Downloading now.my duplicate thread got closed from the operating systems section.i had started this thread from my phone using opera mini and attended a call in between.the data connection got screwed and i ended up posting another thread but now in this open os section.i figured people already using open os will be more likely to try it out.
Its a good thing its based off ubuntu as it will have maximum hardware capability and large software repository along with user friendliness.
Govt. of india is promoting open software and open drivers to cut down costs.
I visited the forums and it feels like the project is younger than a year.
THIS type of initiative is much better than Kapil Sibbal holding press conferences for a 1000 rs Made in India laptop which turned out to be a Chinese design.There were two such announcements 6 months apart ,the earlier one was a usb stick with some chepo mobile processor.The news was picked up by international media and we became laughing stock .gave them good entertainment and page views.similar case was with a hyped satellite developed by IIT.it turned out to be a commecially available kit from the USA!
A SOLID KERNEL and software repositories of ubuntu will help get this project off ground.IIT students can get involved porting the kernel to different chipsets.
Computer Science students from thousands of engineering colleges in India can write software and submit them for evaluation and implementation.
This distro can be made mandatory for students in engineering colleges so that they caN do some actual work instead wasting time on windows by developing indigenous software. and a strong community of software developers throughout India by this single forum can learn and collaborate and do good.
Its a huge opportunity that can benefit students and budding software entrepreneurs.small european countries-Finland, even Brazil has produced respected linux distributions used by users throughout the world.
China has understood this and harnessed their huge human resource into very capable software developers.the most amazing apps for symbian are in chinese e.g. day hand input,uc browser.they are even developing their own hardware computing standards now!!!!!
Its a good project and if the people in charge are able to get students involved- have competitions and awards or even academic value,it will get a huge boost!!
A similar situation is the NCC .the government spent 10 crores this year on NCC but only about 50 students joined armed forces from a pool of about 10k students.the students do it mostly because of its value as an extracurricular certificate.A similar incentive can be given to the students in thousands of Our engineering colleges to develop their interest.
Such an initiative will go a long way in atleast laying the foundation of India becoming a 'product' producer rather than being just clerks sitting in front of a pc monitor in the BPO and service industries!!!!!
Small countries have their blockbuster software products- Avast-Czech republic, Kaspersky-Russia and a lot of others.
We are the second largest population inthe world! According to a conservative estimate 10% population has the IQ of genius levels! we have 12.5 crore geniuses among us!! They just need opportunity and direction!!!!!!!!!
