MIT’s Media Lab, creators of many a nifty thingamajing and -thought, have firmly recommended Brazil to install Open Source software on their computers as an alternative to proprietary (read: Microsoft) software. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and several ministers may decide as early as this week whether free software or a simplified version of Microsoft’s Windows will be installed on computers.

Now here’s the reality. A developing country short on money will not want to sink what little funds they have into software licenses that cost. Instead, they turn to software piracy, because they “need Windows” (and Office) to run their computer. Microsoft has done some admirable computing when Windows is synonymous to computer even in a country which could not afford to pay for it.

An alternative to this is Linux. A fine alternative could be Ubuntu Linux. The philosophy and crede behind Ubuntu Linux seem ideally suited for a developing country. Have a look!