Japan plans an open source OS to rival Windows

[jeeza]

It looks like open source software is gaining ground.

The government, electronics manufacturers and software makers launched a forum Friday to promote the development of a new operating system for next-generation networked appliances and other smart devices.

The forum is part of a trilateral initiative among the governments of Japan, China and South Korea to create, in cooperation with the private sector, an OS to rival Microsoft Corp.'s Windows.
...
http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200311150128.html

This looks big.

[jeeza]

From slashdot.com :

Infonaut writes "Scott McNealy announced today at Comdex that Sun Microsystems has made a deal with China for a million desktop Linux deployments under the new $50/seat licensing plan for Sun's desktop software, which includes its Star Office 7.0 productivity program. Whether this will translate into renewed profits for Sun remains to be seen, but according to McNealy, it represents 'the No. 1 Linux desktop play on the planet'."
Well ? Where are all those Linux enthusiasts ?

[yawningdog]

We're here. And we're not surprised.

[jeeza]

Well, that doesn't surprise me. :)
But still, it's kind of miraculous.

[jeeza]

BTW, those Linux enthusiasts may not be overly surprised, but their response is lacking somewhat in enthusiasm...a strange world it is. :cool:

[yawningdog]

Miraculous? Hardly, considering the opublic school system in Mexico has already migrated.

Plus, not to be cavalier or anything, but this means what to me?

[setoguro]

I've been reading about it. It's interesting but before I get all excited about it I want to see what they come up with. They may come up with something to give Bill a stroke or they could give birth to a bunch of crap. Just got to wait and see. I am enthusiastic about Mandrake 9.2 though. :D

[jeeza]

Originally posted by yawningdog
Miraculous? Hardly, considering the opublic school system in Mexico has already migrated.

Plus, not to be cavalier or anything, but this means what to me?
I have no idea, but consider a million desktop deployments in one time...

[jeeza]

Originally posted by setoguro
They may come up with something to give Bill a stroke or they could give birth to a bunch of crap. Just got to wait and see.
Yes, but can they afford with a deal like this not to come up with good quality ? Imagine them giving birth to a bunch of crap, as you put it ; the consequences to them would be very bad.

(Edit)
I just realized now that you may have been talking not about the deal between Sun and China, but about this new Japanese Operation System.
As mentioned in the online article, it's a cooperative effort between Japan, China, and South Korea. So it's not a private company, it's three governments, which may set one thinking, and it is purely Asian. That's what's special about it.

The domestic [Japanese] forum is made up of 16 Japanese companies, including Hitachi Ltd., NTT Data Corp. and Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co. and is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

A similar forum has already been set up in South Korea, with China to follow suit soon.

The goal of the forums is to develop a new system based on open source software (OSS), which is compatible with numerous platforms because its source code can be freely modified.
Obviously they are taking this very seriously, and MS better watch out.
Would they come up with crap ?
I am rather asking myself, why three governments ?

[jeeza]

Thought I would put this in the same thread.
The city of Munich too is planning of switching to open source but there seem to be some problems, as featured in Wired News.
http://wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,62236,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6

[jeeza]

Rome moving to Linux, on Slashdot http://slashdot.org/articles/04/02/26/1342232.shtml

Should this be a separate thread ?