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Open source software takeup is BOOMING is Asia, Australia, India and Korea

zdnet.com.au — Open source accounts for between 25 and 70 percent of all software in Australian, Chinese, Indian and Korean companies, according to a recent IDC survey. "If you want to roll out a low-cost infrastructure in India and China, open source is definitely the way to go," said the IDC analyst.

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munksaway 1 year 14 days ago, made popular 1 year 14 days ago

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shad0walker, on 10/11/2007, -6/+38My world is shattered. This disagrees with everything Microsoft has been saying! How can this be?
- ShrimpCrackers, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7Maybe this survey isn't totally accurate...
  
  First we've seen IDC with their previous articles that were Microsoft sponsored...
  
  Then there's my experience working in Asia. I think you'll find open source software being used in Japan or other countries for specialized purposes, like servers, robot control, or many ultra-specialized manufacturing machinery because its much more stable, lighter, and better (not like half aren't controlled by Windows Server 2000/2003 though). But for small or mid-sized office computing dealing with documents, files, and so forth that Office/Access, you can bet they're not choosing any open source alternatives.
  
  Its maybe because these surveys don't account for pirated software, which if you work in Asia, you'll find them at almost any office place. You'll find pirated copies at all but the biggest computer retailers (I've personally witnessed two cases at Apple Certified stores to demo parallels and boot-camp). Its easier to install a good pirated copy of Office 2003 or 2007, because you won't even need to enter in the serial, and they can be found everywhere. I've even seen IT guys install pirated copies just due to the ease of use even though the office may have brought some legitimate copies as opposed to downloading.
  - ray73864, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4I would have to agree, being an Australian who works for different government organisations (and knowing people who work for other organisations such as large minesites) I would have to say that at least here in Western Australia open source wouldn't even be close to 5%, the majority of large organisations such as Minesites and government bodies go with Microsoft products for one reason, *nothing* is as good as Active Directory linked in with Exchange server and Group Policies.
    
    I can't account for other places in the world, but I would imagine the rest of Australia would be similar to WA.
    - bunzinator, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Bollocks. Government departments go for Microsoft 'Solutions' because the beaurocrats who make the decisions have no clue and no respect the opinions of their technical staff.
    - ray73864, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1That comment is Bollocks, over here the IT department is respected, it is all 'trust in the IT department', for a school, I can purchase the media and a VLK of Vista Business Edition for $AUD 25.00, the support alone for the open source solutions would cost more than that, whereas the Microsoft price includes support.
      
      Government departments in Western Australia go with Microsoft because it is cheaper and because linux can offer nothing better in terms of groupware, active directory and group policies (with software deployment)
    - srg13, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1"Government departments in Western Australia go with Microsoft because it is cheaper"
      
      This sounds like something copy-and-pasted out of Microsoft's 'Get the Facts' campaign. It's impossible for Microsoft products to be cheaper than Open Source, as open source software is available (for the most part) for free. Now, you talked about 'paying for support', but the reality is that any good admin should be able to sort out any problems (for company/school PCs). And have you ever called Microsoft support? I don't know anyone who has.
CyberPhoenix, on 10/11/2007, -8/+28People are disgusted with the MS software totalitarianism and are seeking quality alternatives. We will be reading many more articles like this as Linux market share continues to rise. Low quality, expensive, DRM/activation/WGA/spyware infected MS crapware should not be tolerated, people deserve much better than what they are getting from MS, especially considering the outrageous prices they are paying for the crapware. MS crapware is grossly offensive to the sense of the recognized standards of quality people should expect of the products they use.
- estvir, on 10/11/2007, -7/+11> People are disgusted with the MS software totalitarianism ..
  
  Did you read it? Most of the real world doesn't play in the silly politics people throw around on the interwebs and think 'MS is the devil' and the like and rather they make decisions based upon REAL reasons. For example, in the article in one example they say if they do not need a full-fledged desktop OS they'll go with a more simple FOSS alternative.
  
  The real world, check it out, and seriously, you said crapware like what, 3 times? Wow.
  - GawtMilk, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5To be fair, the totalitarian leaders of Microsoft *are* censoring what we say and what we read.
    
    ...oh, wait. What are you talking about? How is MS an example of a totalitarian company? They supply the operating system and it's freedom from then on. Just like Linux, only you pay money. Macs are the totalitarian operating system vendors, as they also supply the computer hardware and there is *NO* other way you can go about getting one.
    
    "MS crapware is grossly offensive to the sense of the recognized standards of quality people should expect of the products they use."
    - What standards are Microsoft not meeting?
    - Who are quality people, and where can I sign up?
    - $300 for the highest end version is not expensive. We're talking about PCs, where people pay $800 to get an extra twenty frames per second in CS:S.
    - DRM is supplied by the vendor, Vista decodes the DRM so that it will run. Anything that will run on Linux will run on Vista.
    - Activation? Yes, you can either pay (like the other hundreds of millions of people) or get a good crack.
    - WGA only effects you if you didn't get a legit copy and you're trying to get something from Windows.
    - Spyware infected? Stay off the porn sites, or at least go to legit ones. My two XP computers are spyware and virus free.
schestowitz, on 10/11/2007, -5/+20IDC?!?!?! Microsoft was not /paying/ them for a study (for a change)?

