Widows vs Linux battle in Cambodia

At #Barcamp Phnom Penh 2, Microsoft gave away Windows 7 licenses for free. Many people show up to get Windows 7.

After the barcamp, I keep receiving emails about WIndows vs Linux battle from Barcamp Phnom Penh group.

Here are some threads related to the discussion.

• 10 reasons not to use Linux
• Which operating system is the best?

Many Windows supporters

One thing very surprised me is that many people support Windows not Linux.

As a country, Cambodia is now a developing country, many other countries put money on them to develop the country again.

From my idea, free open source software is one of the best choice, not paying license fee to a company, but actually there are many MS techies, not much open source people.

Why?

Power of certificates

Getting MS Certificates makes you to find job easier, MS has this system to evaluate users of their technology, people needs something they can actually “touch” and trust. Microsoft supports barcamps, they do campaigns, seminar etc to grow MS techies in these countries.

I did felt the same when I first came to Thailand. Everybody working with MS technologies, and bring there “Microsoft Certificates” to apply jobs. Until I found #barcamp, I didn’t know much open source people in Thailand.

I didn’t really follow the discussion much, but I saw some very strong words to fighting about the OS. This was another one thing surprised me. I haven’t seen Cambodian people fighting, friends there are very calm.

Tired of fighting

Everybody fighting on the email group, and finally many people started saying “tired of it”…. then there is a thread like this

*To Fighting Barcamp Phnom Penh,*

I’m so tired to get your fighting mail through barcamp.
I feel so sorry right now to join barcamp group, cos it runs out of my mind.

I think that Barcamp will discuss to find a good solution for me and other
who younger of IT knowledge.
I wish to get new knowledge, technology and a helpful thing from all of you
who has more and more experiences.

But, it wasn’t like that. The most mail to reply each other like you are all
not Khmer.
You should change Barcamp Phnom Penh to *The Third World War Barcamp Phnom
Penh.*

It’s just some idea from Khmer, hope you are all who is not Khmer stop to
make a fighting mail.

I would like to say thank you to every one who shear a good knowledge to me
and someone who are new in IT Sector.

And I would like to say stop fighting mail, if you are Khmer.

Thanks,

This post made me sad but at the same time I see something going on there.