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See Full StoryTo prevent Linux from running away with Thailand's subsidized "people's PC project," Microsoft has dropped the price of its Windows/Office package from nearly $600 to $37. Other Asian countries are lining up to duplicate the Thai program. As a result of the events in Thailand, analysts have begun to predict the end of Microsoft's long-standing "one-price-fits-all-markets policy." Significantly, first-time PC users in Thailand are finding the Linux Thai Language Edition easier to master than Windows.
Re: windows costs $10482 in thailand, not $3000
Posted by: rishab 2003-11-14 12:12:32 In reply to: Jan Krikke
in 2001, GDP/capita (average income) was $774 in Thailand and $35277 in the US. the $560 cost of Windows + Office XP (amazon.com) is 3.6 months of average income in Thailand, equivalent to $10482 in the US.
see my paper on "open source: a case for developing countries" at http://flossproject.org/papers.htm>
similar figures (among other things) are listed for several other countries.
best,
rishab ghosh
programme leader FLOSS
MERIT, University of Maastricht, Netherlands
see my paper on "open source: a case for developing countries" at http://flossproject.org/papers.htm>
similar figures (among other things) are listed for several other countries.
best,
rishab ghosh
programme leader FLOSS
MERIT, University of Maastricht, Netherlands
I used to be a MS PC user for years (now I'm using Mac), I felt so sad that MS software was so expensive for Thai people to buy them (legally), that why they had so many pirate copies spread all over.
It's time for Thai people will choose the best thing for their lives (in legally way), it's so independent feeling that we'll not be tied up with just one company, now we had another choices of life to move on!!
Thanks Linux, you're such a sunshine through Thai people!! Hope you'll keep on your good works and help Thai people develop their education via your services!
It's time for Thai people will choose the best thing for their lives (in legally way), it's so independent feeling that we'll not be tied up with just one company, now we had another choices of life to move on!!
Thanks Linux, you're such a sunshine through Thai people!! Hope you'll keep on your good works and help Thai people develop their education via your services!
Re: Microsoft Loses to Linux in Thailand Struggle
Posted by: MDI 2003-11-13 06:26:37 In reply to: Jan Krikke
This is exactly what M$ deserves ! ! !
Re: Microsoft Loses to Linux in Thailand Struggle
Posted by: Ajarn 2003-11-12 23:55:30 In reply to: Jan Krikke
Schoolteachers make only about $300 per month. How can they afford to pay $600 for Microsoft software? <<<<<<<<<--------
That is very thrue, but all schoolteachers that I know did buy the OS, the OFFIce, and all the other programs at 150 baht per CD.
That's 4 dollar.
And every schoolteacher can afford that.
I know, because I am one. Here in Thailand.
That is very thrue, but all schoolteachers that I know did buy the OS, the OFFIce, and all the other programs at 150 baht per CD.
That's 4 dollar.
And every schoolteacher can afford that.
I know, because I am one. Here in Thailand.
Linux will struggle to replace MS in Thailand
Posted by: ccyoung 2003-11-12 09:18:25 In reply to: Jan Krikke
Despite the articles rosy hues, Linux plurality is an uphill battle. Here's why:
Systems shipped with Linux: Most systems are bought bare bone - MS was not able to require systems be shipped with an OS as it has in the US - and the local vendor installs whatever MS he has in the shop. Many manufactured systems are shipped with Linux as a test system, with the expectations that the OS will be replaced before delivery to the customer.
The main PC users are gamers. An internet shop is a game shop. At any one time, nationwide, probably 50% of active PC users are gamers. The games are *not* Linux. And the gamers are the base of future users. Until Linux is able to win over gamers, Linux will have a tenuous foothold in the future.
Reliability: The Thai are used to things breaking. The MS blue screen of death doesn't bother them. Having had no experience outside of MS, they are used to the idea their systems will be hacked and killed. It's the way it is.
Thailand has been sponsering Linux for some time. A school can buy a CD for $4 that will serve as an internet host as well as keep school records &tc. The Nation (newspaper) runs a weekly feature on Linux, eg, a hospital moving to Linux, bootstrapping off public domain and using in-house programmers, the whole project completed for $250,000. *But* this type of support is seen as stodgy. If a corporation wants to be seen as cool and leading edge, it uses MS - almost opposite of the US.
And Thai users are used to getting software for free - hundreds of titles. Only with MS clamping down on registrations (as with XP) will the software not be free, with the result that Linux' success in Thailand is directly proportional to MS success in forcing its licensing upon the Thai.
The bookstores and training are over 90% MS. (If someone finances me I would happily teach Linux/Web in Thailand for a few years.)
