Microsoft and Greece
Published by deviousdiva January 30th, 2008 in Technical.Even though this has to do with big business and Bill Gates (who we all hate?), this could be a good thing for the kid and his classmates… don’t you think ? Again… here’s hoping…
From Reporter
Greece signed an agreement with the world’s biggest software company, Microsoft to establish IT development centres in an effort to boost the country’s competitiveness. The agreement, signed by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Greece’s finance minister calls for the creation of centres to provide IT and business development skills.
“From being a laggard, Greece in a short amount of time is dynamically becoming a leader in the use of new technologies,” Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said at the signing ceremony. “Investment in advanced technology … is a prerequisite for a break with the past, which is something the country needs, and for it to be a knowledge leader.
Total government and private sector IT spending is about 2 billion euros while Greece’s internet penetration has risen from 0.1 percent in 2004 to about 10 percent of the population currently but the country is still at the bottom of the class when compared to its European peers.
UPDATE: This relates to an earlier post here.
Technorati: greece, microsoft, bill gates, computers, education
14 Responses to “Microsoft and Greece”
- 1 Trackback on Jan 30th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
- 2 Trackback on Feb 11th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Other European countries have adopt open source technologies based on open international standards. Why Greece had to bind itself to closed and proprietary technologies like Microsoft ’s ? For more info look at the following
In greek:
http://lists.ffii.org/pipermai.....00013.html
http://oneiros.gr/blog/2008/01/25/msbillapproved
In english:
http://www.spinellis.gr/blog/20080127/
Thanks for responding, chstath. Can you explain what other European countries are doing, for those of us (me :-)) who are not so up to date with computer education etc ?
I think it’s so important that our kids are given access to computers and new technology but I am unsure what is happening elsewhere. Thanks.
I don’t know where Karamanlis gets his information from, but “Greece is becoming a leader in the use of new technologies”?? From everything I have seen, Greece is in a worse situation with internet access, for example, than even countries like Bulgaria and Turkey. And way behind the old EU countries. So, where are these new technologies?
DD: open sources means things like Linux, which are free and allow developers access to the code in order to prepare better programs. They are the antithesis of Microsoft, which is a global monopoly, more or less, and intends to remain so. The legal cases in the European Court of Justice, which MS lost, are attempts to make it more accountable and open, rather than a greedy monopoly.
The reason for the Greek government to get involved with MS? Who knows? All we can say is that large amounts of money are caught up in such decisions… Draw your own conclusions.
Right. OK so this has to do with the recent court cases against Microsoft. I had followed some of that, and being a dedicated mac user I am automatically against the monopoly of Bill and his cronies, but I am also concerned for the kids education here.
Currently he gets to play some games on a couple of antiquated computers and that’s about it ! I was day-dreaming about computer labs and laptops for kids…
I was just hoping for something more…
Well, maybe Greece has sold its soul to the Devil for some cash! In other words, they could have a deal to equip schools now with good computers, along with a longer-term commitment to be stuck with MS. But the press release talks about “centres”, which implies that they will have nothing to do with state schools. The whole thing is probably just for political effect anyway, so nothing much will change in reality.
Well look on the bright side. At least Bill Gates is American and not a terrorist trying to kill us. He just wants to make our life a little better. He really is a good guy. He gave almost all his money to Warren Buffet’s charities.
So, let’s give Bill a break, he’s really not that bad of a guy.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/2.....1.fortune/
This was the article that started it all.
Here are some links to info on the issue. Basically, they seem to be doing next to nothing…
Here
here
and here
The last file seems to be applauding Greece for getting boradband prices down to the EU average, whilst failing to show any comparisons for Greece and other EU countries of access to the internet. There is no discussion anywhere about technology and either the economy or education…
Links edited by Devious Diva. Long links break my blog. It’s not your fault, I just need to find a way of fixing long urls.
Long URLs are a pain in behind,
http://tinyurl.com/ is a life saver
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You can pick up a widget for it here:
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They just agree with Microsoft on a business matter in order to earn some money . All these dont’t have any relation with an “Investment in advanced technology … ” . They are humiliating the Greek society with agreements like this one
DD, it’s just a sell-out, probably getting some heavy bribes for some politicians. It will basically ensure that the field of technology will stay behind for even longer.
Greece has a monoculture of Microsoftisms, that is very bad for our competiveness to other countries. When your kid grows up and one day maybe decides to become a programmer, he will be faced with very few interesting jobs - like someone who want to become a car designer and has to settle for working at the car wash (exaggerated example). Greece is just a “consumer” of MS products, there is *nothing* to gain from an agreement with MS.
Countries like India have shown that really adopting technology and open source software can help a countrie’s economy and educational system. In our car example, they get to build their own cars, no matter how they might be not “mainstream”.
As for “computers in schools”… I’m not so hot about that topic. I didn’t have computers in school, and I turned out to be a hacker kid anyway. School money should go to teachers, books, and school infrastructure first. Computers might be important for kids whose families can’t afford one, but if the school infrastructure is behind in other areas, putting a few computers in a desolate school environment and pushing them on tired teachers will only result in broken or stolen hardware.
Last: for questions about Bill Gates, please refer to How to Become As Rich As Bill Gates.
Thanks Flubberwinkle. I downloaded a plugin for comments that makes shorter urls. It seems to be working ! Thanks for reminding me that there are solutions out there !
“From being a laggard, Greece in a short amount of time is dynamically becoming a leader in the use of new technologies,”
I’m laughing so hard I’m crying! That wins the prize for 2008’s Most Dillusional Comment by a Greek Politician. Ha ha ahahaahahhaaha!!! A leader in the use of new technologies… ahahahaha! *wipes away tears*