Mandriva recently made an announcement that they would be supplying the Nigerian government with 17,000 Classmate PC’s running Mandriva Linux. Now they have published an An open letter to Steve Ballmer of Microsoft after hearing that the customer will be replacing the original software with Windows.
Mandriva announced that the Nigerian government had selected Intel-powered classmate PCs running on Mandriva Linux for educational use in nationwide pilot in Nigeria. Mandriva is working with Intel Corporation and Technology Support Center Ltd. to provide 17,000 Intel-powered classmate PC.
The aim of this project is to improve the quality of technology delivered to students, and to help teachers and parents.
The Intel-powered classmate PC is a small, rugged, mobile educational solution specially designed for primary students in emerging markets. Shipped in May this year, this fully functional PC is currently being piloted in more than 25 countries around the world. Nigeria was one of the first countries to run pilots of Intel-powered classmate PCs in their schools.
The customer has now announced, "We shall pay for the Mandriva Software as agreed, but we shall replace it by Windows afterward."
In an open letter to Microsoft, Mandriva say:
"Wow! I’m impressed, Steve! What have you done to these guys to make them change their mind like this? It’s quite clear to me, and it will be to everyone. How do you call what you just did Steve? There is various names for it, I’m sure you know them.
Of course, I will keep fighting this one and the next one, and the next one. You have the money, the power, and maybe we have a different sense of ethics you and I, but I still believe that hard work, good technology and ethics can win too."