Delivering the Crunch in Pakistan Technology
No-Piracy time for Pakistan
Yesterday, I went to Galaxy Computers (that’s my trusted computer shopping spot) to buy USB headphones. I took my notebook with me to make sure that they work with it. While talking to the Galaxy guy, I told him I want to check those, he said “yes you can”. I pulled out my notebook out of the bag and that guy got scared! As it was a bomb or something. He lifted it up to see the Windows serial number sticker at the bottom of my notebook. As it had come with Linpus Linux, there was no such sticker. He said “Sorry Sir you cant use pirated software here! we have been warned”. He assumed that I have a pirated copy of Windows installed in my notebook as 99% of home users in Pakistan never buy genuine Windows. I can’t afford all software installed on my PCs but as I am member of Bizspark, MSDN and MSDNAA, I get licensed software from Microsoft for free. I told him that I have original and licensed software in my notebook. I turned it on and he turned it off with a scared face and said “Sir please don’t turn it on here, we don’t know if it is pirated or not, you have no sticker on your notebook” I asked “Why are you behaving like this?” he replied “Yesterday, a guy came and warned us to get rid of pirated windows installed on our systems or else we can be sentenced to jail”. I asked “Are you sure he was an official?” and he said ”Yes! I am sure, even Viper ( a computer hardware company who loaded pirated software) is screwed up”. I still tried to turn on my notebook and he said “Sir please don’t turn it on our shop, buy the headphones, if they don’t work we will replace them”.
I don’t know if its real but if its happening! It’s the best thing that can happen to Pakistan. Piracy is a crime. The Government of Pakistan is slowly trying to get rid of piracy. They are very slow but at least its happening. Now the problem is affordability. New PCs and laptops come with bundled licensed Windows that is much cheaper than buying a separate copy. Many people here can’t afford a new PC and go for the used ones. Branded used PCs are being sold in Pakistan cost around Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. Buying Windows XP home edition with it costs $93 (Rs 7,482 according to today’s dollar rate) which means that their used PC cost is almost doubled! So how can they afford one?
Before you go for the “no anti-piracy” protest, I have a few tips that I would like to share with all Pakistanis (who don’t know about them) to start living a no-piracy life.
How to live in a ‘no-piracy’ country:
The thing is you don’t always have to buy Windows with PC. There are alternatives and they really work.
Ubuntu is a free Linux operating system. Its goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. You wouldn’t need Windows if your primary uses are:
- All kind of Internet surfing.
- Word processing.
- Movies and songs.
And best thing is no viruses that irritate those who can’t protect their Windows PCs against viruses (Noobs). There are many free applications available for Linux which are almost comparable to their Windows counterparts. Ubuntu also offers free shipment of Ubuntu operating system
Still love Windows and can’t afford it?
Yes! You can get a genuine copy of Windows for free! And not just Windows but many other Microsoft’s licensed software. Microsoft is offering free software through 3 programs in Pakistan:
MSDNAA: All schools and universities registered with Microsoft Developer’s Network Academic Alliance can get all version of Windows and other Microsoft software for free. Any school or university can register with them. If your school or university is not in the MSDNAA list of schools, tell your head of Computer Science department to send them an email for the request of registration and they’ll respond to it. I study in Bahria University which is a member of MSDNAA.
DreamSpark:It is another program set up by Microsoft to provide students with software design and development tools at no charge. It is available for more than 80 countries and is offered to many high school and university students.
BizSpark: Bizspark is Microsoft’s initiative zone that provides startups with free software through MSDN subscriptions. This program is for startups that cant afford paid software and want to use Microsoft technologies legally. This program is applicable for startups only though.
I think almost everyone can get free windows legally with these programs.
Update: RedmondPie will be glad to sponsor any local startup in Pakistan looking for BizSpark membership. Also IThinkDiff is offering free DreamSpark invites
| Print article | This entry was posted by Umair Khan Jadoon on April 26, 2009 at 12:44 am, and is filed under Computers. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
No trackbacks yet.
