Microsoft lifts wraps on initiative to help small business in Africa

Microsoft more and more assumes that a user is permanently on-line. For instance Office 2007 goes back home for all help requests.

This makes sense in a world where 5 to 10 MB is pretty much standard and affordable.

It doesn't make sense for 36Kb dial-up.

PS this doesn't only apply to Microsoft as many overseas companies are using web services requiring high speed high uncapped as a mater of course and are surprised when advised that this kind of solution is not viable in RSA.
 
bekdik : It is crazy. Even in the states, broadband penetration is still at 50% or something. Same stupid flaw linux suffers from
 
What you say is very true. In a world where the internet is fast becoming as commonplace and essential as running water, we're one of the few countries that are completely unprepared for what is coming.
 
bekdik said:
Microsoft more and more assumes that a user is permanently on-line. For instance Office 2007 goes back home for all help requests.

This makes sense in a world where 5 to 10 MB is pretty much standard and affordable.
Click to expand...

Even if high speed access is generally available applications should come with help. I would rather have help available locally and be able to download updates occasionally.

Microsoft's excuse for why they don't include help with their products is extremely weak.
 
Get them hooked

There is no such thing as cheap or free software from Microsoft. They will lock you in and extract money with forced upgrades next year. This is like handing out free razor handles, with one blade. The consumer will have to buy expensive blades when that free one wears out.

Even at half price, XP is far too expensive for what you get. Don't get me started on Office 2007. Office 95 is all we need and we can get that for free with OpenOffice.
 
Education and training are two different things. Our schools and universities should definitely not be engaged in training. There is nothing wrong with offering training as an extra-curricular acitivity, but we should not subvert education to create worker drones.

After the Group of Eight summit last year, developed countries had promised an increase in developmental aid of $50bn before 2010.

“That has not as yet been realised,” she said.


Don't hold your breath. Countries like the US will spend many times more money on expensive weapons that they use for 'defense'.
 
rooijan said:
Even at half price, XP is far too expensive for what you get.
Click to expand...

Most software is too expensive for what you get. The worst cases are those where you're also paying for the licensing of copy prevention measures as well as the support costs that result from the trouble such measures cause paying customers.
 
rooijan said:
Office 95 is all we need and we can get that for free with OpenOffice.
Click to expand...
And I agree with that.

Basically, if you're into wordprocessing, spreadsheeting and emails, then a simple Ubuntu distro will work for you. Why take the risk of pirating winxp and office2003/2007?

Why pay lots of wonga only to have WGA and WPA issues? Not to mention trojan, viruses and worms that constantly prowl the Internet, looking for a yummy, scrumptiously crunchable Windows workstation...

No thanks, Linux is for me.

Unfortunately, where it all breaks down is when somebody want to play games and relax a bit - here you'll need Windows.

So, at the end of the day, you'll need 2 computers, one for Windows (and games, which you can reformat and reinstall without fear of data loss) and the other for Linux (on which you do your work).

Or a removable hard drive bracket with 2 hard drives, one Linux, other Windows.

Or dual-booting.

But, telecomms prices will have to come down first.

Regards

Libs
 
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