Mera Motherboard hai Taiwani, Mera Software hai Latest Hindustani – Ubuntu Linux on Assembled Computers from my Local Computer Assembler :

Now that at last some Kanpuriya computer and latest laptop dealers have got their hands on the copy of the latest Ubuntu Linux Hardy Heron 8.04.1 – they are beginning to realize the beauty of using non pirated and legal software which works better than other COSTLY and outdated softwares and operating systems.

One of the key requirements for local computer assemblers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Kashmir – is to show to their customers the speed and performance of modern Assembled Computers AS COMPARED to BRANDED computers from Indian and foreign computer manufacturers which use outdated hardware and motherboards 6 to 18 months older than those available in the assembled market.

To show off to their customers, the sheer fast performance of latest Taiwan motherboards, memory, hard disks and graphics cards, some of the smarter computer dealers have started loading LEGAL and FREE pre installed Ubuntu with OpenOffice suite of applications for Word Processing, Emails, Spreadsheets, Presentations and Graphics. For Rs 100/- they also hand over the 700 MB Live CD of latest version of Ubuntu.

Everyone is happy, the customers as well as compter dealers in Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bhopal, Bikaner, Surat, Raipur, Kolkata, Shillong, are busy giving the most modern assembled computers and Ubuntu operating system with latest version of Free Firefox browser.

So the Pirates of India and China can now laugh all the way to the bank without doing any software chori – from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari, and from Nagaland to Gujarat.

Time to visit the chardham of legal software – just learn and teach and distribute FREE, LEGAL, OPEN SOURCE software to EVERYONE who needs the LATEST softwares in the world. And yes do not forget to connect the DataOne high speed and fast BSNL Broadband Internet connection for just Rs 250 to your latest and fundoo Ubuntu desktop or laptop computer.

No need to live in dinosaur age of costly desktop, laptop, server and office software or faltoo pirated copies of softwares from last century. Wake up – this is YEAR 2008 and Ubuntu Linux software has arrived in all the villages and cities of India. Time to wake up and get educated in the latest technologies and Free, legal, original, certified AND Open Source softwares.

Take home your own PERSONAL copy of latest and modern softwares in the world – on a 700 MB Ubunt CD.

Latest Original and Free Ubuntu CD Available in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh -
LokVidya IT Karyashala Evam Manthan – 2
Are you a small business – school student – computer assembler – computer dealer or computer / hardware repairer – IT geek ?
Get the latest original software in the world for India and Indians – Software that JUST WORKS. IS Free And is latest and MODERN
Have you seen the advertisement in which the white horse keeps stopping and forgets where he has to run till you give it offer it some money, dances and capers ?
If you have – then now you can get a copy of a thoroughbreed WHITE HORSE who does NOT FORGET in which direction he has to run.
Yes, drop in to Varanasi for a FREE copy of the best, latest and original software on earth for your laptop / notebook PC or HCL DELL or ZENITH or WIPRO computer.
If you have an assembled computer from a local computer supplier – that is all the better.
It has everything you will need for the next THREE YEARS.
This horse never stops and just keeps running like good horses and the BEST SOFTWARE in the world is SUPPOSED to run. No need to dance in front of it.
From start to FINISH.
Come and get your FREE copy of UBUNTI CD – Hardy Heron 8.04.1.
From where : Vidya Ashram 10/82 A – Ashok Marg, Sarnath
Varanasi – 221007
Come and meet us for your free copy of ORIGINAL WHITE HORSE software that does not need fresh and unending loads of CASH on 19 August 2008.
We will also teach you how to install BSNL Broadband Internet on your computer or Laptop – it does not matter which company you bought your computer from.
Mogambo Khush Hua !!

Siliguri, May 25: The government has formed the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited to boost private investments in non-conventional energy sources like wind, biomass, solar and water. [Inset: A file picture of street lights in Calcutta using solar power]

Sunil Mitra, the additional chief secretary of power and non-conventional energy resources, said: “The new enterprise will be promoted by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency, which will have 45, 30 and 25 per cents shares respectively and work under our department.”

Mitra was here to attend an interactive session with entrepreneurs organised by the north Bengal zonal council of the CII.

