MoneyCentral reports that Microsoft has made available a low cost stripped down Hindi version of Windows.
I can say pretty confidently that this effort, while valiant, has very little chance of success. Why? Because while this is a cheaper version, its still not free – unlike the pirated Windows. Morover it is stripped down – nobody wants a stripped down legal version when a full featured pirated version is available for a much lower cost. This ‘Starter’ edition will find favor with computer vendors though since it helps them bring down the cost of PCs. I bet the resellers will tell their customers that they can always get the full featured Windows XP once they purchase the system *wink* *wink*
4 Comments
I guess the “Starter Verison” of XP which comes in the Hindi flavor is not for of the shelf buying. IT is meant to be used in government offices through some agreement/contract with the government – the first target users being the 2 lacks government employees of Uttaranchal.
speaking of software..you said you wanted some from here. Let me know cuz i have a week left.
Aayush – now it makes much more sense to me. Getting govt. to buy cheap stripped down version is much easier than getting home users to go for it.
Nazim – IndLinux is an interesting project but it will not gain critical mass until at least one big player backs it. The govt. seemed like the best bet but looks like they went for the starter edition of XP. IndLinux might be better than XP prima facie – BUT is there a big organisation (like MSFT) which is committed to supporting 200000 installs of IndLinux for the govt. for the next 10 years? Support is the key to getting mass adotpion – especially in government and large corporates.
Tamil Government has actually started deploying IndLinux Tamil version. I will put the URL here as soon as I remember were I saw it.