Technology
Unveiling motives behind Bill Gates’ visit to Indonesia
Kamis, 15 Mei 2008 | 13:12 WIB
Chairman of Microsoft Corp. Bill Gates visited Indonesia on 8 May. The founder of corporation developing software along with its windows system promised the Government of Indonesia to give its products freely for educational interests.
The assistance will be given by Gates if the government help educational institutions obtain inexpensive personal computers for a price of less than US$200 / Rp. 1.870.000 (US$1=9.350) per unit.<>
The value is very cheap and possibly affordable by public. But let us take a look the figure of state budget (APBN) of the country that may not make it possible. On the one hand people are obliged to bear their life burden. Moreover the government has planned to raise fuel oil prices that perhaps followed by the hiking prices of other commodities. It is an irony if the government OKs Gates offer by providing millions of computers for a price of less than US$200 per unit.
I think what is really important is that we need to examine the purposes of Gates that is reportedly claimed as the world’s 3rd richest man. Indonesia, admitted or not, is one of the countries considered as such “paradise” of piracy and Microsoft’s products are one of its victims.
Looking at the fact, Gates as top man of a software corporation in the world will never keep silent. In the eyes of Gates as a businessman, Indonesia may be regarded as a developing country whose big potentials for technology development. Other important thing is public would increasingly interested in Gates products.
After all, the best way to restrict the piracy of software is letting it to be pirated for certain period of times then giving it freely to the expected target, namely students whose curiosity to know more about computer. If they have become accustomed to propetiary software, they would meet obstacles to use software like open source. On the contrary, the scene would likely create dependence so that the students would forcibly buy the propetiary software to be used in their computers.
Let us talk about Gates offer to the government to provide the inexpensive personal computers that may perhaps be attained by targeted market. The price may be appropriate with the one of refurbished computers. Next the raising question is what about their “fate”?
The writer would like explain that those living in the country and the United States, Gates' country in using computers. In Indonesia a computer would always be used even for years as long as it remains function. Its owner would not be confused over the development of software. As long as the compatibility can be tolerated it would be better to allocate available money for necessities. While in advanced countries usually the age of using a computer is not more than three years. After passing the time its owner would have a new computer with high technology enable him/her to increase work's efficiency.
Then what about the fate of their refurbished computers? They would of course be wasted to be reproduced. Well, the refurbished computers coming from the advanced countries would inundate Indonesia. If the government agree with Gates offer, it would import refurbished computers from the advanced countries, like US.
Gates offer to the government to help education in the country has positive values for the government has still faced any challenges in dealing with education. Yet it is reasonable enough for the government to be more careful over the offer without ignoring that Gates is a businessman. He has the right to trade and consider Indonesia as his costumer. It would again be better if the government reconsider Gates offer. Let us not hope the effort to enlighten the national life would instead fool the people by introducing its young generation with programs evolved by capitalists. In turn they tend to have narrow minds.
Whereas the government has now developed an open source-based program that is relatively affordable and even free. It is so-called as Indonesia Goes Open Source (IGOS). The software is based on Linux and the IGOS is one of excellent works developed by the nation's best cadres. (Ardyan Novanto Arnowo)
The assistance will be given by Gates if the government help educational institutions obtain inexpensive personal computers for a price of less than US$200 / Rp. 1.870.000 (US$1=9.350) per unit.<>
The value is very cheap and possibly affordable by public. But let us take a look the figure of state budget (APBN) of the country that may not make it possible. On the one hand people are obliged to bear their life burden. Moreover the government has planned to raise fuel oil prices that perhaps followed by the hiking prices of other commodities. It is an irony if the government OKs Gates offer by providing millions of computers for a price of less than US$200 per unit.
I think what is really important is that we need to examine the purposes of Gates that is reportedly claimed as the world’s 3rd richest man. Indonesia, admitted or not, is one of the countries considered as such “paradise” of piracy and Microsoft’s products are one of its victims.
Looking at the fact, Gates as top man of a software corporation in the world will never keep silent. In the eyes of Gates as a businessman, Indonesia may be regarded as a developing country whose big potentials for technology development. Other important thing is public would increasingly interested in Gates products.
After all, the best way to restrict the piracy of software is letting it to be pirated for certain period of times then giving it freely to the expected target, namely students whose curiosity to know more about computer. If they have become accustomed to propetiary software, they would meet obstacles to use software like open source. On the contrary, the scene would likely create dependence so that the students would forcibly buy the propetiary software to be used in their computers.
Let us talk about Gates offer to the government to provide the inexpensive personal computers that may perhaps be attained by targeted market. The price may be appropriate with the one of refurbished computers. Next the raising question is what about their “fate”?
The writer would like explain that those living in the country and the United States, Gates' country in using computers. In Indonesia a computer would always be used even for years as long as it remains function. Its owner would not be confused over the development of software. As long as the compatibility can be tolerated it would be better to allocate available money for necessities. While in advanced countries usually the age of using a computer is not more than three years. After passing the time its owner would have a new computer with high technology enable him/her to increase work's efficiency.
Then what about the fate of their refurbished computers? They would of course be wasted to be reproduced. Well, the refurbished computers coming from the advanced countries would inundate Indonesia. If the government agree with Gates offer, it would import refurbished computers from the advanced countries, like US.
Gates offer to the government to help education in the country has positive values for the government has still faced any challenges in dealing with education. Yet it is reasonable enough for the government to be more careful over the offer without ignoring that Gates is a businessman. He has the right to trade and consider Indonesia as his costumer. It would again be better if the government reconsider Gates offer. Let us not hope the effort to enlighten the national life would instead fool the people by introducing its young generation with programs evolved by capitalists. In turn they tend to have narrow minds.
Whereas the government has now developed an open source-based program that is relatively affordable and even free. It is so-called as Indonesia Goes Open Source (IGOS). The software is based on Linux and the IGOS is one of excellent works developed by the nation's best cadres. (Ardyan Novanto Arnowo)
