The $3 Windows

[Macunaima]

Link

Microsoft Plans To Offer Three dollar Windows
06:45 PM, April 19th 2007

Thursday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said that the company is planning to release a 3 dollar software suite for students in developing countries.

The announcement marked the US software giant's most ambitious attempt to date to bridge the digital divide between technologically advanced and developing countries.

The Student Innovation Suite was announced as Microsoft faces increased challenges from open source operating systems like Linux and free web-based applications like those offered by Google, both of which target the company's dominance in personal computer software.

Another threat to Microsoft is the One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC), which aims to sell millions of its innovative units for 100 dollars each to developing countries by 2008. Libya, Nigeria, Egypt, Rwanda and Ethiopia have already ordered millions of these laptops.

The low-cost Microsoft package includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office and Windows Live Mail desktop.

Microsoft hopes the scheme will help to double the number of global PC users and bring computing to an additional billion people by 2015.

Governments in developing countries can purchase the cut-price software, if they provide free PCs for schools.

"In each country, it is tailored to the interests of the government and citizens, but it's about innovation, it's about integration, and it's about creating jobs in those regions," Gates said, speaking at the conclusion of the two-day Microsoft Government Leaders Forum Asia in Beijing.

Microsoft also announced plans to extend its resource commitment to Microsoft Innovation Centers over the next two years and anticipates opening and supporting 200 centers in an additional 25 countries by 2009. The current network of 110 centers serves 100 communities in 60 nations by providing local software communities with a comprehensive set of programs and services to expand work-force skills, create jobs, strengthen innovation and improve competitiveness.

In partnership with local governments, educational institutions and businesses, Microsoft’s resource investments provide software development assistance, business skills training, employment training, employment programs for students, and market incubation for the local startup community.

Seems nice, but I still think a Linux-based solution is what could be more beneficial for developing countries. Not just because it's open-source, but also can make the students familiar with a more in-depth software experience, to learn write code and so forth. More genuine IT professionals could result from this, instead of just more Word/Excel users.

[Xisiqomelir]

Can one of you economists like Ossus tell me how much of a year's income US$3 is in the 3rd world?

[Vendetta]

About 1%

[Master of Ossus]

Can one of you economists like Ossus tell me how much of a year's income US$3 is in the 3rd world?

It depends on the country, of course. The worst of the worst (Somalia, Malawi) earn about $600/year/person. In slightly stronger countries, (Pakistan, Cambodia--places they're more likely targeting), it represents about four hours' income. Maybe a little less. By the time you get up to the South American countries, it would be like you spending $50 on a software suite.

The issue that they'll face is, realistically, the cost of computers. Even old ones are still pretty expensive, and they still need access to electricity (and hopefully internet).

[Xisiqomelir]

Can one of you economists like Ossus tell me how much of a year's income US$3 is in the 3rd world?

It depends on the country, of course. The worst of the worst (Somalia, Malawi) earn about $600/year/person. In slightly stronger countries, (Pakistan, Cambodia--places they're more likely targeting), it represents about four hours' income. Maybe a little less. By the time you get up to the South American countries, it would be like you spending $50 on a software suite.

Thanks. Looks like the OLPC project should manage just fine.

[Netko]

The Starter edition makes this an non-issue, and yet another smoke screen attempt to at least get anything out of those markets with near 100% piracy. As is clear from the Starter's deliberate crippleing, its obvious why its considered an OS people mandatorily get with their computer only to get it wiped and replaced with a pirated XP corporate as the first step (from wiki):

Windows XP Starter Edition

Windows XP Starter Edition is a lower-cost version of Windows XP available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. It is similar to Windows XP Home, but is limited to low-end hardware, can only run 3 programs at a time, and has some other features either removed or disabled by default.

According to a Microsoft press release, Windows XP Starter Edition is "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing countries." It is seen as an effort to fight unauthorized copying of Windows XP and possibly the spread of GNU/Linux-based systems in Asia and South America.

[edit] Specializations

The Starter Edition includes some special features for certain markets where consumers may not be computer literate. Not found in the Home Edition, these include localized help features for those who may not speak English, a country-specific computer wallpaper[6] and screensavers, and other default settings designed for easier use than typical Windows XP installations.

In addition, the Starter Edition also has some unique limitations to prevent it from displacing more expensive versions of Windows XP.[7] Only three applications can be run at once on the Starter Edition, and each application may only open three windows. The maximum screen resolution is limited to 1024×768, and there is no support for workgroup networking or domains. In addition, the Starter Edition is licensed only for low-end processors like Intel's Celeron or AMD's Duron. There is also a 256MB limit on main memory, and an 80GB disk size limit (Microsoft has not made it clear, however, if this is for total disk space, per partition, or per disk). There are also fewer options for customizing the themes, desktop, and taskbar.

You can't build a computing initiative around such a piece of crap. People aren't retarded just because they're poor. Hence, near 100% piracy.

Offer a similar package with Home, and we have a totally different story (even if they up the price to 20$ or something). Its not like XP is still the flagship product and that would foster a feeling of MS doing something smart and nice for the disadvantaged countries.

But Starter makes this an non-starter.

[Macunaima]

I don't think IT professionals are the goal, these computers are learning tools and perhaps business tools, and Word/Excel is far, far more common, and arguably more useful, than being able to write operating systems in C.

Well, in some areas, maybe a basic knowledge in Word/Excel can be more useful in get a job than more specific skills, of course. I was thinking that could be a good thing if some of them can get to a point where they can say, "Well, if I want to really get serious, let's look for something else now" if the student in question believes that it may be the right field of profession to pursue. The Starter edition could not be enough in those cases.

You can't build a computing initiative around such a piece of crap. People aren't retarded just because they're poor. Hence, near 100% piracy.

Yep, I have a friend that has a budget-PC with the Starter installed. While seems that the Starter was good enough for her most basic needs, the imposed limitations were kind of annoying, she said.

[Praxis]

Not just because it's open-source,

Which has no practical difference. I doubt the developing kids are going to be hacking kernels in C anyway.

The danger is locking in poor countries to a single software provider.

[salm]

Why would someone in the 3rd world pay dollars for windows when he can simply priate it without anybody caring?

[Vendetta]

$3 probably undercuts a good many of the physical media pirates, hell, it's nigh on cheaper than the pack of blank CDs or DVDs that you'd need to use one of to do the install.