A Case for NationWide Linux PC Distribution

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A Case for Nation-wide Linux PC Distribution
By Thaweesak Koanantakool, Ph.D.National
Electronics and Computer Technology Center,
National Science and Technology Development
Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment, Thailand.
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Agenda

• Linux in Thailand
• School Internet Servers (Linux SIS)
• Desktop Suite (Linux TLE and OpenOffice TLE)
• Low-cost PC Project (Computer ICT)
• Thai Linux Working Group
• Lessons learned
• Future of OSS in Thailand

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Thailand
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Thailand ICT Indicators

• Population 62.80 million
• GDP Growth (2002) 5.2
• GDP (2002) 5,430 Billion Baht
• Fixed line subscribers 12.9 /100 population
• Mobile phone users 30.6 /100 population
• ISP (commercial/non commercial) 18 / 5
• Internet Exchanges 2
• Total International Bandwidth (Oct, 03) 1.44 Gbps
• Total Domestic Bandwidth (Oct, 03) 8 Gbps
• PC Users (June, 03) 11.3 million
• Domains registered under .th 13,116 domains
• Internet Users (June, 03) 6.0 million
• Linux Users (observed by Truehits.net) 0.15 and
  growing..

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DOT Force UN ICT Task Force eASEAN
(e-Society) ITU, APT, etc.
Public PrivatePartnerships
WSIS2003
IT2000Policy
Challenges TelecommunicationinfrastructureAff
ordabilityLocal contentsHuman ResourceLegal
frameworks
Bridging the Digital DividePrograms in
Thailand
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ICT Policy and OSS Development
Ministry of ICT (est. 2002)
Policies
National ICT Masterplan 2002-2006
National IT Committee (established 1992)
IT 2000 Policy
IT 2010 Policy
Software Park Thailand
Software Industry Promotion Agency
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
2006
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Linux SIS

• SIS School Internet Server
• Started in 1994 on NECTEC ftp server
• Goals
• Router replacement
• Organizational Server replacement
• Targets
• User friendly, web-admin tools in Thai language
• Schools, small business, hospitals
• Ver 1.0-2.0 are based on Slackware Linux
• V 3.0-4.2a are based on Red Hat Linux

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Linux TLE

• TLE Thai Language Extension
• Goal
• The Thai Linux Standard Distribution for Desktop
  machines
• Targets
• Easy to use and to setup
• Thai Software development platform
• Promotion of Free Software and Open Source
• The general users to cut down software piracy

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Linux TLE Distribution statistics

• Free download of executable and source(more than
  2,000 downloads)
• On sales by distributors - gt13,000 copies
• Preloaded in new PCsgt 100,000 PCs
• Preloaded in IBM and HP new notebook computers
• Total web users using Linux gt 0.15

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Linux TLE (Thai Language Extension)
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OpenOffice TLE

• The most popular office package on Linux in
  Thailand
• The most popular MS-Office package alternative on
  the Windows Platform
• Goal
• The Thai office suite standard
• Targets
• Linux, Windows and Mac OS-X platforms
• Based on OpenOffice.Org (1.0.2 and 1.1)

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Linux TLE and Office TLE
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Thai Linux Working Group - TLWG

• A community for Linux developers (volunteers)
• Infrastructure and resources are supported by
  NECTEC (Server, Bandwidth, Internet access,
  meetings)
• Objectives
• Develop software to support Thai Language
• Promote Linux and Open Source in Thailand
• Support Linux Users with Thai Documentation and
  web board

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Outcomes and products of TLWG - 1

• http//linux.thai.net/
• Linux/Open Source news
• Documents
• Web board
• Download of software, source codes, fonts, ..
• Useful links

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Outcomes and products of TLWG - 2

• Deliverables
• TE Thai Extension for Linux
• Thai Latex
• LibThai standard Thai library
• Thaixfonts bitmap fonts
• Thai scalable fonts
• Thai Locale in GlibC
• TE Thai Extension for Linux
• Thai Latex
• LibThai standard Thai library
• Thaixfonts bitmap fonts

• Deliverables
• Thai scalable fonts
• Thai Locale in GlibC
• Thai Linux Consolefonts, keymaps
• General Thai Support in XFree86 (Thai Xlocale)
• XIM X Input Method (Thai)
• Pango Thai
• Gnome Office Abiword
• Thai Support for Xpdf, MagicPoint

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Outcomes and products of TLWG - 3

• Thai Documentation
• Thai Linux Documentation Project
• Newbie for Newbie website
• The Linux-Thai HOWTO
• Mini-HOWTO in Thai

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Low-Cost PC Project Computer ICT

• A Public-Private Partnership project
• The first step to fight the digital divide
• Desktop PC, starting at US250 with monitor, OS
  and Office suite
• Linux TLE 5.0 bundled with Office TLE, Web
  browser, e-mail client, Multimedia, graphic
  software factory preloaded
• More than 130,000 desktop and 10,000 notebooks
  purchased

• Specifications (Jan 2003)
• CPU Celeron 1.0 GHz
• RAM 128 MB
• HDD 20 GB
• Monitor 15 inch CRTVGA/Sound on board
• FDD, CD-ROM
• Speaker, internal modem
• Keyboard, mouse
• 1 year warranty

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Lessons learned - 1

• Introducing Linux TLE and OpenOfficeTLE to the
  new users is easier than conversion
• Preload of the OSS packages at factory is more
  effective than distributing CD-ROMs
• OSS and pirated software can be sold at the same
  price in the beginning
• Value of OSS is that it is legal, pirated
  software is not.

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Lessons learned - 2

• Software developers are more profitable if their
  applications run on OSS platform
• Remaining challenges
• More documentation, handbooks and manuals
• Compatibility with legacy document formats
• Funding for trainings and supports
• Lack of drivers for latest hardware
• Lack of developers who can develop software on
  Linux and OSS platforms

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Future of OSS in Thailand

• Software Bank Server (sourceforge)
• Linux TLE 5.5 and 6.0
• Office TLE 1.1 and 1.2
• Sixth Open Source Fair (Linux Applications Day
  2004)
• Open Source in School Project
• Linux Software Competition, Linux Contest
• Train the trainer program (nationwide)
• Training GTK developer

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Future of OSS in Asia

• Software Bank Server for Asia
• UNESCO Asian SchoolNet Project creating the
  English version of Linux SIS web-admin tools
• Character codes, input-output standard, fonts and
  locales for every country, every language
• Cooperation with major device manufacturers in
  Asia to support device drivers for Linux
• Possible killer applications School Library
  management, Small hospital management, SMEs,
  Internet security, CAD/CAM and e-commerce

DesignedforLinux
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Thank you for your attention.