The Iraqi Linux User Group

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

>>... are firm believers in open source software. Unlike expensive proprietary software, open-source software can be freely distributed and modified, as long as the modifications are shared with other users.

They are particularly fans of Linux operating system.<<


>>To Nabil Suleiman, a member of the Iraqi Linux User Group living in Canada, Linux could mean significant cost savings.

"There is a shortage in power and water supplies, and sewage systems, so the last thing Iraq needs is spending billions of dollars on very expensive and overpriced products, especially software products," he said.

"We believe that Linux can save us lots of money in this field."<<


>>"Currently, most software in use in Iraq is illegal copies of proprietary software," explained Don Marti editor of the US-based Linux Journal.

Software giants like Microsoft, he said, are happy to hook Iraqis on their software.

"Proprietary software companies are using these illegal copies as a free sample program, and a marketing tool, as they have in other countries."

"When the crackdown comes, and the people in Iraq start having to comply with the licenses for this software, then they're going to be in trouble."<<


Linux in Irag

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

Thanks for this. I'd been thinking again about trying it out (had one attempt that aborted after I'd finally got it successfully installed five years go), and this article has finally got me downloading mandrake via bit-torrent as I type (just 50 hours to go). Does anyone here use it?

[Deke]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel Catchpole

Thanks for this. I'd been thinking again about trying it out (had one attempt that aborted after I'd finally got it successfully installed five years go), and this article has finally got me downloading mandrake via bit-torrent as I type (just 50 hours to go). Does anyone here use it?

I've been using it for a couple of years now. It was either that or buy Bill's latest spyware. I figured what did I have to lose?, and never really looked back.

The only thing is, version 10, which is, I assume, the one you're downloading, has a problem that stops some people from using it, and no one has as yet ascertained what it is. Most people just shove the newly recorded CD1 in the drive and sit back, but the odd one (And they don't come much odder than me...) gets an error message, which is basically 'I/O error I can't recover from this. You may reboot your computer.'

If you get it, don't let it put you off. Download 9.2 or 9.1. Your computer will love you forever.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

Cool, thanks for that. I'll let you know how it goes if I ever manage to post here using it.