Dine Up with Social Media Experts
about 9 months ago - 1 comment
CIO Pakistan is hosting the first Dine Up ever with Social Media Experts in Pakistan on the 9th of December, 2009. This is the third even by CIO Pakistan and Google for bloggers and tweeters in the country. The special thing about this event will be the appearance of Sania Saeed who will share her
Yahoo wants you to reach Females and Adults
about 1 year ago - 11 comments
Did you know Yahoo is the most visited website in Pakistan? Did you know you could reach 1,146,963 Females from Pakistan using Yahoo? Did you know you could reach 1,176,162 Adults from Pakistan using Yahoo? It’s funny how Yahoo chose to make The Generation Next, Females and Adults the highlighted words. Specially, Females being at
PTCL’s fail advertisements at ITCN to convince people to use Smart TV
about 1 year ago - 3 comments
I was at ITCN 2009 today with Umair Khan Jadoon in Karachi, and we couldn’t help but take pictures of these advertisements that PTCL had put around their stall. Each of them had a different ‘witty’ line ( if you may ) to convince people to use Smart TV. Now personally, having seen the demo
Why I’m not a fan of the Go Green campaign anymore
about 1 year ago - 20 comments
If you’re from Pakistan and a Twitter user, you probably know by now of the Go Green (Facebook group here) campaign which is an initiative of Farhan Masood to show love and unity for our country. While, the idea behind the campaign is excellent, a lot of publicity is being generated on blogs and even
Fishy things to know if you are a PTCL broadband customer
about 1 year ago - 12 comments
I have been using PTCL Broadband from past 3 month, and had several strange experiences like non-transaction of paid bills, holding phone for about 56 minutes to talk to senior technical support, feeling stupid when internet isn’t working, imaginarily beating the beast who is responsible for my internet downtime and dreaming about tooth fairies when
Why Pakistan Needs Cloud Computing
about 1 year ago - 8 comments
Cloud computing is one of the most heard buzz word nowadays in Web 2.0. Many people believe that it is just marketing and nothing technical. It’s not true; Cloud Computing is actually ‘Marketing’ + ‘Big Technical changes’. To understand what actually is cloud computing, watch this video: Suppose that you have an idea for a
Launch Time.
about 2002 years ago - 9 comments
PakCrunch, as you know resembles the hugely popular TechCrunch in name, but has a different aim altogether. To cover startups, companies, technology news, websites and innovations coming out from the Pakistani industry as well as students from all over the country. Granted, there’s not lack of talent and skilled people here, but what we lack
about 1 year ago
There is no such thing as piracy. Information is free and should be used, modified and distributed freely. Leave this academic stupidity to people who can afford it. This propaganda has no room in developing countries. Isn’t illiteracy enough as yet? really funny.
about 1 year ago
Software isn’t information. It’s a product made by spending thousands of man hours, by people who are some of the best in the world in their respected fields, people working overtime to feed their families and with billions of dollars being spent in R&D.
This is NOT information. Wikipedia is, not Windows or any other software.
If you don’t understand IP rights, you wont know what privacy is either.
about 1 year ago
“It’s the best thing that can happen to Pakistan”.
Lol. Hilarious article. Thanks for the laugh. I didn’t know that was the best thing that could happen to Pakistan. Mr. Jadoon does get free software from Microsoft. Is this what Microsoft told you to tell us or is this all out of sheer ‘patriotism’?
about 1 year ago
So, what’s your issue? These are alternatives for those who still want to use Windows, if a no-piracy time comes for Pakistan.
And unless you realize how piracy hurts Pakistan, you wouldn’t know.
This blog isn’t for discussing Pakistan’s non-technological issues, so keep them to yourself.
about 1 year ago
There are other rights to be looked at throughout human history that needed to be taken care of as life, liberty and freedom. There are projects that are working just as good as other corporate empires WITHOUT absurd patents. There are alternative models to pricing e.g advertisement, donations, economies of scale etc. IP is the worst form of restricting creativity, education and justice. I really didn’t have to get into that with you but if you want to get into this have a look on my blog. i’ve written posts on that specific topic.
about 1 year ago
sorry, but most of the world doesn’t agree with you and everything is going well. IP is just like anyone’s house. If someone can disrespect someone’s IP rights, he can as well barge into his house as well. The ‘open source, freedom’ theory of software is never going to beat the better realistic and business minded approach applicable in real life.
about 1 year ago
@Daud lol isn’t it hilarious?
