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11th September 2006, 20:55
"South African magnate Mark Shuttleworth has already conquered space. Now he's set his sights on cyberspace where he hopes to challenge Microsoft.
Shuttleworth made his fortune by selling an Internet company he started in his Cape Town garage. He then spent $20 million on becoming the world's second space tourist in 2002, and the first African in orbit.
Now, he is taking on U.S. technology behemoth Microsoft by pioneering free computer software that he hopes will revolutionize the way computers are used, and make the Internet accessible to millions in Africa and other emerging markets.
"Ultimately open source is the platform of the future," Shuttleworth told Reuters. "It's one of those enormous waves that is taking over everything -- like the Internet."
Shuttleworth's "Ubuntu" family of software programs is based on the Linux open source operating system, which works on the principle that software is free and can be modified at no cost by anyone to suit local and specific needs -- unlike rival Microsoft's proprietary software.
With quirky names for its programs like 'Hoary Hedgehog' and 'Warty Warthog', Ubuntu -- an African word that means caring for your community and humanity for others -- is meant to be simpler to use than other Linux systems.
PC World magazine last year named Ubuntu as the 26th best product of the year -- ranking it above Apple's iTunes media player which was in 34th spot.
Governments in Brazil, China, Spain, India and Malaysia are already using Linux-based systems and Shuttleworth argues free software could slash the cost of getting computers into schools, community centers and homes in Africa.
It could also cut the price of technology for small businesses in the world's poorest continent, where only a fraction of people are computer-literate.
Open source would work particularly well in Africa because countries are starting virtually from scratch in terms of technology and users are not already trained in proprietary versions like Microsoft Windows.
"Because open source is free, we can share knowledge much faster," Shuttleworth said. "If a kid learns to use a program at school she can take it and download it at home, show it to her parents and even her friends."
But Microsoft is fighting back in Africa..."
Continued in link below.
Link to Complete Article Located HERE. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/09/11/space.tourist.microsoft.reut/index.html#)
Shuttleworth made his fortune by selling an Internet company he started in his Cape Town garage. He then spent $20 million on becoming the world's second space tourist in 2002, and the first African in orbit.
Now, he is taking on U.S. technology behemoth Microsoft by pioneering free computer software that he hopes will revolutionize the way computers are used, and make the Internet accessible to millions in Africa and other emerging markets.
"Ultimately open source is the platform of the future," Shuttleworth told Reuters. "It's one of those enormous waves that is taking over everything -- like the Internet."
Shuttleworth's "Ubuntu" family of software programs is based on the Linux open source operating system, which works on the principle that software is free and can be modified at no cost by anyone to suit local and specific needs -- unlike rival Microsoft's proprietary software.
With quirky names for its programs like 'Hoary Hedgehog' and 'Warty Warthog', Ubuntu -- an African word that means caring for your community and humanity for others -- is meant to be simpler to use than other Linux systems.
PC World magazine last year named Ubuntu as the 26th best product of the year -- ranking it above Apple's iTunes media player which was in 34th spot.
Governments in Brazil, China, Spain, India and Malaysia are already using Linux-based systems and Shuttleworth argues free software could slash the cost of getting computers into schools, community centers and homes in Africa.
It could also cut the price of technology for small businesses in the world's poorest continent, where only a fraction of people are computer-literate.
Open source would work particularly well in Africa because countries are starting virtually from scratch in terms of technology and users are not already trained in proprietary versions like Microsoft Windows.
"Because open source is free, we can share knowledge much faster," Shuttleworth said. "If a kid learns to use a program at school she can take it and download it at home, show it to her parents and even her friends."
But Microsoft is fighting back in Africa..."
Continued in link below.
Link to Complete Article Located HERE. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/09/11/space.tourist.microsoft.reut/index.html#)