“Considering the incentives available for entrepreneurs in this sector like depreciation of assets (created for a non-conventional energy source unit which is to be included in expenditure) for five years, lower rate of income tax and advance withdrawal of carbon credits, we feel this is an emerging sector where private investors can be invited,” he said.

An Indian company can get carbon credit under the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 for each tonne of carbon dioxide that it can cut down on.

The credit can be sold to a unit in the European Union and the US that wants to purchase it to balance its high level of emission.

According to Mitra, a number of private investors has already come in north Bengal where “micro mini” hydel projects have been established in different places.

Another mega project in the sector that has been finalised is a 2-mw photovoltaic plant at Dishergarh Power Station Complex near Asansol.

For this, the Power Finance Corporation Limited has entered in an agreement with the new corporation. The investment will be around Rs 400 million, he said. [The Telegraph]

HCL Desktop computer Hardware validated with Latest Ubuntu Linux : Indian computer users have long been looking for computer hardware manufacturers and assemblers to support hardware and devices with Ubuntu and other latest modern applications / softwares

HCL Infiniti Challenger 5130 Desktop computer and all its hardware components have been certified as Validated Hardware for running the most modern and latest version of Ubuntu Linux to woo Indian lovers of Open Source software and applications.

Details : Validation overview
Model: LX Infiniti Challenger 5130 Status: Compatible
Type: Desktop Release: 8.04 LTS
Manufacturer: HCL Infosystems Limited Architecture: 64-bit PC (x86_64)
Aliases: LX Infiniti Challenger 5130, LX Netgraph 102/p/u, LX Busybee/alpha/Beta Z/Q/T 310, Beanstalk Classic Z/Q/T 314, Ezeebee/TOP/MAX Z/Q/T 311, HCL DOMINATOR Z/Q/T 316, Beanstalk Z/Q/T 314, Beanstalk Z/Q/T 315, HCL POS Z/Q/T 312 Ambience
Website: http://www.hclinfosystems.in

Validation details : Linux Ubuntu Version 8.04 LTS – Long Term Support

This is surely a very good and welcome development in the Indian computer and devices hardware market as customers have the choice to buy branded and assembled computers with top quality Open source software from the best open source software innovation companies.

After many years I had been to BNR More of Asansol to avail the Volvo bus services on 07^th Feb 08. Volvo for Kolkata (Calcutta) starts from Chelidanga, close to BNR More. Being there after many years, a lot of changes all around came to my notices but overall picture of BNR More of seventies remains unchanged except few additions like a new flyover and a triangular traffic island. But on the other side, the new expressway (new GT Road, NH1A, on the one arm of the “Golden triangle”) which runs bypassing the crowded, congested Asansol town, brought many rapid changes around the town. In seventies, only one polytechnic college was standing amidst green fields and tiny villages and there was no public transport plying in those areas. Now housing colonies, a degree Engineering College, huge campus of RK Mission, All India Radio, a Hospital and a Guest house etc are prominently showing their existence and those villages and the empty fields are almost vanished. The scenes, which were drawn in my mind from my college days, are totally mismatched today.

I have nostalgic memories of that place. Where have gone those friends, boys, girls used to come to BNR More for colleges from distance places like Chittaranjan, Salanpur, Neamatpur, Barakar, Chirkunda, Kumardhubi etc.? BNR More, cinema theatres ‘Chitra’, ‘Godhuli’ and Asansol market were the places for our time pass. Those days the BNR More were too busy due to narrow roads at the triangular point. Extra attraction of BNR More was for the Girls’ college and obviously the girl students of that college. That was the point from where all girls and boys used to take their buses for different places. In our group, a beautiful but very sober girl, named Brototi, used to come from Chittaranjan. One day she told me that two boys from my college were teasing her. Since I was too coming from same township of hers, sometime we used to travel together by same bus and naturally she used to depend on us. She was student of the same Girls’ college. One day me and my college friends called those two boys and threatened them and made them aware that she was not alone. Then onwards, teasing was stopped and they were never seen waiting for  her at  the BNR bus stop. We the boys and girls, used to move in groups, that was our strength. Where have gone those days – those friends?

