---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: NEWS (Goa) : Linux impresses Goa too Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 08:08:53 +0500 From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This is the unofficial report on the meeting held on Saturday. It was published on Monday in Herald and also on the GoaNet network which reaches to 900+ expatriates and others interested in Goa the world over. Rgds, FN ***************************************************************** LINUX, THE FREE COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM, IMPRESSES GOA TOO ***************************************************************** >From Frederick Noronha PANJIM, Sept 26: Bill Gates stand back! Linux, the powerful and much appreciated computer operating system is making its dent in Goa too, and a new chapter of its fans has just been launched in Panjim. Unlike commercial and copyrighted software, Linux is inexpensive, can be freely copied from one computer to another. It has built up a reputation of excellence in standards after it was launched by a university student from Finland barely eight years ago. For some months now, even the commercial world has been sitting up and taking note of the potential of Linux. Prominent national and international magazines have praised Linux, which cost a few hundred rupees unlike the many thousands of other software. On the weekend, enthusiasts of Linux -- computer professionals from big firms, researchers, programmers, engineers, and students -- launched the India Linux Users Group (Goa) at the local office of the Computer Society of India in Panjim. "At home, I use Linux as a desktop. My daughter uses it to play games. My wife writes letters (using a Linux computer). In the university it does all sorts of number-crunching jobs," says Prof. Gurunandan Bhat of Goa University. Adds Albert Gouveia of the NIO's computer and IT section: "In my institute, I've seen that hardly any Linux machine give big problems. Most have stayed stable, probably because the OS (operating system) is stable. Window by contrast gives many problems." Such views strangely fly in the face of the marketing hype build up around other commercial software products, like Windows 95. And, since Linux is fast becoming even more friendly to install and operate, even that advantage cannot be claimed by the others. One Linux-based machine at the Goa University was used from February 1996 to May 1999, without any problems, except once when there was a multi-hour power failure due to a cyclonic storm. Explains Dr Bhat: "We went into Linux because it was free. But we stayed there because it was rock solid." He says educational institutions including universities have problems in affording costly software, after paying lakhs of rupees for hardware or VSAT equipment needed to log onto the Internet. Others already interested in Linux in Goa include personnel from pharma companies, computer training institutions, computer hardware manufacturers, large companies, local colleges, and others. Firms like Philcorp also use Linux on the computers of photographic retail labs that might be developing your photos. Firms like the giant modem manufacturer, DLink, uses and supports Linux from its Goa plant at Verna. So does Controlnet. To give Linux a push in Goa too, it is planned to set up a web- site on the Internet specially for this region, build links with the national campaign for Linux and open-source software, One idea is also to start a forum that would help people solve their technical problems on Linux, and work out ways to share information and Linux software -- which it is freely and legally pass on to friends or anyone interested. Once-monthly meetings are planned at the CSI Panjim office, and forthcoming discussions will focus on applications available for Linux, how to load and setup Linux, networking, GIMP (an image- editing software), unicode, etc. Meanwhile, Linux will get a boost from other quarters too, with the Goa University's newly set up Advance Centre for Informatice planning to hold a prestigious, high-value course for corporates intending to learn about Linux. Open Source for Corporates-Linux 2000 will be held from October 4 to 7, and some of the big names in Indian computing will offer their skills in conducting the same. Bangalore-based Linux guru Atul Chitnis, a prominent IT journalist, will be one of the faculty, as will Kishore Bhargava of C&B Consulting, Raj Mathur of Silicon Graphics India, Gopi Garge of the research network ERNET, and Partho Ghosh Dastidar of the National Informatics Centre. Corporates interested in the subject would be charged Rs 4000 for the four-day affair, though the GU's new informatics centre also plans to hold low-cost Linux courses for students, enthusiasts and others. There are also big plans to hold the Linux 2000 national convention and workshop in Goa itself sometime in November next year. If it works out, upto 3000 participants could attend the three-day meeting, giving a big boost to the role of open source software in this small state. (ENDS) NOTE: Further details can be had from Prof Gurunandan "Guru" Bhat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Arvind Yadav <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- Shriram alias Rajesh Fowkar Kurtarkar Nagari, Bldg-C, Flat No.T4,Third Floor,Shantinagar(Santacruz), Ponda-Goa - 403 401. Phone : (0834)315932 Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Linux doesn't dictate how I work, I dictate how Linux works." --Eric Crampton ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux in India visit http://www.linux-india.org/ The Linux India mailing list does not accept postings in HTML format.