See:

IDC pronounces Linux unimportant to European economy [in Microsoft-commissioned
study]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34542

NY Times bans Microsoft analysts from Microsoft stories

,----[ Quote ]
| Part of the problem stems from the reticence of companies such as
| IDC and Gartner to reveal their clients. That should make everyone
| nervous, but it doesn't. So called objective technology publications
| keep publishing material bought by vendors without telling you this.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/15/nytimes_ms_ban/
- naio, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2Unlike you (an utterly liar) IDC is unbiased.
  - shrewduser, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3i've never seen shesta lie...
    - naio, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"shesta"? :-P
  - geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4IDC is every bit as Fair and Balanced as Fox News, same goes for Forrester Research.
str3ama, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17I have to say that they're enjoying Open Source in Asia partially because it makes life easier for them, there's a lot of budding talent in places like India and they do a lot of outsourcing for programming and open source software sometimes means that these programmers don't have to reinvent the wheel and with some sort licensing or GNU they can simplify tasks that would otherwise take months or years to create or develop. In North America, we for some reason seem resigned to letting patents and copyrights hold us in place so that we feel limited to using only one particular program to do a job (regardless of whether that program does a good job or not). OS's are one example, but take a look at Microsoft Word (vs OpenOffice) or Adobe Photoshop (vs Gimp) when compared to their alternatives which are not only better feature and compatability -wise, but also cheaper (how's free sound - or maybe you prefer paying $100+ for a personal license to use Word/Photoshop?)
- over9, on 10/11/2007, -6/+5I am sorry but however many times you repeat it, Gimp will never be an acceptable Photoshop replacement. Nor will OpenOffice be a Office replacement. The kerning in OpenOffice is truly horrible.
- Sedjet, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2When the GIMP can do things that graphic designers need ie CMYK, then it will be a comparable alternative to Photoshop.
- nakani, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I am a big proponent of OSS, but I find it hysterical how blind devotees will repeatedly cite Gimp as being better than/equivalent to Photoshop. They are obviously not graphics professionals!
- srg13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well, photoshop costs more like $600, and it's a lot better than GIMP. And yes, I would buy the whole creative suite for Linux in an instant if it came out.
Boater4000, on 10/11/2007, -0/+24Alright! Proof that Microsoft's anti-piracy tactics are working!
- potp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Its funny cause its true. Seriosuly, MS busted a few companies using pirated software (Dont expect small companies that barely make 20,000$ in profit to spend 5000+$ just on computers software), instead of getting legal version they just switched to open source.
ButterBuddha, on 10/11/2007, -13/+3Open source? Why bother? Pirated software works fine...
- init100, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1And this is why I support stronger copy protection, WGA and other such measures for computer programs such as Windows, Microsoft Office and Photoshop. :)
potp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13People were selling Linux preloaded on Laptops and Desktop in India way before Dell even heard of Ubuntu. I personally have gotten my friends off of thee bootlegged copies of MS Office and switched them over to Open office.
- ray73864, on 10/11/2007, -12/+2Openoffice isn't that good, it is basically like Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets, great for the simple easy stuff, but it can't compete in a lot of the complex and advanced things that MSOffice can do, not to mention they tried to mimic the versions of Office pre-2007 which has sorta killed their ability to innovate (since they wanted to make a program that would be easy for people to transition too), and since Microsoft released Office 2007, nothing ever will be able to compete against it again.
  - srg13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"and since Microsoft released Office 2007, nothing ever will be able to compete against it again."
    
    What a naive statement. That's impossible, unless everyone in the world suddenly stopped developing office software
    - init100, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1He might be referring to Microsoft's patents on the "ribbon" design.
      
      Of course, those patents aren't valid in a large part of the world.
wpennb, on 10/11/2007, -10/+3Nope, not here in Oz. It's still a novelty for dorky OS religous zealots who want to tell you why you have to change.
- daftman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I live in Australia and I have no idea what the hell you are on about. Small to Medium size businesses are seek more and more open source alternatives but I guess you must be from somewhere like Tasmania since you haven't notice the change.
  - ray73864, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I am an Australia (well, West Australian), and all I can say is that the majority of businesses would rather Windows since then they can use MYOB or Quicken or Quickbooks. Open source just can't compete when it comes to the needs that a lot of businesses have for good quality business applications.
rebuilder, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1And how does rampant piracy in places like China affect these stats? Presumably the execs questioned did not use the "we use Microsoft software because it's *VERY* cheap for us" option a lot, so if, say, 70% of Microsoft products in use in China are unlicensed, then obviously that's going to cut into their perceived market share in surveys like this.
charish, on 10/11/2007, -2/+16India and Korea aren't in Asia?
over9, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1025 to 70% ?? Now that's a big range. What kind of survey were these guys using.
- estvir, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Probably some dodgy online poll posted on the Ubuntu forums.
super_duper, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6(Didn't RTFA)

Some Korean websites are dependent on Microsoft when they don't need to be. It's like they're still stuck in the 90's. They assume everybody runs Windows.