Sudden break of Volvo, the “Royal Cruiser”, awakens me from my nostalgic dream. It reached Shaktigarh, a place famous for sweets named Langchaa, Mihidanaa and Sitabhog. I purchased ½ Kg of Sitabhog, for my wife. Its her favorite sweet. My co-passenger, a PhD student of Jadavpur University purchased one cucumber and shared a piece with me but that was completely bitter in taste. Somehow we shallowed that but she was embarrassed for sharing a bitter one. To normalize the taste of our mouths, she opened a packet of potato chips, and offered few spicy, salty chips. It was necessary for normalisation of  the mouth, so I took few pieces and thanked her. She insisted again for chips, I said no, thanks, you carry on. I had nothing to share or exchange with her except few words. She shuttles between Kolkata and Asansol as her husband is posted at Asansol.

While watching the picturesque villages, green paddy fields passing behind one by one, reached Kolkata (Esplanade) just after a journey of 3 ½ hours. We both got down at Karunamoyee, Salt lake and departed from each other saying that, Salt lake is a small place we may meet someday in city centre (City Centre mall is her favourite place ), or somewhere, she added or in the Volvo.

]]> http://itresellers.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/foss-in-india/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:29:51 +0000 oskanpur http://itresellers.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/foss-in-india/

Foss in India – Education, Knowledge, Teaching in Indian universities and Technical Elite – http://foss.in

The recent interview of Shri Sudhir Kumar Goyal, Divisional Commissioner Amaravati, in charge of Relief, and ex Agriculture commissioner of Maharashtra, who was shunted out for advocating low cost agricultural practices raises some very interesting questions.
The first question is why is he raising this issue of low cost agricultural practices, now at this stage of the Vidarbha farmers suicides saga. Considering that he has been an integral part of Maharashtra agriculture stratgey, and indeed a central player, this realization of his, comes at a very opportune moment.
… jab chidiya chug gayee khet …
It seems Shri Goyal wants to shed a few tears for suicidal farmers.
He says ….” My heart goes out for those who ended their lives, out of acute frustration, and for their bereaved families, even as I am worried about those caught in the web of a flawed system.”

Senior bureaucrats are not happy trying to pick up the mess created by political decisions of politicians and ministers. However, Shri Goyal does seem to think that he has a message for the farmers.
The irony is that he is confusing political decisions with bureaucratic good intentions, and not clarifying why he is feeling sorry for suicidal farmers at this stage.
One Shri Goyal is not going to stop the spate of farmer suicides.
Shri Goyal is not mentioning the fact, that the decision to push cotton farming in the water scarce regions, was a political decision taken by his political masters rather than by him. He was merely in charge of implementation.
It is not often that a senior bureaucrat goes on record, to make statements that are actually an attempt to pick up the pieces, of decisions taken by political leaders. That the issue is much more serious than the ambit of a Divisional Commissioner is not in doubt. But that political leaders are using bureaucrats to make statements on the political decisions concerning agriculture, makes this statement of Shri Goyal the first of its kind.
The question is who should we believe, Shri Goyal or the political masters of Shri Goyal. Who is really responsible for the mess in Vidarbha ? Who is really responsible for cost intensive farming in unirrigated areas, ministers, bureaucrats, agriculture extension colleges, private companies, moneylenders, banks or the farmers themselves.
Why did the government banks advance loans, if they knew as Shri Goyal, in all his wisdom now knows, that cost intensive farming in non irrigated areas is a high risk proposition ?
And then, are the farmers in the irrigated areas, doing cost intensive cultivation becoming the crorepatis and doing better ?
Maybe the Divisional Commissioners of Punjab, the IAS brothers of Shri Goyal, will tell us yet another twist of this story of agrarian failures in India and the collapse of Green Revolution.

One of the world’s biggest computer and laptop manufacturers – Dell – has announced that as part of its corporate growth strategy – that it has begun installing Ubuntu 7.10 / Gutsy Gibbon, on its Dell consumer Linux PCs in the United States and will also make it available on the Inspiron 530 in England, France and Germany before the end of 2007.

Dell began offering consumer systems running Ubuntu in May 2007. Ubuntu’s Gutsy Gibson has been available on laptops since October.