@IMhassan deleting comments really show the notion of ‘respect’ you were talking about. doesn’t change anything. and did you mention ‘open source’? do you even know what you are talking about? Open Source movement is just the model of what you are speaking against. It means you put the code out for everyone to use, modify and distribute WITHOUT any money at all. Atleast research between you write something OR pay heed to someone who is telling something based on facts. I don’t even have to put my credentials to let you know how authentic these facts are.
about 1 year ago
the deleted comment was talking about swat. Do you see any technology in swat? why don’t u go there and lol?
And Minhaaj, it’s funny you find my comments hilarious while you don’t have any ‘respect’ for others IP. ‘Intellectual Property’ rights ie. I rest my case.
You might want to do some research on how software companies do their businesses as well before crying about freedom.
about 1 year ago
Open source doesn’t mean without any cost. Please correct yourself.
about 1 year ago
@Daud
Dude Microsoft doesn’t pay me for this. I am not Microsoft’s slave. Thanks for enjoying the article(In any way)
about 1 year ago
i never said its without cost Jadoon. read again. What i said is its without a request or ORDER for money. that was the point.
about 1 year ago
“It means you put the code out for everyone to use, modify and distribute WITHOUT any money at all.”
This is what you said. And it clearly means that you think Open Source is cost free.
about 1 year ago
I did try to stay away from this discussion but couldn’t.
If you can’t afford software, then go for Open Source. But for those who can afford them, they do have a choice to buy it.
Individuals spent tons of hours and effort into building those complex systems and they have the full rights to their properties. And those who want to share there work for free, then its their choice. No one asked them to, and no one needs them to.
We should equally respect both groups.
about 1 year ago
Oh and @minhaaj on your first comment.
If information sharing wasn’t illegal, then “plagiarism”, “copying”, “cheating” shouldn’t even exist. Why do educational institutes have harsh penalties for them?
about 1 year ago
lol last comment. its lovely to see you guys comment without reading or knowing the whole context. and who do you think those who made these rules were? how do you think they got their PhDs? atleast local ones. go to HEC website and see the blacklisted guys. read about WTO and TRIPS and WIPO. if you couldn’t read my blog posts about it how would you even read those tomes. Over and out.
about 1 year ago
@minhaaj I would only say stop selling your blog over and over again. You’ve got a history of making hilarious claims and quite frankly, most people don’t care about your opinions now.
Oh and the last point you made totally supported what I said earlier. Thanks for that.
about 1 year ago
Ubuntu is NOT an alternative to Windows. There’s no ‘word processing’ in Ubuntu. If you’re talking about OpenOffice, it sucks. It’s nothing compared to Microsoft Office. The default Ubuntu installation doesn’t even have any ‘movies and songs’ enabled. Your third point about ‘all kinds of internet surfing’ is also invalid. I have Ubuntu installed on my notebook and I can’t use internet on it. Until you write the drivers for my notebook’s modem i.e. Linux may have progressed in recent years but it’s never going to be easy to use but for a select few. It’s still impossible to use for a layman or even moderately technical people.
Piracy is illegal, I accept that and it should be stopped. But let me repeat that one more time Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution for that matter is NOT a Windows alternative.
How about you do an experiment and ditch Windows for like a year. And use all the free and open source software. I’d like to know how it goes…
about 1 year ago
@Daud
I also love Windows. But when it comes to cost saving, you have to compromise on things. Open Office isn’t better than Microsoft Office(I agree) but can fulfill basic word processing needs.
For Music, Install VLC player on UBuntu(It plays everything). And for your notebook’s modem…download its driver. By the way PTCL Broadband works fine on my UBuntu.
about 1 year ago
I would download it, if it existed…
about 1 year ago
God! You just scared the s**** out of me, really? Is ubuntu really that worse?
