"FOSS and Low Cost Computing"

KRICH NASINGKUN

Researcher, Open Source Project

National Electronic and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand

krich.nasingkun@nectec.or.th

Topics

Project background

Objective

Related projects

Project partners

Microsoft Action

Process

Archived outcome

Problem

Project background

high piracy rate software in Thailand 87% (1997) and 77% (2002 -> present) BSA

expensive software and no another choice

expensive computer compare with ordinary people income (500 -> 650 $US)

digital divide ( 3 M PC from 60 M people )

local brand computer don't have competitiveness with oversea brand.

Objective

promote awareness on software copyright and the use of open source software by publicizing and providing relevant information

to lower market prices of computers by 20-30% from 2002 prices, by means of re-market competition

widespread use of computers and increase in number of people with ICT knowledge ( roadmap to 6 M PC )

expansion of the local IT markets

10,000 Bath computer (250 $)	(can’t use commercials)

Related projects

Computer Certification Project : promote trust and confidence in using local-brand PCs by means of product testing and certification

Economy-Class PC (My-Class PC) : Apply NECTEC Quality PC Certification Project to produce a popular PC model which would cost less than 20,000 Bath (US$ 500)

Fundamental Open Source Software : localization and promote open source, LinuxTLE,OpenOfficeTLE

Project partners

NECTEC :

H/W certified, S/W ,Training and support Techniques for call center, Manual, Recovery CD

The Association of Thai Computer Manufacturing (ATCM) :

assurance, assemble, after sell service

CAT Telecom by post office :

register, retail shop, deliver

Microsoft actions

MS Windows retail box 7,000 - 8,000 bath

MS Office retail box 20,000 - 30,000 bath

They want to sign contact with – Government ,ICT Ministry, Education agency (for academy license)

Ministry of ICT decide to use Linux and Open source in this project / cost is 0 and NECTEC support

after project open and have a huge number of reservation (100,000)

MS Policy change and Join at the end.

1,490 bath (MS windows + MS office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Thai OEM (from 19,000 bath)

Computer ICT specification

CPU : Celeron 1 GHz

Main board : ECS P6VEM chipset VIA VT133 Socket 370

Memory : Apacer or Kingston SDRAM 128 MB 133 MHz

VGA : VGA Trident Onboard

Sound card : Sound AC97 Onboard

Hard disk : Sumsung Spinpoint (SV0211H) 20 GByte 5400 R/S Ultra ATA 100

FDD: Matsumi 1.44 MB 3.5"

CD ROM : LG 52 X

Networking : (Default) Internal (PCI) MODEM 56 Kbps (Conexant Chipset) or Lancard (10/100)

Monitor : LG 500G 15" (MPRII) or Sumsung SyncMaster 551s 15" (MPRII)

Case + Power Supply : Englight 200 Watts

Mouse+Keyboard : PS/2 Mouse with 1 Wheel + PS/2 Keyboard

1. Linux

OS : Linux TLE 5.0 Special Version

Special Application : Office TLE 1.0.2 + Lexitron Dictionary

with Manual + Recovery CD (Easy to use just one click)

+0 Bath

2. Windows home

+ 1,490 Bath get Windows XP Home + MS Office ( from 19,000 )

3. Windows pro

+ 3,300 Bath get Windows XP Pro ( from 8,000 )

Software specification

Process

register, deliver at post office

a huge number can make more bargaining powerful with supplier ( monitor 6,000 -> 3,000 15'' )

local brand company test, assurance and assemble (get benefit about 500 bath per PC)

deliver with Manual and Recovery CD for restore system (preconfigured system for easy use like internet connection, no need to input user/passwd)

training a technician support at call center and web board

Archived outcome

deliver 130,000 PC to user

computer price dropped approximately 20-30 % between 1999-2000.

now Desktop 20,000 -> 14,000-15,000, High-end 40,000 -> 30,000

MS change policy (localization version)

people know more about Linux, open source ( we cannot know how many pc still use Linux, but we deliver more and create many material from this project, and many dummy user join in our Linux web board, even mostly is complains)

many of Linux and Computer ICT related manual in market

Key success

Successive of computer certification project

Government Policy

Promote/News

Open source software

Problem

miss under standing of user / some people expect for high-end computer

management process, how to register, when can deliver and after sell support

mostly users replace Linux with MS windows

training program

What’s next

Promote open source software both Windows/Linux platform

Direct training and fund to academy

Join with international group for development human resource

Support community

Deploy Linux and Open source to possible projects.

"FOSS and Low Cost Computing"

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2005-08-31T01:59:13