The OEM and laptop testing teams of Dell have been testing the code and hardware drivers for several weeks and are ready to launch the Ubuntu 7.10 Laptop based on the free and open source Ubuntu Linux operating system.

“We believe Ubuntu 7.10 is a solid step forward <span style=”font-weight:bold;”>for both Linux enthusiasts as well as the mainstream consumer market</span>,” wrote Daniel Judd, Product Group Strategist on the Dell2Dell blog on Tuesday. “The answer is simple. With any operating system, we take gold code and take the time to do extensive testing on our systems to make sure that customers have as few issues as possible.”

Daniel Judd, Dell product manager has cited “cool” 3-D visual effects, easier desktop search for applications and the “ability to quickly switch between users and easily share a system with family members” as key new features of Ubuntu’s 7.10 release. He has also cited two minor Dell developed innovations much in demand by younger generation of laptop users — pre-installation of Flash and improved recovery options — as other significant enhancements for Gutsy Gibbon on Dell consumer PCs.

Judd also one key request was the ability to watch DVD movies from the Dell Linux desktop. “We totally agree and that’s why we now include built-in DVD movie playback with all Ubuntu 7.10 systems.The experience we wanted is simple — when you put a movie in, it plays. It is easy enough for a child and an example of the steps we are taking to make Ubuntu as enjoyable as possible.

Now that the Christmas and New Year shopping season is fast coming on and box retailers are making a grab for Indian upmarket customer pockets, many Indian papa and moms who live in Indian cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai are wondering what Christmas gift to buy for their school and college going children.

For some, it is a choice between splurging on a high priced branded computer, with a pre loaded and proprietary operating system from a desi manufacturer like Wipro, Zenith, HCL, or one of the multinationals like Acer, Compaq, Dell, Lenovo. They have been closely watching the Koi Mil Gaya lad showing his super smooth whizzkid antics with an Acer computer when he gets time off from advertising tobacco company ads. But this Greek god like lad does not reveal whether Ubuntu is loaded on the Acer notebook computer, for executive people, short of quality time for their children but having lots of money.

For the school students it is a differnet story. Maybe they are watching if they can run favorite games on a Ubuntu laptop or desktop and if latest Ubuntu version 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon is really as good as some of their more enterprising school mates tell them.

But for some parents, it is going to be an ocassion for spending quality time with the children. School vacations are about to begin and the IT savvy pops and moms, with their mega millions, are thinking that maybe this December they will find some time, to sit down with th children to play some computer games on the Firefox browser. So which Indian computer manufacturers have got their act together and are offering good Ubuntu computers with OS CD ? It seems not many. Most are preferring to give unsuspecting and illiterate customers preloaded copies of proprietary, closed source software rather than a free CD of Ubuntu Linux that people can install themselves.

And of course, not many Indian parents have even heard of Ubuntu Linux or themselves experimented with it. So maybe they will just go out and buy manufactured PC’s for their kids – without Ubuntu.

But the assembled market is beginning to gear up and is offering the more discerning parents, a choice of pre installed Ubuntu / Kubuntu alongwith a free copy of legal Ubuntu operating system software, with loads of latest, modern, office collaboration, and educational software programs, for inquisitive school children and college kids, licensed under GNU GPL and therefore, available for FREE with no risk of piracy.

So when these discerning parents will tie up with good computer hardware assemblers, who are well educated in installing Ubuntu they will be able to really give a gift of a lifetime to their children. And then maybe the pop and the mom will also begin to hesitantly start asking their smart, intelligent children to teach them a little of Ubuntu Linux. And quality time ? Yes, here come the parents and the children, all together, learning to get serious with learning Linux skills.

About time the branded hardware box sellers got a run for their money, rather than locking unsuspecting people into closed source softwares.

Where to download free mera wala Ubuntu from ? – http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Do you live in Kanpur or Lucknow and want Ubuntu installed on your laptop ? Methodist and Jaipuria students ?

We are organizing a free Ubuntu Installation Camp in Kanpur for users who want to have Ubuntu installed on their laptop. The first 10 laptops qualify for a free installation and demonstration and we will have tea and biscuits afterwards. Spread Ubuntu love and discuss your questions about software programming and Linux. We will also be filming the Ubuntu installations.

