AS I blogged previously, I’m all for open source, and long for the day when I can completely stop relying on Microsoft’s bloatware. Or maybe the day Microsoft finally comes out with products which aren’t bloatware — or hell freezes over, whichever comes first, heh.
The thing about Windows, however, is that the average consumer is already very comfortable with the interface. Contrary to what geeks may think, not everyone is a geek, heh, and yes, it may not sound logical, but having a pretty and user-friendly interface is a big deal for consumers.
Yeah, yeah, all you members of the Cult of Mac can stop shouting right now. We already know you have a pretty, user-friendly and powerful OS, heh 
Which is why it’s great to hear that the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute has launched a homegrown version of Linux that looks more like Windows XP.
Check out INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania’s Infotech article on the launch of Bayanihan Linux version 4.
Will this prove to be an important development for open source in the country?
Let’s hope so. It’s time to break the chains.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Now that’s the problem, why waste OUR taxes on pogi points? Why waste manpower to create something which other branches of government will not use?
DabaGNU, a Davao linux usergroup, and from the looks of things, Ubuntu is the prefered choice among them.
March 28th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Having the same look is nice, but that’s just half of the pudding. Look-and-feel is not just about the “looks” of the GUI.
The obvious bane is that since it looks like Windows, people (being already closely familiar with Windows) will expect that it will have the same apps and functionality as Windows. What would you do if they start asking: “Where’s MSN Messenger?” for one? Or how about: “Why can’t I right-click on the Start menu?” (Most of my friends start Explorer this way). Sounds trivial to us geeks, but educating the common folk about the two OS’es differences and telling them that Linux is a different animal from Windows is easier said than done.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:45 am
hi rain, kozo, thanks for visiting.
those are interesting points you raised. would you say then the bayanihan project doesn’t actually address the needs and demands of filipino users, but is more symbolic or a way of winning “pogi points,” so to speak
what are the latest figures on ubuntu adoption in the philippines?
thanks.
cheers!
March 27th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
It always amazes me that Philippine creates its own look-and-feel? Why not try Ubuntu or other distro, change the default language to Filipino and presto a distro for Filipino. Why do they have to reinvent the wheel? or did they think Filipinos have a certain gui look-and-feel?
March 27th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I’m skeptical about any form of adoption, or the slow progress Bayanihan Linux has gone through.
I’m all for homegrown output, but if this is just another government project that ‘has to be done’, and the goal to save up on funds and free oneself from proprietary software comes only as a second thought, who wouldn’t be skeptical.