If someone likes to spoon fed everything, there is nothing other people can do about you. Did I got anything wrong or you just said Windows comes with word processing, yeh that wordpad, oh maybe notepad, hillarious!!!!
Did you just said, you notebook’s modem does not have drivers for linux, then this is either your fault or your notebook’s vendor, it does not have anything to do with opensource, Linux or Ubunut or any other distribution. If your notebook vendor have released the hardware specs there would have been a driver for it in just a week, go get a notebook from some good vendor. Do you even know what is the use of driver for modem, may be not. Email me and I will let you know in detail, but a short version is a ture modem does not need a driver.
Now the last part, movies and songs, although I have pretty good ipod for songs (with headphones and speakers). But installing a movie player or codecs is also required on Windows, can you just play AVI on Windows out of the box? Can you just play DVDs on the Windows, out of the box? Can you just play DivX on Windows out of the box? Come one, be realistic. If there would have not been Linux or Open Source, you would have been still using the Windows NT, which is still the codebas for Vista!
No hard feelings dude! Chill! Enjoy opensource and windows too, as much as I do, I switched to Linux like 4-5 years ago and never looked back to Windows at least not for my personal computer, but I do play games on my brothers computers which reminds me that yes, there are no games on Linux still, but that is going to be change. I mean some real gaming stuff here… Linux still misses that Photoshop and Flash things, I am not a designer so can’t say much about that. But I feel free on Linux and will always be.
about 1 year ago
Oh sorry! missed the last thing, Yes Ubuntu is not alternative to Windows, there is no comparison between the two ;)
about 1 year ago
oh…we have got some patriotic here….who knows how to steal for the betterment of Pakistan…..why don’t you ppl steal good habits from outside….like R&D, hard work, motivation, inspiration etc….is piracy all we can do??
about 1 year ago
LOL! I’ve been following the twitter feed of some of you commenting here, and most of the commentators that are against piracy DO pirate themselves. Maybe not windows software but actually movies and audio. I’m looking at you *insert name here*. Downloading heroes, etc. etc. :P
about 1 year ago
Thumbs up for Piracy. We can’t afford the registered softwares and we know it. I wouldn’t like to use pirated version of Pakistani software but with those windows and all I can’t do anything about it. Another thing which is an important is music piracy. I have a blog for underground music of Pakistan which is for their promotion but I have to put albums too because of the competition. Every other Pakistani site does it and if I won’t I’d lose all the traffic. I want to stop but I can’t because of others. So if this matter is seriously stopped I will be very happy and would be the first one to stop putting them up.
about 1 year ago
To everyone,
I’ve never really liked Windows even though I used that for my whole life, I recently switched to a mac, I tried Linux, and I don’t think I had a problem with it. My point here is, if you’re going to go for something that costs, you need to pay for it, it’s because the people who made it, didn’t have the intention of giving it out free, and if you’re using their ‘product’ without paying them, it’s stealing.
You can opt for things that are given free, because the manufacturers/developers or whoever want to give it out for free, it was their plan/intention.
We need to respect what one is giving for money, value or for free.
As for some one who mentioned Open office sucking alot, why don’t you buy MS Office and Windows, and run it.. Pirating is easy, but it’s not morally the right thing to do.
about 1 year ago
Kudos to Shehzad! I was going to say the same thing, thanks for saving my time. :P
about 1 year ago
Umair you are right.