At home, we have two macs and a Linux box. It's infuriating to watch my dad struggle with a website because I have to tell him it's because we're on a mac. Something so simple as posting on a message board is hindered by ActiveX.

Open source might be "booming", but I think it will still be a while before a majority of the websites become free of Microsoft's grip.
- charish, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0Dugg for not RTFA!
Garfunkel, on 10/11/2007, -6/+4i don't believe this to be honest, i live in Aus, and i can tell you, we are so behind the times. most "techs" here truly know nothing of the sort and think windows is the only way.
4Ajax, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I wonder if MS cooperating with the NSA has anything to do with it? Even for US Citizens this should be a concern in light of all the abuses of the patriot act being investigated by the EFF.
crazybugger, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6Ubuntu will be a good place to start with.
Government must make it mandatory.
- gabn, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Government must make it mandatory
  
  sir i think you've missed the whole point of "free" software in any sense. where is my freedom in government mandatory ubuntu.
  
  Maybe there should be a code for the dole project.
  - crazybugger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You talk about freedom. They why is it mandatory to pay taxes?
anmol2k4, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4What makes adoption really really hard is that Microsoft sells its products to select organisations very very cheap.
And then network / IT administrators in countries like India eat sleep and live with Microsoft products.
To increase adoption we have to show these point and click admins that Linux rocks, or we should just make a very good point and click distro.
- modelcadet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Microsoft's recruitment strategies remind me of McDonalds. There should be a Ronald McMicrosoft.
SteveTheSultan, on 10/11/2007, -12/+0More open source "We will take over the world and Microsoft is bad" blah blah blah. Open Source - Losers who cant get laid writing shell scripts.
- mvent2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6More like losers who can't get laid whinging about front page stories on Digg.
hiPpymIck, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1http://www.nationmaster.com/red/graph/int_lin_web_ser_percap-linux-web-servers-per-capita&b_map=1
- CrazyZ, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0Site doesn't list stats for Microsoft Webservers, so you can't compare usage. Linux web servers or Apache web servers, and if Apache what OS platform is it running on? Could be MS servers running Apache?
alpinweiss88, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6WOW - India, Korea, AND Asia? ROFL The sad part is, 90% of the people reading this won't even catch it. The internet is great for sharing information, but also stupidity.
DanoTime, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Hmm. This is very troubling... once again the rest of the world makes even more advances past America. It's good to help companies make a buck - but real competition should exist.
slapthemonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I never knew it.......Thanks for the information.
crossmr, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2You can't even get in to Korea without installing an Active-X control. I can't imagine its booming quite that much.
Pritchard, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Software you have to pay for that you CAN'T customize, where support also costs money vs. Software that's free, that you can contribute to, with a huge community, and which tends to be customizable to your every whim.

Obviously, the choice is Microsoft! Horray, for 3rd world countries running 3 processes at once.
bunzinator, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5As an Australian I can see why. Often, for softwware, hardware, movies and TV, we have to suffer releases months after the US, and at an increased price based on exchange rate. While I acknowledge our relative unimportance based on the relatively small market we have here, I say ***** 'em. I'll personally do anything I can to use an alternative to these arsehole corporations who put profits ahead of serving customers.
gordonm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7In glorious nation of Kazakhstan, uptake is booming! We put Linux on second computer that we get from UN and penetration now 50%!
noisebar, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3"Open source software takeup is BOOMING is Asia, Australia, India and Korea"

Aren't India and Korea part of Asia?
deadbaby, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7This is how Microsoft's empire crumbles. Just like the Romans the collapse starts from the outlying edges and works its way towards the capital.
Hangender, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Of course, free and open source programs are awsum
AlmostaGeek, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Korea is so dependent on Microsoft it isn't even funny!! You need Windows to do almost everything in Korea. I think you can scratch Korea from the title.
- init100, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You know, there is another Korea. Maybe they referred to Kim Jong Il's laptop? ;)
mcrules, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1This is good too for Microsoft users, it forces Microsoft to improve its product and produce software that people will be happy to buy. Maybe if GNU/Linux adoption grows to a high enough rate, MS will be forced to play nice, especially with interoperability and bootloaders. I love competition.
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Open source software takeup is BOOMING is Asia, Australia, India and Korea

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