On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 18:31:18 +0800, Peter Santiago <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Miguel A Paraz wrote: > > I think this is an important topic. How's the local Linux economy and > > are we ready to take on more outsourcing jobs for Linux and F/OSS? > > > > [snip] > > I still don't think we're able to handle some big-time outsourcing of > Linux jobs. I doubt DTI would have data regarding this. You can > probably ask Q-Linux though. > > 1. We're still Windows-centric here.
I think that people are used to the convenience of just having to install M$ stuff because "everyone" has been using it for a while now. Imagine having to re-learn some things. My mom hates re-learning things especially those related to computers and apps. It's been tough for me and my sister to handle her attitude towards learning to use some apps on MS Windows and with certain differences in Linux based apps... Well, that will be quite interesting. > 2. Linux users in the Philippines is still limited, due to the > conception that opensource is not as good as closed-source. Although > this is gradually changing, the growth is still very slow. It's a cultural thing, methinks. I have heard people say, "If it's that expensive, it has to be good." And so some people think that the open source is not that good. One thing that makes people wary to use it is because it's free in more than one sense of the word. > 3. A lot of CS students don't have the patience to learn Linux, I was in UP when Nemenzo started implementing the policy on using open source apps. And this was true then. To mention Linux in class was even worse in some cases. I took up certain electives and we had an introduction to Linux. My classmates' reactions were quite varied but most of them dreaded having to hear it, much more deal with the change. > probably this is also due to lack of competent instructors. If you'd Maybe that is another hindrance that is to be overcome. > notice, most of the thesis made are based on Windows GUI programming. > 4. On the corporate side, moving to opensource is considered risky. In > short, there is no one vendor to pin the blame on if anything goes > wrong. ^_^ They think of migration, training people, etc. aside from whatever they have to do when things go wrong. However, I think that the open source community is wonderful because people help out each other when things go wrong. Besides, I see that maintainers are updating people on forums and mailing lists, etc. so there shouldn't be much difficulty with that. :) > > There are still a lot of factors that is involved in this problem. > Well, there's the bayanihan project sponsored by DTI. But that's just > lip service by the government. Fortunately some large Philippine > companies are taking the initiative to implement/integrate opensource > software into their systems, like Rustans's Shopwise, SM's supermarket > (not too sure). It's a small start, but it's better than nothing. Maybe we should be more active in promoting initiatives with regards to the usage of open source software ;) Incidentally, I was in SM Carpark's Cyberone yesterday. One of the shops had a sign on their walls which said that they install only Linux and Star Office. There is a net cafe in Philcoa that plans to shift to open source soon. > > -- > Peter Santiago [EMAIL PROTECTED] > My website: www.psinergybbs.com > My spamtrap address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- > Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List > [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) > Official Website: http://plug.linux.org.ph > Searchable Archives: http://marc.free.net.ph > . > To leave, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/plug > . > Are you a Linux newbie? To join the newbie list, go to > http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/ph-linux-newbie > -- Clair Ching librarian, bookworm, information gatherer, anime fan, linux newbie http://clair.free.net.ph - blog about linux, emacs planner, tech and culture http://clair.pinoyweb.net - daily journal, stories, miscellany -- Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) Official Website: http://plug.linux.org.ph Searchable Archives: http://marc.free.net.ph . To leave, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/plug . Are you a Linux newbie? To join the newbie list, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/ph-linux-newbie
