,----[ Quote ]
| The moves by Microsoft to offer free or subsidized software in India have
| however come in for criticism from the Free Software Foundation, which
| compared Microsoft's philanthropy to that of a cigarette manufacturer handing
| out free samples of cigarettes to students.  
`----

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/011408-microsoft-trained-200000...

Related:

Governments Must Reject Gates' $3 Bid to Addict Next Billion PC Users

,----[ Quote ]
| "Microsoft's strategy of getting developing nations hooked on its
| software was clearly outlined by Bill Gates almost a decade ago," said
| Con Zymaris, CEO of long-standing open source firm Cybersource.
|
| Specifically, Bill Gates, citing China as an example, said:
|  
|   "Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but
|   people don't pay for the software," he said. "Someday they will, though.
|   As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours.
|   They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to
|   collect sometime in the next decade."[1]
`----

http://www.cybersource.com.au/press/gates_set_to_addict_next_billion....

Microsoft Anti-piracy Raids in Trivandrum, Kerala - Time to Switch to Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| This is the second of such series of raids that Microsoft has done in Kerala.
| Sooner or later they are going to target the home user also. So if you are
| using pirated Microsoft software then beware. You only options are  
| a) To shell out at least Rs. 15,000 for your original Microsoft Windows and
|    Microsoft Office licenses or
| b) To switch to the free (as in free = zero) and fully licensed world of GNU
|    Linux
`----

http://www.zyxware.com/articles/2007/12/25/linux/microsoft-anti-pirac...

Migrating to Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| Tamil Nadu’s schools were running Microsoft Windows on a horde of aging
| machines—1,880 servers and around 30,000 desktops. The OS was in need for a
| refresh; however, moving to Windows Vista looked like an expensive option
| largely on account of the increased hardware requirement. ELCOT decided to
| move its own systems from Windows to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE
| Linux Enterprise Desktop.    
`----

http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20071217/casestudyspecial11.shtml

Is Microsoft really scared of Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| Now having seen this, I was left with a smile on my face because obviously
| the top Microsoft Execs are spending sleepless nights thinking about the
| inroads that Linux has made especially in the server arena.  
`----

http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2007/12/is-microsoft-really-scared-of-l...

ELCOT's success story of Suse linux migration

,----[ Quote ]
| Electronic Corporation of TamilNadu, India is the Information Technology
| arm of Government of TamilNadu, India. ELCOT is a fully owned Government
| Company. ELCOT migrated all its operations to suse linux OS within a
| period of 12 months. This video shares the success story of ELCOT in
| the suse linux migration (June 2007)
`----

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_g72GcaIdc

Red Hat in talks with states for open source solution

,----[ Quote ]
| The open source software business is gaining momentum in the country with
| governments keen on adopting this technology.
`----

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Red_Hat_in_talks_with_states_for_...

Time for a switch?

,----[ Quote ]
| Linux is powerful, easy to use and free. Naturally, it’s becoming the
| Operating System of choice for many internet aficionados.  
`----

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune_Times/Time_for_a_switch/artic...

Linux becoming visible on desktops

,----[ Quote ]
| The Penguin (named Tux) is finally making inroads as an operating system (OS)
| on desktops too. While it has an over 20 per cent market share when we speak
| of servers in India, the free OS called Linux has just around 5 per cent
| market share in the country when it comes to desktops – the lion’s share
| going to Microsoft Windows.    
`----

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=293093&l...

Open Source - An Unstoppable Giant  

,----[ Quote ]
| Presently, surfing the internet portal, checking bank balance online, booking
| railway tickets, searching jobs, logging in to a matrimonial site, or paying
| insurance premiums is often done by the application of open source Linux
| operating system.  
`----

http://www.cxotoday.com/India/News/Open-Source_-_An_Unstoppable_Giant...

Open Source and the SMB

,----[ Quote ]
| SMBs are getting attracted towards Linux-based servers. Menon says that over
| 70 percent of customers plan to implement Linux-based solutions in some
| manner in the next two years, and the awareness of Linux and its benefits are
| high in the SMB segment. He says, “Less restrictive licensing policies and
| the ability to bundle all the bits and pieces into one comprehensive package,
| instead of first selling the OS, and then charging for access licences and
| every small tool and add on facility is something that SMBs appreciate.”      
`----

http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20070730/opensource01.shtml

PC resellers strike against Microsoft in India

,----[ Quote ]
| Stop harassment over piracy or we move to Linux...
|
| [...]
|
| "We have been approached by dealers in other states who are also
| being harassed by Microsoft," Randeri said. "If Microsoft does
| not cooperate, we will tell our dealers to migrate to Linux."
`----

http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/it-business/supplier-relati...

Laptop training for T. Nadu IAS officers

,----[ Quote ]
| They were given orientation in Suse Linux and Windows XP operating
| systems, since the laptop computers were loaded with them and Suse
| Linum operating system was a new technology, an official press
| release here said.
`----

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200707052027.htm

Indian dealers are squealers over Microsoft piracy raids

,----[ Quote ]
| The resellers have also planned boycotts against Microsoft.
| Those participating in the strike agreed to stop all purchases
| of Microsoft products for this quarter.
`----

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/05/18/indian_tech_vendors_prote...

Intensified Battle Lines

,----[ Quote ]
| Some years back Open Source Industry Australia (OSIA) spokesperson
| Steven D'Aprano had posed a most intriguing question, "If Microsoft
| has a problem with piracy, it shouldn't be blamed on OEMs who sell
| PCs with Linux pre-installed or no operating system at all. Should
| we discourage supermarkets from selling plain bread, because
| shoppers might steal butter from elsewhere?"
|
| [...]
|
| For long now a tag has been associated with Linux. Industry players
| and resellers say Linux has become a smart, official, cheap and
| convenient form of piracy. The charge, is however, outrightly
| rejected by the Linux vendors.
|
| At their end, open source vendors will not miss an opportunity to
| assert that anyone who has benefited out of piracy is the
| proprietary vendors, like Microsoft.
|
| [...]
|
| Partners are already moving close to Linux vendors for various
| reasons. The days to come will, therefore, offer interesting
| battle lines unfolding between MS and open source players.
`----

http://www.channeltimes.com/India/Columns/Intensified_Battle_Lines/55...
http://tinyurl.com/37n6do