The way business works in Thailand, with patronage and payola: It's very difficult for new consulting firms, using new technology, to have an impact on the business community. And to suggest to an IT manager that he might use another system would infer that currently he is using the *wrong* system - this would make him lose face, and you will never do business with him again. Lastly, many (if not most) companies are owned by Chinese families, with all management positions given to family members, and with a (well deserved) reputation of squeezing blood out of a turnip - doing business with these organizations is an almost impossible way to grow a consulting company.
Conclusion: The normal advantages of Linux over MS -- pricing, reliability, and sexiness -- are lost in Thailand. The new and future users, the gamers, deal with no other system but MS. And with a dirth of documentation and training for Linux, added to overwhelming difficulty for middle-tier consulting firms, mean few seeds of success are being sown.
Systems shipped with Linux: Most systems are bought bare bone - MS was not able to require systems be shipped with an OS as it has in the US - and the local vendor installs whatever MS he has in the shop. Many manufactured systems are shipped with Linux as a test system, with the expectations that the OS will be replaced before delivery to the customer.
The main PC users are gamers. An internet shop is a game shop. At any one time, nationwide, probably 50% of active PC users are gamers. The games are *not* Linux. And the gamers are the base of future users. Until Linux is able to win over gamers, Linux will have a tenuous foothold in the future.
Reliability: The Thai are used to things breaking. The MS blue screen of death doesn't bother them. Having had no experience outside of MS, they are used to the idea their systems will be hacked and killed. It's the way it is.
Thailand has been sponsering Linux for some time. A school can buy a CD for $4 that will serve as an internet host as well as keep school records &tc. The Nation (newspaper) runs a weekly feature on Linux, eg, a hospital moving to Linux, bootstrapping off public domain and using in-house programmers, the whole project completed for $250,000. *But* this type of support is seen as stodgy. If a corporation wants to be seen as cool and leading edge, it uses MS - almost opposite of the US.
And Thai users are used to getting software for free - hundreds of titles. Only with MS clamping down on registrations (as with XP) will the software not be free, with the result that Linux' success in Thailand is directly proportional to MS success in forcing its licensing upon the Thai.
The bookstores and training are over 90% MS. (If someone finances me I would happily teach Linux/Web in Thailand for a few years.)
The way business works in Thailand, with patronage and payola: It's very difficult for new consulting firms, using new technology, to have an impact on the business community. And to suggest to an IT manager that he might use another system would infer that currently he is using the *wrong* system - this would make him lose face, and you will never do business with him again. Lastly, many (if not most) companies are owned by Chinese families, with all management positions given to family members, and with a (well deserved) reputation of squeezing blood out of a turnip - doing business with these organizations is an almost impossible way to grow a consulting company.
Conclusion: The normal advantages of Linux over MS -- pricing, reliability, and sexiness -- are lost in Thailand. The new and future users, the gamers, deal with no other system but MS. And with a dirth of documentation and training for Linux, added to overwhelming difficulty for middle-tier consulting firms, mean few seeds of success are being sown.
Re: Linux will struggle to replace MS in Thailand
Posted by: Lostman 2003-11-13 14:26:56 In reply to: ccyoung
While I agree with you 100%, the underlying feeling of this report is still very bright for the Linux community.
2 years ago Linux was just for geeks. It has made great strides and will continue to do so.
As for the gaming, with the desktop userbase growing at this rate game companies will see the need to port they're games to Linux. Atari has been doing this for years with they're Unreal series games. Others will follow.
2 years ago Linux was just for geeks. It has made great strides and will continue to do so.
As for the gaming, with the desktop userbase growing at this rate game companies will see the need to port they're games to Linux. Atari has been doing this for years with they're Unreal series games. Others will follow.
Re: Linux will struggle to replace MS in Thailand
Posted by: Ajarn 2003-11-12 23:59:21 In reply to: ccyoung
For those who doubt the above, I cann only confirm
that it is really like ccyoung writes.
Ajarn
that it is really like ccyoung writes.
Ajarn
The uphill battle will yet be won
Posted by: Earl White Haven 2003-11-12 20:01:02 In reply to: ccyoung
"Conclusion: The normal advantages of Linux over MS -- pricing, reliability, and sexiness -- are lost in Thailand." - however, the "absence of piracy" advantage is still with us, as are all of the others, and as it was in the case of Vietnam, this argument is likely to be conclusive. BTW, thanks for some insight from a country which is much less colour-inhibited than Oz.
Re: Microsoft Loses to Linux in Thailand Struggle
Posted by: pnarre 2003-11-12 07:50:48 In reply to: Jan Krikke
It is just grerat that Linux is making a GREAT impact!!! on the world stage. I am sure that in about 5 years's time there will be so few ppl in Thailand that depend on Windows and Microsoft.
Thanks to Linus!, poorer countries have a good chance to join the league.
Thanks to Linus!, poorer countries have a good chance to join the league.