Email : oskanpur@gmail.com

osKanpur is a – Learn One Teach One – Ubuntu and Python Users and software development community for Kanpur Lucknow Varanasi Agra Mathura Gorakhpur Kathmandu Pokhara Patna computer users who do not want to use pirated software but at the same time want to use the BEST softwares in the WORLD.

NoPiracy is a community and people’s effort and initiative to rid India of the scourge of software piracy, while at the same time encourage children to use, share and develop latest, innovative software on Open Source software platforms which are not proprietary and monopolistic.
Google Group – http://groups.google.com/group/oskanpur
osKanpur Blog – http://oskanpur.blogspot.com/

Kanpur and Lucknow computer dealers who have for years been selling proprietary operating systems are suddenly realizing that they themselves know very little about Ubuntu Linux operating system for desktops. On top of that, they have not invested in teaching their own support staff how to install Ubuntu or Kubuntu on customer laptops and desktops – that is customers who want to work with the best legal operating system already available in the markets. Many of these computer dealers have not even found the time to read the installation instructions from the Ubuntu website.

Naturally these assembled computer dealers associations in Kanpur and Lucknow feel that first they have to learn Ubuntu themselves – and then – they have to teach their staff how to install Ubuntu or Kubuntu in one hour. So it seems that school children will now have to teach these outdated computer dealers and hardware box vendors the fine points of Ubuntu Linux installation on laptops and desktops. One wonders when the the computer assemblers will start giving themselves a crash course in Ubuntu and Linux so that they can install it on their customer computers in just one hour.

But go and see the computers of children in Kanpur and Lucknow from schools such as Methodist, Jaipuria DPS, Christ Church – these kids know much more about the ease of Ubuntu installations than these hardware vendors – many of whom do not even have free CD to give to the customer just in case the customer tells them just to give them a price for the hardware box. For after all if children can install Ubuntu from CD by themselves, so can customers. And then maybe finally the staff of the hardware vendors will also learn how to install Ubuntu.

Many children of course prefer Kubuntu Desktop version because the KDE desktop is better to look at for those who only know how to send emails and chat on the Internet.

And last, the computer dealers will themselves shyly one afternoon decide to learn it themselves.

Where to download Ubuntu from ? http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory/philosophy

Our Philosophy

Our work is driven by a philosophy on software freedom that aims to spread and bring the benefits of software to all parts of the world. At the core of the Ubuntu Philosophy are these core philosophical ideals:

1. Every computer user should have the freedom to download, run, copy, distribute, study, share, change and improve their software for any purpose, without paying licensing fees.
2. Every computer user should be able to use their software in the language of their choice.
3. Every computer user should be given every opportunity to use software, even if they work under a disability.

Our philosophy is reflected in the software we produce and included in our distribution. As a result, the licensing terms of the software we distribute are measured against our philosophy, using the Ubuntu License Policy.

When you install Ubuntu almost all of the software installed already meets these ideals, and we are working to ensure that every single piece of software you need is available under a license that gives you those freedoms.

Currently, we make a specific exception for some “drivers” which are only available in binary form, without which many computers will not complete the Ubuntu installation. We place these in a restricted section of your system which makes them easy to remove if you do not need them.

More about components>>

Free software

For Ubuntu, the ‘free’ in ‘free software’ is used primarily in reference to freedom, and not to price – although we are committed to not charging for Ubuntu. The most important thing about Ubuntu is that it confers rights of software freedom on the people who install and use it. It is these freedoms that enable the Ubuntu community to grow, continue to share its collective experience and expertise to improve Ubuntu and make it suitable for use in new countries and new industries.

Quoting the Free Software Foundation’s ‘What is Free Software’, the freedoms at the core of free software are defined as:

• The freedom to run the programme, for any purpose.
• The freedom to study how the programme works and adapt it to your needs.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others.
• The freedom to improve the programme and release your improvements to the public, so that everyone benefits.

Open source
Open source is a term coined in 1998 to remove the ambiguity in the English word ‘free’. The Open Source Initiative described open source software in the Open Source Definition. Open source continues to enjoy growing success and wide recognition.

