Why Pak must buy Windows7
By Techgirl

Respected Pakistani blog ProPakistani.Pk which reports on Pakistan’s Telecom and IT Industry says it gets 250 thousand unique visitors per month.  What is particularly attractive about ProPakistani blog is that it writes it as it sees it.  No half baked politically correct soft statements.  I am a regular reader of this excellent Pakistani tech blog.

ProPakistani.pk has just published an in depth article evaluating the pros and cons of buying the new Microsoft operating system Windows 7.  The article titled ‘Why Should You Buy Genuine Windows 7 in Pakistan?’ begins with an honest disclaimer “I would like to clear up a few things first. I’m writing this article out of pure interest. I don’t get paid by Microsoft or any of their partners for posting this. My only intentions are to help the readers make a better choice about their operating systems, something that would suit their needs”.

Such honesty has to be appreciated. I only hope more Indian bloggers can give us clear disclaimers.

The ProPakistani article then has a paragraph which details advantages of buying legal copies of Windows 7.  And this paragraph lets the local readers know the fact that Pakistan has better IT infrastructure than neighbouring India.  And also the fact that a large percentage of software developers are Muslim.  Then it gives its view that free software like Linux may not be practical.

“
There are several advantages to buying Windows 7 legally. First of all, you are entitled to free customer support as well as exclusive content only available to genuine users. Second and the most important reason is that you are secure. Genuine Windows gets security updates automatically so you are always free from viruses and other security threats.

Third reason is the moral satisfaction. When you pirate something, you rob someone of their hard work. It is just like you are motor mechanic and someone brings their car to your garage but doesn’t pay you for fixing it. Or you work a normal 9 to 5 job but you don’t get paid at all. How would that feel? How would you bring food home for your children?

Have you ever stopped to consider that by doing that, you’re not only damaging big companies like Microsoft, but also small software developers like those in Pakistan? We should be proud of the fact that we have one of the best IT infrastructures in the world, which is even far superior to our next door neighbor India. Still we are left out in the cold because we can’t export software or IT services because of Piracy. And then we have to rely on foreign aid which comes with their own restrictive terms.

People who make software are humans (and a very large percentage is Muslim) and we rob them and their families of their livelihood. Same is with Open Source Software. Sure it sounds very nice, free software for everyone but is that practical? How do you plan to feed your family and pay the bills if you give out your hard work for free?
“

Need I say more? Bill Gates would be pleased with the simplicity and sincerity of this logic. FOSS enthusiasts would be scratching their heads because they believe in the exact opposite for developing countries like India and Pakistan.

Techgoss note:  Techgirl is a senior Tech journalist who reports on the IT, KPO and KPO Sectors for a leading media house.  In her spare time, she dabbles in satire in her blog
http://techgirltalk.blogspot.com