Sep 21, 2006 :: Kerala takes to Linux

30,000 computers in Kerala’s 12,500 schools teaching 1.5 million students, are switching from Microsoft’s Windows operating system in favour of the open source Linux. Microsoft offered ‘a competitive pricing-value model’ at Rs1,250 to 1,500 per copy. Linux more than matched it: its free! Education Minister M A Baby however said his greater concern was longer-term consequence of Microsoft’s dominance.

This development follows the Life Insurance Corporation switching to Linux in 2005 and saving $2 million. BusinessWeek: “Linux spreads its wings”