Ubuntu is happy to call itself open source. While some refer to free and open source as competing movements with different ends, we do not see free and open source software as either distinct or incompatible. Ubuntu proudly includes members who identify with both the free software and open source camps, and many who identify with both.

Ubuntu Linux version 7.10 has been released for free download by Canonical. – Mera wala Ubuntu Linux
Ubuntu Download page – http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Have you downloaded your copy and installed it ? Well, it seems thousands of students in Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Allahabad who do not have good Internet connections are requesting their friends to download Kubuntu on a 700 MB CD and just make copies for FREE distribution.
Students are finally understanding that their teachers know less about software expertise and innovation than their old fashioned teachers who still have not even heard about Ubuntu and Kubuntu.
1. So is Ubuntu for everyone ? Yes of course – it is for STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, SMALL BUSINESS, PROPRIETORS, BIG BUSINESS as well as Government users who want the latest, greatest FREE Open Source software.
Anyone in Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad Dehradoon, Jhansi, Bhopal, Kathmandu, Darjeeling, Varanasi, Benares, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Noida, Gurgaon, schools who needs an excellent operating system with loads of free and wonderful educational software can contact us at oskanpur@gmail.com
2. Is Ubuntu really free ? – Yes, yes yes
3. Is it really world class ? – Yes, Yes, Yes
4. Is it difficult to install ? – No, No, No
5. Is it difficult to learn ? – No, No, No
6. Should I believe someone who says Ubuntu is not for me ? – Please dont without trying it out yourself for one week. Yes one week. I’m loving it.
7. Where to download from and burn the ISO image on CD if I cant get my hands on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon ? – Simple – http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
8. What if any problems ? – Just email oskanpur@gmail.com
9. Some people say Ubuntu Linux is not for business, schools and government ? – Well do you HAVE to believe them AFTER you install Ubuntu on your assembled / Acer, Wipro, Zenith, IBM, Lenovo, Dell Laptop, Desktop or Server computer ?

10. Some people say that 95% users use ANOTHER Operating system and I will not get any support on Ubuntu. Well that was YESTERDAY. Now talk about TODAY. Linux is the way to go if you want smart children rather than dumb children who can only play computer games and do data entry.

11. What if I want to use word documents, spreadsheets and presentations ? Yes this is the best part. Of course everyone wants to use these. And all these softwares are available in Ubuntu – courtesy of SUN Microsystems for FREE. Just spend ONE day and you will become familiar with everything !!

12. Just ask your computer vendor / dealer if he is going to supply you with free CD of Ubuntu / Kubuntu. He should be able to arrange one in one hour flat. https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

Primary and secondary school Indian teachers and students in Kanpur Lucknow -

Those who have been using Linux on their desktop, laptops and servers for some time now will be aware that it is now only 14 days left for the next version of the best and greatest Ubuntu and Kubuntu to be launched. We just cant wait for the greatest Linux desktop ever to hit the Indian markets especially for users in Kanpur and Lucknow. – Launched on 18 Octobber 2007.

To celebrate the launch of the Ubuntu and Kubuntu – Gutsy Gibbon Version 7.10 – we are organizing a snacks and soft drinks party for bright school children in Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Agra, Gorakhpur and Varanasi to get together and share Linux tips with other school children. We all know that the school children in Kanpur and Lucknow know more about Linux Ubuntu / Kubuntu than their computer science teachers and instructors who have never even heard of Ubuntu.

We are also organizing a get together for adults interested in computer basics and some samosas – come and join us in end of October. We will be distributing free CD of Ubuntu and Kubuntu – and the first 100 laptops will also qualify for a free learn and install Ubuntu and Kubuntu training session.

Please note all school children from English as well as Hindi medium schools in Kanpur and Lucknow are invited – Methodist, St. Mary, Christ Church, Central schools, Jaipuria, delhi Public school, DPS children who want to learn to play with Linux and learn free, open and non proprietory softwares are all welcome.

