Brian Durant wrote:
While I guess I could be called Euro centric, I am that in response to what I have seen in the Mac and Win OS worlds. It is vital that Europe (including the EU, the Baltic States and Russia, as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Armenia, etc.) maintain the ability to have localized software that is "commercially viable" If it isn't, it will not continue to exist. In this area, I do not believe that the Linux business model will result in a very different outcome than with other OS's. You have to be able to make money in some fashion. This isn't onerous pandering to evil mammon, but a fact of life in the real world (unfortunately).
Yes, and I wouldn't disagree, either, with your comments on the relative importance placed on local language and cultural isses. However, with the dominance of English in so many areas of the world, and its importance in many others, and the current dominance of American (M$) software will always(?) tend to produce software written in and for that language. Large corporations will never have a big enough profit potential in producing language (or other specific) editions of software for small niche markets: the groups and languages you cite are only going to be (and hopefully will be) provided with an appropriately localised OS when someone is prepared to put the resources necessary behind it. Linux offers -say the Latvians- the opportunity to do so themselves: this can only be a good thing. I note (and share) your concerns for European culture, but these values and attitudes will only survive against more dominant and pervasive pressures of outside influences if their values are recognised, appreciated and defended. Long may they be so, and their diversity remain to enrich us all.
A thousand pardons for this getting so long. I hope you get my point.
a. None needed. b. See above Terence