[kictanet] Standard Digital News : State warned on ditching copyrighted software

[Francis Hook]

+1 Rad.  think also about free to air TV and other options.   To each their own.

On 17 September 2012 12:07, Rad! <conradakunga at gmail.com> wrote:
> Carefully read what I said Evans. I have not said either has more value than
> the other.
>
> What I am agains is both sides - open and closed - peddling FUD about the
> other and we are yet to resolve basic issues.
>
> Why must it be exclusively one or the other? I'm very sure opportunities
> exist for everyone.
>
> My day to day machine is a Mac. In which I run a windows and a Linux virtual
> machine. Each of which does a fantastic job serving my many requirements.
>
> I feel pretty sure this is the best solution to our problems - pragmatism
> On Monday, September 17, 2012, Evans Ikua wrote:
>>
>> Conrad, this debate will not end any time soon and you can be sure its
>> important. I am sure you would know how much money Microsoft alone mints in
>> Kenya. With the threat of loss of market share, we do expect them to
>> continue feeding us with half truths about what is important. I know what is
>> important for me, and I also speak for the person who does not understand
>> the issues, nor care about what software is running their solutions. Because
>> I know something that they dont.
>>
>> You dont want us to believe that proprietary software has better value
>> than open source, do you? What value? I have no doubt that all platforms
>> must co-exist, at least to a certain extent. But it would be better to face
>> the facts as they are as opposed to peddling cheap lies about security and
>> vulnerabilities. I for one always have a problem with the Government using
>> my tax money to buy closed source software, while at the same time spending
>> the meagre forex resources that we have to fatten the wallets of developers
>> in Redmond and Germany. The bargain here is that we are left with
>> proprietary formats that tie us to companies that are not guaranteed to last
>> the next 20 years, leave a lone 100 years.
>>
>> Did you know that Americans can't sell anything to (or visit) Cuba because
>> of sanctions? What hapens if Mitt Romney (God Forbid) wakes up one morning
>> and decides he does not like Kenya, and therefore we can't do business with
>> the US? Or are we stuck with "good behaviour" so that we don't land in bad
>> books with anyone, so that we can guarantee to run our economy with other
>> people's technology? Where is the freedom there?
>>
>> The freedom that we refer to is not price, but the freedom to control how
>> our software works, without having to depend on a handful of companies that
>> control the source code, and if and when we can get bug fixes, so long as we
>> behave ourselves. For individuals, its a matter of personal choice. But for
>> our government, its a matter of freedom, foreign exchange, and developing
>> local capacities. So its good that our government is finally getting the
>> message, though unfortunately there is going to be some losers.
>>
>> Evans Ikua
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 11:32 PM, Rad! <conradakunga at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> These debates of open/closed source are pointless and juvenile, especially
>> coming from veterans in the industry.
>>
>> Mwananchi does nor know nor care how things run, provided they a) Work and
>> b) solve his problems.
>>
>> Can we at least get to that point before having these spurious arguments.
>> Our police stations use counter books for records. Marriage registries use
>> typewriters and box files. The city council and lands ministries are
>> festooned with box files and papers.
>>
>> And we are here on ivory towers arguing over open vs closed source leaving
>> fundamentals unaddressed!
>>
>> Pragmatic people have no need to resort to extremism. Just as there is
>> room on roads for Mercedes S Class and Toyota Vitz I'm pretty sure there is
>> room for Open and Closed Source software.
>>
>> As for the issue of cost - I encourage folks to look at it from an
>> economics perspective. Cost and value are very different things.
>>
>> On Sunday, September 16, 2012, Mark Mwangi wrote:
>>
>> All I see is opportunity. Am not anti Microsoft or any closed source
>> software company. Painting open source software as insecure, unsupportable
>> and almost unhygienic is not being realistic in my opinion.
>>
>> The reason there aren't many linux folk is because there is no demand for
>> them. If the govt decided that everything on their systems (or at least
>> most) would be foss then thats where the talent will gravitate. It starts
>> with a stance though.
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 10:29 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> issue is Open Source is free but very few people know linux or mysql as
>> well as the closed guys who know aix and oracel very well.
>>
>> IT does not matter, all that matters is how well one can support whatever
>> they are deploying ....
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 10:21 PM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Given that Kenya is not the first country to make such a move, I see no
>> reason for M$ to spell doom, really.
>>
>> Kenya can learn and borrow from those countries. I am sure M$ knows that
>> there are countries already fully on FOSS.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Mark Mwangi <mwangy at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Isnt it interesting that it is only closed source software vendors
>> spelling doom and gloom?
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 7:34 PM, <awatila at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Last week, the Government issued a warning that in the next three
>> years it will move its IT operations to Free and Open Source Software
>> (FOSS), a move that will reduce cost by more than half in IT expenses.
>>
>>
>> http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000066158&story_title=State-warned-on-ditching-copyrighted-software
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mark Mwangi
>>
>> markmwangi.me.ke
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>> ----------------------------------------------------
>> Kind Regards,
>> Evans Ikua,
>>
>> lanetconsulting.com,
>> lpi-eastafrica.org,
>> ict-innovation.fossfa.net,
>> Skype: @ikuae
>> Cell: +254-722-955831
>>
>
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-- 
Francis Hook
+254 733 504561