Feel free to ask questions – the top three best questions about if Linux is Best for Indian school students will receive designer UBUNTU T-shirts – so polish up your debating skills on Linux versus whatever …

Contact Email : oskanpur@gmail.com

Check out the Ubuntu website and download your free Ubuntu from the nearest server. Please note that despite all the talk of Indian IT – there is still NO Indian server providing free downloads of Ubuntu and Linux. That is a pity when you consider how many IT professionals the IIM IIT and IIIT produce each year.

Ubuntu download page – http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Hopefully soon some Indian IT science and technology bureaucrat will wake up from his sleep and offer free webservers for downloading Ubuntu from an Indian server for Indian children who want to learn Linux. Who knows what the S&T bureaucrats are planning once they get time off from teaching old and outdated stuff to Indian children ?

Yes Indian children and students will soon know more about world class software and innovation than their politicians, teachers, instructors, parents and professors. I’m loving it baby.

Backwardness of Infrastructure or Backwardness of the Mind ?
For the Indian enthusiasts of Ubuntu and Linux it sometimes comes as a complete shock that a country which bursts into raptures when women are launched into outer space, a country that just freaks out when it sees fillums like Swadesh, Chak de India etc and a country which regards itself as one of the providers of choice of IT services, innovation and IT expertise to many parts of the world – is very silent when it comes to the question of IT infrastructure.
However if you have had ocassion to talk to some of the smartest Indian IT professors, working for well over decades in premier science and technology teaching and research institutes, one cannot help asking them a few questions on Linux and the Indian community :
1. For how many years have you been using Linux ?
2. For how many years have you been teaching Linux ?
3. How many world class conferences you have attended or hosted on Linux with lots and lots of government money ?
4. How many times you have given media interviews regarding IT innovation strategy for this country ?
5. How many years you have spent on accumulating experience on clusters of computing hardware ?

And then if you ask them one simple question as to why – if when a user in an Indian village wants to download Ubuntu Linux from an Indian server there is no Indian server offering free downloads – they just go suddenly quiet.
How long is this state expected to last ?
Just try going to the Ubuntu Linux download page and see (forget the world) – just check out which Asian countries have servers from which common people can download Ubuntu Linux from.
You will be amazed that all these high flying science and technology bureaucrats of India have not even found the time or the resources to offer a server for simple downloads.
And do you wonder what countries figure there ?
Well certainly not the so called big boss of IT – India. Nor the IT capitalists who profess to be socialists at heart.
There is no NASSCOM there. No IIT. No IIIT. No IIM
Then who is there ? –
Surprise of surprises – China, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam.
No Indian servers at all from any of the high flying prestigious IT computing hubs sprinkled all over India.
Is this issue symptomatic about ills and achievements of Indian Science and Technology, some fifty years after the dreams of public sector and science and technology revolution in India ?

Kanpur and Lucknow computer dealers who have for years been selling proprietary operating systems are suddenly realizing that they themselves know very little about Ubuntu Linux operating system for desktops. On top of that, they have not invested in teaching their own support staff how to install Ubuntu or Kubuntu on customer laptops and desktops – that is customers who want to work with the best legal operating system already available in the markets. Many of these computer dealers have not even found the time to read the installation instructions from the Ubuntu website.

Naturally these assembled computer dealers associations in Kanpur and Lucknow feel that first they have to learn Ubuntu themselves – and then – they have to teach their staff how to install Ubuntu or Kubuntu in one hour. So it seems that school children will now have to teach these outdated computer dealers and hardware box vendors the fine points of Ubuntu Linux installation on laptops and desktops. One wonders when the the computer assemblers will start giving themselves a crash course in Ubuntu and Linux so that they can install it on their customer computers in just one hour.

But go and see the computers of children in Kanpur and Lucknow from schools such as Methodist, Jaipuria DPS, Christ Church – these kids know much more about the ease of Ubuntu installations than these hardware vendors – many of whom do not even have free CD to give to the customer just in case the customer tells them just to give them a price for the hardware box. For after all if children can install Ubuntu from CD by themselves, so can customers. And then maybe finally the staff of the hardware vendors will also learn how to install Ubuntu.

Many children of course prefer Kubuntu Desktop version because the KDE desktop is better to look at for those who only know how to send emails and chat on the Internet.

And last, the computer dealers will themselves shyly one afternoon decide to learn it themselves.

Where to download Ubuntu from ? http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download