Edit – please look at the P.P.S. below for clarifications before commenting same thing over and over again*
Even after living in Brazil for 15 years now, I am closely following up the stories about Linux and Open-Source success in Russia. This is why I could not resist sharing those pictures which were available at AltLinux stand at FISL (International Free Software Forum):
The caption says 'Russian Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin is using ALT Linux, and you, what are you using?'
For those of you who don’t know, Dmitry Medvedev – the President of Russian Federation – is also well-known for his interest in technology, computers and Internet technologies – and it is great to know that now he is using a Linux distribution as well!
'Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is also using ALT Linux'
As I always said, I believe that Linux and Open-Source being spread as far as possible only benefits the Free Software communities as the whole – so I can only say ‘Congratulations’ to our colleagues from ALT Linux – which was also based on Mandrake Linux in its origins. It is a completely independent distribution with its own community now of course.
Here in Brazil, Linux usage is gaining more and more adoption for the past decade, and it is quite common to find Linux-based computers in supermarkets, computer shops, and so on. Of course, they are not that widely available as their Windows counterparts, but still, it is hard to find any computer store which wouldn’t have at least some computers running a Linux-based OS, and it is usually enough to do a web search on any Internet shop to find several compatible models which come with Linux pre-installed. Be it Mandriva, Ubuntu, or any other distribution – they all have the common open-source foundation and all the benefits of free software. And yes, they are ready for desktop and casual users to use!
It is great to know that the Open-Source movement is gaining more and more spread world-wide. I truly believe that it has the power to change the world, and I am really happy to know that it does it.
P.S.: I wasn’t at FISL this year, so all the credit for those pictures go to Bogdano and Bedi from Conectiva who attended the event.
P.P.S.: Per official AltLinux response, those posters do not represent the truth and were done for Marketing purpose only. No, in fact, neither Dmitry Medvedev nor Vladimir Putin use AltLinux. Please talk to AltLinux representative for other comments, I am in no way related to them, nor I know anyone from AltLinux personally.
[...] On Linux on desktops.. Here in Brazil, Linux usage is gaining more and more adoption for the past decade, and it is quite common to find Linux-based computers in supermarkets, computer shops, and so on. Of course, they are not that widely available as their Windows counterparts, but still, it is hard to find any computer store which wouldn’t have at least some computers running a Linux-based OS, and it is usually enough to do a web search on any Internet shop to find several compatible models which come with Linux pre-installed. Be it Mandriva, Ubuntu, or any other distribution – they all have the common open-source foundation and all the benefits of free software. And yes, they are ready for desktop and casual users to use! [...]
[...] Евгений Додонов побывал на International Free Software Forum и сфотографиловал наших. [...]
Oh, dear Mr. Eugeni, I live in Brazil and your remarks could not be more distant from reality. Nowadays, it’s very hard to find any shop that sells Linux pre-installed. Sure, between 2008-2010, yes, there was a plethora of Linuxes in new machines. Now, not anymore. You only get machines with winblow$ 7. If you want to find a Linux machine, you must search hard, because they don’t grow in trees. At least, not here. And Dell’s also one to blame, since they don’t sell machines with Linux, and, the ones they sell, are the worst one can get. I was lucky enough to buy a notebook without winbow$ 7, but had to do a deep research. All is not lost, though. Some companies are indeed offering Linux in their machines, but, not as much as I would like them to offer.
Are you sure we are talking about the same Brazil?
At least in Extra, Colombo, Casas Bahia, Submarino, Condor and Carrefour I could go to any of their stores and look at the available notebooks, half of them are with Linux.
I am speaking about common stores, not branded ones (like HP or Dell or something). There are plenty of machines from itautec, positivo, philco, cce, amazon with Linux.
However, I can speak about São Paulo, Paraná, Bahia, MG and DF. I haven’t been in other states for other 3 years or so…
Just for example: http://www.submarino.com.br/busca?dep=%20&y=0&q=linux&x=0&group=239555
Dear Mr.Eugeni, Ponto Frio, BIG(Walmart), Magazine Luiza, Dell, DeltaSul, Becker, Certel, Obino, just to name a few from my memory. And they are located in the southern states (PR, SC and RS). I can’t talk about the other states, since I live in RS. But, there were more Linuxes around some time ago(well, not good ones, Fenix Linux, Satux Linux, and so on…) At least companies like Positivo(and newcomer Meoo) are bringing good Linux distros (Mandriva and Ubuntu) Ahh, and they’re selling Dual core ones with Linux. Old technology, the best ones, only with winblow$. I hope for the day of unbundling winblow$ from new machines. Real choice for the users. Best regards from Brazil.
(Só para ilustrar o meu ponto de vista, eu moro no Brasil também, desde 1996 – em São Carlos/SP, Bauru/SP e ultimamente em Curitiba
)
medvedev uses Mac not linux.
