[JTND] Yomiuri Editorial: Linux Will Broaden OS Choices

[Matatabi Report <editor@matatabi.com>]

From Yomiuri Shimbun (Japanese):

[Yomiuri, the largest national daily newspaper published an editorial
piece on Linux.]

Linux, an open source and free computer operating system, is gradually
accepted in Japan.

(snip)

Although Microsoft denies, some in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
suspect that there is a secret backdoor in Windows OS and the
government classified information can be stolen. Some of the LDP
hard-liners argue for making Linux the mandatory OS in the government.

However, rushing to Linux today is not a good idea. The Japanese
environment is still immature and both applications and Linux
developers are lacking. Making Linux mandatory might swell the
administrative cost.

One thousand researchers at the National Institute of Advances
Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) are switching to Linux from
Windows. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) wants AIST to
improve Linux and make it available for free. The ministry hopes
domestic software industry thrives with Linux.

(snip)

As the long term strategy of Japan, it is desirable to broaden OS
choices. The improved Linux will be one of them.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/08/20030220ig91.htm
(Japanese)

[LDP has been the ruling party in Japan for most of the post WWII
period(Currently, the party stays in the power by forming the
coalition with Komeito, the Soukagakkai Buddhist party and the
others.). I am a Linux user since 95. I must admit that I'm biased for
Linux. Until recently, I run Linux only on servers, but now I run it
on my laptops and workstations too. The Japanese environment has been
improved greatly in the last two years. You can have a beautiful
Japanese KDE desktop. I still run Windows on my main desktop only
because clients send me MS Office documents. When OpenOffice gets
better Japanese support, I will be able to get rid of Windows from my
office. I hope we keep running those Linux stories on the mainstream
media, then Gates will visit Japan with an irresistible offer;-)]

[key_linux]
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