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from the yes...-it's-the-year-of-the-chinese-linux-desktop dept.
China is one of the countries where Windows XP continues to be one of the leading platforms, with some stats pointing towards a 70 percent market share owned by the OS version launched by Microsoft in 2001.
From Ecns.cn:
China's Ministry of Industry and Information of Technology (MIIT) urged Windows XP users in China to switch to domestically made computer operating systems, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Saturday.
The local government has apparently found a solution to move users off Windows XP by developing its own Linux-based alternative which would not only be offered with a freeware license, but also work on low-spec PCs, such as the ones that are currently powered by XP.
Work on this new Linux-based OS has already been started, with local authorities hoping that Windows XP users would actually give it a chance and abandon their existing operating systems that are more or less open to attacks.
It remains to be seen how many people are actually prepared to give up on Windows.
(Score: 4, Informative) by hoochiecoochieman on Thursday May 15 2014, @03:49PM
I've been using Linux at home for years, and I'm very happy with it. I would also use it in my laptop at work. I've never taken that step because it would attract lots of shit from management. Every time something broke, it would be my fault for using a "strange" OS. I use it in servers, though. IT fellows are not so happy about it, but fuck them.
But then, I live in Portugal, which could be called Microsoftugal. Everybody here is so brainwashed into using Microsoft stuff that they don't even know any alternative.
I work in a multinational. Some of the other countries' development departments use Linux almost exclusively.
It's been slowly changing, fortunately. For instance, my kids' school uses Ubuntu, Libre Office, and other open-source stuff. They don't have cash for licenses, and pirating software is not an option. They were complaining about having to buy all those expensive licenses, and I told them about the open-source alternatives. To my amazement, they have never heard about them before. Now, they're perfectly happy with them, exploring the possibilities and spreading the word around.