Comments on: Microsoft and Greece http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/ The only thing necessary for the persistence of evil is for enough good people to do nothing. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:43:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Connecting News, Commentaries and Blogs at NineReports.com http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-62718 Connecting News, Commentaries and Blogs at NineReports.com Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:19:38 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-62718 <strong>Related News Stories ...</strong> Microsoft to buy maker of the Sidekick ...Blogged about at Microsoft and Greece - this is not my country, Microsoft took a decisive step into the mobile Web arena with a deal to buy Danger, a mobile software company best known for the Sidekick, to all ...

Related News Stories …

Microsoft to buy maker of the Sidekick …Blogged about at Microsoft and Greece - this is not my country, Microsoft took a decisive step into the mobile Web arena with a deal to buy Danger, a mobile software company best known for the Sidekick, to all …

]]> By: bollybutton http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60954 bollybutton Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:04:25 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60954 “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*

“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*

]]> By: deviousdiva http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60886 deviousdiva Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:26:03 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60886 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 ! :-D

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 !

:-D

]]> By: betabug http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60861 betabug Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:15:49 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60861 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 <a href="http://philip.greenspun.com/bg/" rel="nofollow">How to Become As Rich As Bill Gates</a>.

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.

]]> By: Myson http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60759 Myson Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:54:59 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60759 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

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

]]> By: Flubberwinkle http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60673 Flubberwinkle Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:43:09 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60673 Long URLs are a pain in behind, http://tinyurl.com/ is a life saver ========================= You can pick up a widget for it here: http://tinyurl.com/ynvmff

Long URLs are a pain in behind,
http://tinyurl.com/ is a life saver
=========================
You can pick up a widget for it here:
http://tinyurl.com/ynvmff

]]> By: Martin Baldwin-Edwards http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60405 Martin Baldwin-Edwards Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:03:20 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-60405 Here are some links to info on the issue. Basically, they seem to be doing next to nothing... <a href="http://www.mnec.gr/en/press_office/DeltiaTypou/dt/dt-2008-01-28_MIC.html" rel="nofollow">Here</a> <a href="http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=6092939&maindocimg=6092042&service=10" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://www.mnec.gr/export/sites/mnec/en/press_office/DeltiaTypou/Documents/2008-01-28_FactSheetOnDigitalGreece.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a> 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... <strong>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.</strong>

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.

]]> By: George http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59991 George Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:12:17 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59991 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/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/ This was the article that started it all.

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.

]]> By: Martin Baldwin-Edwards http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59982 Martin Baldwin-Edwards Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:45:59 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59982 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, 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.

]]> By: deviousdiva http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59970 deviousdiva Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:00:02 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59970 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...

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…

]]> By: Martin Baldwin-Edwards http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59956 Martin Baldwin-Edwards Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:24:30 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59956 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.

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.

]]> By: deviousdiva http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59949 deviousdiva Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:06:52 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59949 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.

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.

]]> By: chstath http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59911 chstath Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:20:11 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59911 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/pipermail/gr-news/2008-January/000013.html http://oneiros.gr/blog/2008/01/25/msbillapproved In english: http://www.spinellis.gr/blog/20080127/

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/

]]> By: Windows Vista News http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59901 Windows Vista News Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:00:13 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/2008/01/30/microsoft-and-greece/#comment-59901 <strong>Microsoft and Greece...</strong> New post at deviousdiva.com...

Microsoft and Greece…

New post at deviousdiva.com…

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