1. The Scenario. Open source software goes large in India, especially Linux. Linux has now seen great profit after it has entered the Indian market. Linux an open source software has become very popular among Indian users especially in the Southern region of Kerala. Schools have introduced Linux operating systems and the situation now stands with very few people who really know what windows is.

2. The stake holders. Students: In the article I found it states that almost all of the school in Kerala, the computers being used have a Linux operating system. This means now India would produce about 1.5 million students from this region who would know nothing but Linux. Students: In the article I found it states that almost all of the school in Kerala, the computers being used have a Linux operating system. This means now India would produce about 1.5 million students from this region who would know nothing but Linux. Linux: In this case Linux would benefit the most. This is because now they have a completely ready market for their product. Thus they would no longer have to find customers. Linux: In this case Linux would benefit the most. This is because now they have a completely ready market for their product. Thus they would no longer have to find customers. Microsoft: Microsoft would have a serious impact if this continues in India. They would loose a market for trade as well. Indian IT specialists are predicting that by the end of the year 2010 India would have Linux in almost all of its main states and state capitals. Even now 18 out of 26 of its state either use Linux or Windows. This is now something Microsoft must look into with great concern. Microsoft: Microsoft would have a serious impact if this continues in India. They would loose a market for trade as well. Indian IT specialists are predicting that by the end of the year 2010 India would have Linux in almost all of its main states and state capitals. Even now 18 out of 26 of its state either use Linux or Windows. This is now something Microsoft must look into with great concern.

3. Social and Ethical issues. It is difficult to find Linux trained engineers in India. Since Linux is distributed for free it is not obvious whom to call for service. Instead of copyright and selling Linux, Linus Torvalds made it freely available under the General Public License (GPL) {source: computer confluence by George Beekman pg 139}. This means it is really easy to get hold of the software since it is for free. But this where I would like to show the ethical issue involved i.e. programmers, writers and analyst are loosing their income and also the time and effort they have put in for the software now becomes a complete waste as they gain no profit out of it.

4. Main problem with the issue Windows is the most commonly used operating system compared to Linux. It is used in almost every country and besides that I personally feel windows is much more user-friendly. Thus implementing only Linux in India would be a problem for the school students when they go abroad for higher studies as the operating system used would be windows. This would be a hindrance to their progress and it is even possible that the universities might not even allow the student despite the fact he or she is a good student. This is because the university might want a student who is good at using Microsoft office and windows operating system. This is where Indian students might fall back. In an interview a girl called Arya from the Curtain Hill girls high school in Kerala was asked what is windows. Surprisingly she said “Never heard of it”. She added that they use Linux for all their work and she loves using Tux paint, a Linux drawing and painting software.

5. Main problem with the issue The advantage of using an open source software is that the user can change the source code of the software to suit there purposes. Although this sounds pleasing it does have the disadvantage of being hacked easily since the source code is open and can be easily edited by hackers which would be disastrous for the users of the software.

6. Solution to the problem. The solution for the above mentioned problem would be different depending on the stakeholders. Since I am concerned about the students of southern region of India, specially Kerala, I would suggest that students should be taught to use both Linux and windows since this would leave them with more choices for their future as they would then be acquainted with both Linux and Windows and thus go for the one they are most comfortable with. Besides that students would then have the skill of using two operating systems which is more preferable when they are applying for universities. The solution for the above mentioned problem would be different depending on the stakeholders. Since I am concerned about the students of southern region of India, specially Kerala, I would suggest that students should be taught to use both Linux and windows since this would leave them with more choices for their future as they would then be acquainted with both Linux and Windows and thus go for the one they are most comfortable with. Besides that students would then have the skill of using two operating systems which is more preferable when they are applying for universities.

7. Article from: http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=11200B612I74&page=1http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=11200B612I74&page=1 Reference books: a. A gift of fire – Sara Baase b. Computer Confluence- George Beekman and Michael J. Quinn. Bibliography

8. Thank You