[ale] butt kicking

[Ronald Chmara]

On Jan 24, 2004, at 5:39 AM, Geoffrey wrote:
> The scarry part of this is:
>
> "At the forum itself, Gates announced a partnership with the United 
> Nations (news - web sites) to bring computer technology and literacy 
> to developing countries.
>
> Drawing on a $1 billion Microsoft fund, the U.S. software giant will 
> work with the U.N. Development Program to provide software, computer 
> training and cash to establish computer centers in poor communities, 
> starting with pilot projects in Egypt, Mozambique and Morocco."
>
> We all know his purpose behind this effort.

Yup. Of course, he runs into a wall with most countries, as software 
development is stymied by porting the UI to local languages. (See 
Office-in-Hebrew lawsuits)

Linux still wins. :-) Once there is a proficient computer user who 
knows enough english (or whatever, if not english usually french, or 
maybe cantonese, etc.) terms, and wants a localized version, windows 
fails.

Linux allows, and in many projects encourages, language ports. Windows 
can't, yet (at least not at the same level).

-Bop