My Ubuntu Blog

You can order your free Ubuntu CDs from http://shipit.ubuntu.com. By default Ubuntu comes with Gnome desktop environment. If you are an absolute beginner to Linux I would highly recommend Ubuntu. Other wise you can also order free CDs for Ubuntu’s K desktop environment Kubuntu, from http://shipit.kubuntu.org.

Remember these CDs will take atleast 4 to six weaks to arrive. You can get Ubuntu quickly if you order your CDs from Linux Pakistan (Rs. 35 only + shipping charges). Feel free to contact Tariq Farooqi for any questions, information or details.

There are many other ways to get Ubuntu CDs. Check out your local computer hardware and software stores and shops. Contact Pakistan Linux User Community members in your town if any one of them has spare Ubuntu CDs they would love to help you. I am one of the PLUC members so feel free to contact me if you are in Karachi.

I was asking myself, if Linux and GNU based software are so good, free and legal then why Pakistanis don’t go for them. Some reasons are pretty obvious and others, we will have to figure those out.

1. Pakistanis who spend their time in front of computers at work are forced to work in a Microsoft Windows environment.
2. Home users in Pakistan demand full multimedia support so that they could watch pirated videos on their computers and enjoy pirated music. So who cares about using a free legal software.
3. Young computer users prefer to spend their time playing games and most such games are made for Windows. They also don’t like the way Linux based distros treat Instant Messaging. You can not show or view web cam of your MSN Buddies using Gaim.
4. Small Businesses, aren’t they aware of the fact that Linux has tools which could increase their productivity.
5. What about schools? Does any body ever tried to sell thin clients running on Linux to any local school? Like that $100 laptop thingie, can’t we do such a thing in Pakistan? May be we can not create a laptop but we can atleast equip schools with low price, highly reliable and better learning machines. Reading about edubuntu I think that it has so many learning oppurtunities, it is a great tool for schools.

There is a lot more to it. Please add your reasons in comments. Why you think Linux is not catching up in Pakistan?