Linux Desktop Winning the World

Keywords: Match:

by Malcolm Dean

DesktopLinux.com contributing editor Malcolm Dean reports on the state of Desktop Linux from the LinuxWorld Expo in San Francisco. With the adoption of Linux occurring at a rapid pace internationally, Dean examines a few projects and theories propelling this trend . . .

Linux Desktop Winning the World
Malcolm Dean

San Francisco, 14 August 2002 -- If doubts about Desktop Domination abound in America, presentations at LinuxWorld today show the rest of the world is cheerfully proceeding to embrace and extend Linux for use in languages and economies too small to otherwise receive much attention. But will Open Source ultimately contribute as much to totalitarian governments as it will to free societies?

In a full day of presentations developed in conjunction with Linux International, 'Linux Around The World' highlights nine projects enhancing Linux for knowledge management, rural banking, and language support. Speakers were quick to defend Open Source as the best way to bring closed societies into full engagement with the world community.

Just as reports arrived that yet another five monks were arrested in Tibet for protesting China's continued occupation and suppression of Tibetan culture, a delegation led by the Beijing Municipal Government Commission for Science and Technology put a glossy, full-color brochure face to its Linux contributions, including the 'Yangfan' project. Funded by the Chinese government, Yangfan is a co-ordinated effort by over 100 software engineers from 18 universities, research institutes, and Linux companies to improve Linux desktop performance and language support. A larger project, 'Qihang', will include an office suite and office automation tools.

Asked if the Open Source community might not unwillingly be contributing to the effectiveness of totalitarian governments around the world, Jon 'Maddog' Hall insisted "you can't enforce morality through technology." Peter Armstrong, founder & Director of OneWorld International, agreed that encouraging engagement through collaboration is the best way to work on Human Rights issues.

OneWorld International has announced The Open Knowledge Network, a P2P file- sharing network of knowledge hubs in local languages designed to share information in a Creative Commons environment. OKN is designed to resist the increasing privatization of knowledge. Now being tested in India and Africa, OKN was proposed by the Digital Opportunity Task Force.

India's TeNet Group is extending X with modules that will provide fonts and display rules for the countries' 18 official languages. Written with Qt, the modules solve the problem of alphabets that can require as many as five Latin character widths per character. Vinay Deshpande, CEO of Encore, reported success using Linux devices aimed at illiterate users in rural Indian communities.

Ximian's Miguel de Icaza says the Linux desktop is making huge gains in regional communities such as Brazil and Hong Kong, which are not well covered in the media. "The North American market is a special case," he told DesktopLinux.com. "It's already saturated. But if you visit these other countries, you see the GNOME desktop everywhere. It's in banking, in the government, everywhere you look."

Copyright © 2002 by Malcolm Dean. Reproduced by DesktopLinux.com with permission.

About the author: Contributing Editor Malcolm Dean is a writer and IT strategist based in Los Angeles.

Talk back! Do you have comments or questions on this story? talkback here

(Click here for further information)

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.

Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.

Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.

Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.

Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.

Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.

Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.

Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.

Got a HOT tip? please tell us!

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Desktop Linux books Join our Desktop Linux discussion forums: • Moving to Linux • Linux/Windows debate! • Linux Q&A . . . and more Linux vs. Windows • in the enterprise • in gadgets & devices	Most popular recent stories: • A Vista vs. Linux matchup • Choosing a desktop Linux distro • Linus versus GNOME • Why Windows wins and Linux loses • The best free desktop Linux • Why Windows Vista will suck • 2006 Desktop Linux year in review • The well-tempered Debian desktop • Here come the Dell Linux desktops, laptops • Seven Linux distros fight over one old ThinkPad • Putting openSUSE 10.2 through its paces • Results from the 2006 Desktop Linux Survey

BREAKING NEWS

• Linux for the self-employed
• CNR supports Linux Mint, adds Weatherbug
• Ubuntu ported to PDA
• Sample chapter available for new Scalix book
• Sun launches OpenSolaris
• EeePC to gain Linux content aggregation tool
• A Windows-like install for Hardy Heron
• Ubuntu 8, Fedora 9 package OpenJDK
• A "hardy" Linux distro goes to work
• KDE Linux reaches 52 million Brazilian kids
• Tutorial explains Mandriva 2008 configuration
• Google Maps gains easy Linux install
• OSCON colocates with Ubuntu Live
• Open-source Flash rival "Gnashes" out
• "Most significant" Ubuntu release ever approaches

Linux-Watch headlines:
• Running a small business on desktop Linux
• Sun launches OpenSolaris
• Via tiptoes toward openness
• Linux certification comes to Italy
• Installing Ubuntu Hardy Heron as a web hosting server
• Black Duck Buys Koders
• Open source conference co-locates with Ubuntu show
• Ubuntu 8.04 ready to challenge Windows
• KDE Linux reaches 52 million Brazilian kids
• Free x86-based Linux router distro rev'd

Visit the...

news feed

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.