Open Source Desktop Publishing Software

Collaboration to expand awareness and use of lower-cost computer applications

In a bid to promote the wider use of open-source software in Thailand, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has joined five local computer manufacturers to pre-install open-source software suites in personal computers.

The five companies are SVOA, D Com, Synnex (Thailand), IT Bakery and Powell Computer.

Nectec's director Pansak Siriruchatapong said Nectec was developing and customising open-source software suites for the local-brand PC companies, including the operating system Ubuntu Linux and applications such as Open Office, Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail software.

"This is the first time that end-users will experience a set of ready-for-use open-source suites - not simply the operating system - pre-loaded into new computers they buy. It is very convenient for them to get all the necessary computer applications at lower cost," Pansak said.

The move is expected to increase the local adoption of open-source software from its present level of less than 1 per cent, and to build a greater awareness of open-source software among consumers.

He said that in the past, most open-source adoption was by "hard core" users, and more uses were in the server environment. This project aims to expand acceptance of open-source software among consumers in the personal-computer environment.

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