@spc I don’t really know, I only reposted the official AltLinux posters which were on FISL…
Oh… It seems you’re luckier than I am. Perhaps in central states the whole scenario is better. Best regards
By the way, drop by http://www.pclinuxosbrasil.com.br/ and visit us. You won’t regret, it’s the brazilian community of PC Linux OS. Cheers
@eugeni probably unofficial, I’ve asked fmartini@altlinux and he says that the guy on the second photo is the author.
Medvedev uses Mac, Putin uses Medvedev.
@Michael thanks, this is what I thought too, I guess it was supposed to be a joke but it was taken too seriously. Anyway, I wrote the next post to apologize for spreading those pictures..
Евгений, я не знаю, кто у вас там упоролся, вы или ваш источник информации, но у нас практически всё правительство пользуется продукцией Эппл. Медведев использует айПэд и айМак, чиновники используют айПэды и айФоны, Путин ничего не использует, не умеет. Я живу в России, я смотрю новости, мне лучше знать.
@Tataarujin Вам лучше знать, я просто привел те фотографии которые на выставке были. Ну никак я к ним не отношусь, и в России уже 15 лет на был, вот Михаил Шигорин тут в коментариях засветился, он наверное сможет это лучше объяснить.
Спросил Новодворского — тот был явно неприятно удивлён такой самодеятельностью.
@Tataarujin: “смотрю новости, мне лучше знать” — так новости или знать?..
Sure this is a cute joke ! As an ALT Linux user for years I have failed to persuade ALT Linux people to publicize ALT Linux just for the sake of attracting more users than gaining market share . ALT Linux team loves to shine behind the curtains and are they are happy with it .
IMHO, the computers with linux available in Brazil are of poor quality and old technology. The only way I could get a decent linux computer was buying from Malibal (and paying such a fortune of duties, fees and taxes). That’s sad.
@André yes, I agree, most of them are not the top of the line, but low-end ones
. But still, it is better than nothing..
Well, the way I see it, brazilian people will associate pour quality computers with linux.
@André, I think this way brazilian people associate poor quality computers with manufacturers (one notorious name starting with ‘P’ comes into mind..
)
Thumbs up!
I couldn’t fix it, so please read “poor” instead of “pour” above
@Eugeni, a marca que começa com P tá mau vista sim mas eu meio que concordo com o André, as pessoas geralmente associam linux a baixa qualidade e o gigantesco número de distribuições que realmente não tem qualidade não ajudam em nada, pra quem conhece é até bom ter várias opções, mas, meu cunhado por exemplo viu uma interface linux das inúmeras disponíveis e decidiu naquele momento que não gosta de linux e que não viu nada de mais, e aí, o que fazer?
@JR a minha opinião pessoal sobre uso de Linux em desktops é meio controversa (http://dodonov.net/blog/2011/06/25/mac-experience/), mas acho que o problema principal de Linux nos desktops, principalmente no Brasil, é o fato de que as distros e fabricantes tendem a atender o mínimo possível de requisitos (de edital, ou de oem, ou só colocam Linux com o mínimo), e não se preocupam em nada além disso. Poucas são as excessões. Somente quando isso mudar que o quadro de Linux nos desktops será diferente.
@Eugeni, valeu por responder e, concordo com vc, principalmente em relação ao artigo e comentários do MacOS, eu ainda não tinha percebido estas questões, mas será que distribuições linux com foco “easy of use” já não deveriam ter chegado ao nível de acabamento e qualidade de um Mac, afinal não são focadas nisso? Por quê o ubuntu ou mandriva por exemplo não tem o acabamento de um osX, será que um sistema linux para desktop que seja facil de usar é incompatível com o linux tal qual nós o conhecemos? Teria que deixar de ser customizável por exemplo? P.S.: boa sorte na nova jornada (não sei qual é mas li no distrowatch sobre isso
@JR é que facilidade de uso é um termo muito subjetivo.. Eu pessoalmente acho Linux mais fácil de usar que Mac. É mais questão de paradigma – por exemplo, meu pai aprendeu a usar computador na época de DOS, e até agora ele acha as interfaces de todos os SOs >windows 95 muito confusas..
Mas no caso específico de Mandriva e Ubuntu, eu acho que o foco deles é diferente dos usuários comuns de Mac – eles são focados principalmente em usuários que nunca usaram o computador antes. Neste caso, eu acho que a facilidade de uso destes desktops é superior à do mac em alguns pontos (e infinitamente inferior em outros). Mas realmente, é mais questão de costume e gosto.
E por outro lado, eu acho que as distribuições voltadas para simplicidade de uso não são nem Mandriva e nem Ubuntu – são Meego, Android, Jolicloud, e afins…
Buy a computer with any OS and install Linux (Ubuntu, Mandriva, SUSE, Mint etc) on it. Simple and easy. I’ve done it for years for myself and for my friends saving lots of money and getting decent platform.