about 1 year ago
@minhaaj & @Daud & @Others here who are praising piracy
You people are talking s***. According to you it is legal for someone to go steal the air conditioners just because they don’t like using fans. :P Just because one doesn’t like the near counterpart which are cheaper to purchase he/she have no right whatsoever to steal the software. One cannot compare microsoft windows with open linux because linux works on community basis and most of the time funded by donations, while microsoft has big business in software industry. But one can get all the basics he needs from linux too, try ubuntu, debian fedora and others, some are free while others are not, but the free ones are worth alot, as mentioned by Hameedullah once can watch movies, listen to music and use the powerfull office tool openoffice. Openoffice thought it cant be compared with microsoft office but thats not the reason to steal, also surfing the web is very convineant. I do all these on my copy of ubuntu on my laptop and had no prob whatsoever. Also according to you music, movies, videos and games should also be free of charge. If supposedly you are right about piracy being a good thing for us and if done freely worldwide, then then there wont be any next version of windows, there wont be any new releases of music, movies, games or any other software, to sum it all then the whole software market of the world would come to a hault and would vanish in thin air. Who on earth in the right will work day and night with lots of effort and money if that person/industry knows that this piece of software would be sold in rupees 20 ($0.25) and that the person/industry which is developing tirelessly would get nothing out of it, Who on earth have free and useless time to do it for nothing? Keep your opinions to yourself unless you know what you’re saying. From your comments I can assume you aren’t in software field, and know nothing what it takes to make even a small piece of software. Download the express version of microsoft visual studio (can be downloaded freely from their website) and “try” to make even a small calculator, you’d regret what you said for sure.
Piracy is also one of the major reason why Pakistan’s economy never stabilizes, no software giant trusts us, no business is going on here, not even our own itsy bitsy software community (I wont call it an industry) is making some new game titles or some good applausable software to begin with. You know just because of piracy software cannot be developed and released here. And thats a huge cause for our downfall.
Still if you cant afford to purchase original software and dont want to use the newr counterparts then my advice is “Dont live lavishly if you cant afford it.”
And stealing IS stealing, and those who steal software should be handled like a thief!
about 1 year ago
@hasan nizamani you should write a post because your comment is so big …Imran give rights to write a post…
about 1 year ago
To all those claiming ‘piracy is OK’ should re think. I am a guy living in Karachi and I have been piracy free since last 5 years now and I use a legitimate copy of Microsoft Windows XP which cost me PKR 5500.
Now you might think i made a mistake by paying 5500 for a thing that costs 25 in the market in pirated form. Some might think 5500 is damn too expensive. But I think when we purchase a hardware, we pay loads for it. A microsprocessor is nothing but a small unit that costs you thousands. So software is in a very similar way a product that you ‘either buy or dont’ depending on your pocket. And I am NO elite class guy, I am a lower middle class person who just believes that ‘using pirated software is pure stealing’. This belief made me spend those 5500 at that time. Those presenting the argument of ‘we can’t afford it so we’d steal it’ are definitely lost souls. Think about it.
If I do not own a car, I would be bound to travel by bus – as the bus is the next best alternative. I
know that a public bus isn’t going to be as comfortable as my own car, but it does that job!
In no way am I going to steal a car just to make myself comfortable.
Similarly, if i can’t afford windows, I would use linux. Believe me, linux is much closer to windows than
public buses are to cars ;)
So in no way am I going to ‘steal’ windows just to make myself comfortable.
A software is as much of a property of someone as a car – only the form of the product differs. If a
software can be duplicated easily, it doesn’t mean we should copy it without permission of the software
developer.
Most people are so ignorant – they can spend Rs. 2000 for a dress of their liking and 1500 on a shoe pair, but forget that they are stealing when it comes to software.
This just shows the mentality of our nation. It shows that there are no ethics and no idea of right and wrong – they are just waiting all the time for an opportunity to grab a thing that they can as long as no
one catches them.
I hope people realize that your actions shape you up into who you become.
about 1 year ago
Note to moderator: Can you please format my previous comment? It looks to be scrambled. Thanks :)
about 1 year ago
To be fair and simple: Piracy is bad for any country. No doubt there…
But (and there’s always but).. just imagine Microsoft stopping all pirated editions of their software, how will everyone else use their computers? The lower-middle class would certainly not be able to use their computers.
I’m up for Open-source software and use Ubuntu myself (it’s a very viable alternative for Windows by the way) BUT moving to open-source software on a national level isn’t going to be easy.
Windows is established and for now, nothing can be done about software piracy unless of course, you want 95% of computer users to fall on their face FLAT.
In other words, fix your economy, get everyone education then proceed towards the piracy issue. Kapeesh.
about 1 year ago
I don’t care about piracy lovers really but anti piracy would be good for Pakistan in the long run and will eventually help local developers as well.
about 1 year ago
I’ll be deleting your comment, thanks for your concern for the country.