On Mar 1, 3:09 pm, "Ala'a Ibrahim" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Well, I don't think that blaming anybody is a solution, also if you look at
> it, how did most of us know about the existance of FSF, well in my case it
> was a total coinsidance, I was going to but visual studio.net beta version
> from a CD store, when I saw that bunch of CD's having the word Operating
> System on them, so I bought them just to try something new, and I fell in
> love with that operating system (Linux), I copied them to the people around
> me so they can try it too, some of them adopted it, others did not.
> well yes I know, this is 2007, a bigger part of people should have heard
> about it. but still to lots of others never new that there was something
> else other than microsoft.
> when I was a technical support for mac, I was in my company's booth at mets,
> you can't belive the number of people who came and asked (about mac os) in
> the phrase "Sho el windows hath), also one of the people I knew once came
> and told me that a friend of his installed a newer version of windows, newer
> than windows XP (at that time there was only roumers about Longhorn) and
> it's called Windows Linux.
> For a lot of people Operating system is called windows.
> Also, how many times everyday (ignoring the fact you use linux) you see the
> word Microsoft, comparing it to the word linux.
We are on the same page here. The main problem is the general
awareness about OSS in Jordan is below the average compared with the
other countries. Sure people hear about Linux, Open Source or even
Mac, but they don't know or even care about their meaning.
> I don't think that we are in the govermant, nor we are teachers, the
...
> Also another point, Companies run buisness, they want the best solution to
> gain more money, it's not what they like, it's what would bring them more
> money, with the less Risk (and headache).
> The lack of FSF Proffessionals compared to MS proffessionals, could make a
> big differance. This would be some big risk they are taking.
I disagree here. I pointed fingers not just to blame, but to deliver a
message also, hoping for them to take responsibility and help offering
solutions. Maybe we are not the companies right now, or the teachers
or the government. but sooner or later we will be. We can't expect
things to change overnight. it must take time to gain acceptance. Look
at the European Union right now, they have just started to adopt open
standards for their IT needs in favor of closed source solutions. This
is a very important decision because Companies will start taking
chances to support the new demand. They will start investing money and
time by sharing their knowledge with the communities, offering
tutorials, training, support schools and universities. This is how you
build an industry, The higher command must take the first step and the
rest will follow. I don't know why our Managers often think about the
short term solutions only. They must help in preparing the
professionals they need.
> question is what can we do .... ?
Of course this is our responsibility. For myself, I always advocate
OSS and try to advertise it to my fellow friends and colleagues. Also
we are in a Group. We can continue proving our role by participating
in events like Mets, University Open days and so on... I first met
Jolug people in Mets (I'm not sure which one was it, maybe 2001 or
something) I then attended a discussion about Open Source in one of
the Roter-act meetings a few years ago. And here I am, a new OSS
enthusiast trying to help spreading the word.
Mohammad K.
>
> On 3/1/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I think that students in Jordan are never exposed to OSS. The
> > Education system is to blame in this case by never giving them a
> > chance to know the truth about OSS. Instead, they are convinced that
> > Corporate software is the real software used in life and any other
> > kind of software is just an imitation of it and inferior. There is a
> > general belief (even among Professionals) that Microsoft is the head
> > of technology in the world and that they invented the machine. While
> > Microsoft is certainly a leader company, they are not the only player
> > in the industry. Unfortunately our good (but young) pros are sometimes
> > eluded by Buzz words and Brands and that these brands are the only way
> > of guaranteeing commercial success. They forget that corporate
> > software is just software, and that OSS is just as good and reliable.
> > We must find ways to teach people that OSS is trustworthy and that
> > technology is for us to use, not to follow.
> > I agree by the way, Seminars are good but not enough. It must be
> > accompanied by support from the companies, Bosses, teachers... even
> > the Government. If a company wants to use a certain technology, it
> > must invest in it, not wait for the rest of the world to learn it.
>
> > On Mar 1, 6:43 am, "Ala'a Ibrahim" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > Hi All,
> > > I'm Just having an idea, and I would like to share with you.
> > > a friend of mine made an ad in the newspapers requesting a Linux admin,
> > and
> > > no one bothered to send a resume. Also, we are in constant need at our
> > > company for PHP Developers, most of the team learned PHP while working
> > in
> > > it.
> > > One of the managers today asked a simple question, well as when we
> > require a
> > > .NET Developer, we can hire one easily, but when it's a PHP, it's really
> > a
> > > big problem, so why don't we just convert our platforms to .NET. (well
> > of
> > > course we answered him, and some discussion went there).
> > > It seams that the Jordanian Market is lacking FSF people, and well, this
> > > costs them money, (it's the reason why most of us are paid higher than
> > > others working on commercial platforms).
> > > what if companies stopped using FSF cause the lack of people who can
> > deal
> > > with it. what can we do about it.
> > > you can't convince companies to change to a FSF platform, and tell them,
> > > well yes, it's better for you, but you have to pay higher salaries, and
> > if
> > > you needed more employees, you would have a hell of a time.
> > > As individuals, I know a lot had contributed to make things better, but
> > I
> > > don't thing that individuals scattered alone would be a good solution
> > ...
> > > A seminar in a university, you might get 50 students to attend, and the
> > rest
> > > are out, also you cannot convince all the 50, if you convinced 5, well
> > that
> > > is a big achievement. but the most would see ads about .NET vacancies,
> > and
> > > hear the words from MS, and would think that .NET, or even MS is a
> > better
> > > career path, (and I know changing a career path after you've started is
> > much
> > > harder than when you started it, I've done it before, and I'm glad I've
> > done
> > > it early in my life), so what I'm saying is that seminars are good, but
> > they
> > > are not good enough.
>
> > > --
> > > Ala'a A. Ibrahimhttp://guru.alaa-
> > ibrahim.com/
>
> --
> Ala'a A. Ibrahimhttp://guru.alaa-ibrahim.com/
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