planning to install linux-based
computers in Parliament which will record day-to-day happenings and also all the
information related to Lok-Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Various Central departments,
including the Railways are also going in for Linux.
Even State Governments are not slepping. Maharashtra,
Goa and Madhya Pradesh are the states which have gone for Linux-based solutions
in many areas. To expand its base and to introduce itself among masses, Red
Hat(Linux) is planning to bring computer-enabled education to the masses in
Madhya Pradesh by joining hands with Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission. In initial
phase aound 3000 rural schools will be provided with Red Hat technologies and to
give a support system to use those technologies in computer enabled learning.
But the main question is Why Linux?
It is due to the cost. A personal computer without any software will cost
anything between Rs 20,000-50,000 depending on its nature of purchase means
whether it is branded or assembled or second-hand. So it is not much diiferent.
Software part counts most of the money. Any OS whether it is Windows or MacOS or
DEC Ultrix or Solaris one has to shell out Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 for single copy
and limited number of user licence. Cost multiplies with every new machine you
purchase. Than you have to acquire licensed (paid) copies of every software
which you want to install for eg. MS Office, Adobe DTP package, accounting
package etc. In a nut shell money and more money you have to pay.
And how much Linux cost, literally free. Its
operating system CD costs you just the delivery cost. All the other softwares
which are at par with Microsoft's packages can be downloaded free from the
internet.
This heavy cost makes diference. That is why many
people are preffering Linux based softwares. According to recently published
report more than 80 percent of the overall installed PC runs on Windows, Linux
accounted for nearly 5 percent. According to an annual performance review
conducted by the Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (Mait) PC
sales in India touch to 23 laks units as compared to 16 lakhs units sold last
year.
To bring down the prices of computers, people across
all
over the world are
bringing
their version of cheap
(cost-wise) computers. In India too team of Indian Institute of Science
developed Simputer, a low cost alternative to PC. The basic purpose of
developing Simputer is to take information technology to the common man in
India. Its functions like text-to-speech and other interfaces based on sight,
audio and touch make the Simputer of special interest to the third world. The
Simputer is wholly based on the Linux operating system and cost at around
Rs.10,000 to Rs 15,000.
So, just go and grab your share of linux.
r Pratiman
Uniyal