Cuba launches its own Linux variant, Fidel reportedly cool with it
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted February 12th 2009 3:29PM
posted February 12th 2009 3:29PM
It hasn't been a year since Cuba lifted the ban on PCs for the majority of its citizens, and now it looks like ou neighbor to the south has been giving some serious thought to the implications of open source operating systems. To this end, the nation has recently announced Nova -- its own Linux variant -- at a conference on technological sovereignty in Havana. Not only does the nation see reliance on Microsoft Windows a security threat, but the U.S. trade embargo makes it virtually impossible for folks on the island to get the software legally. According to Hector Rodriguez of Cuba's University of Information Sciences, about twenty percent of machines in Cuba are using Linux -- a number he would like to see climb as high as fifty percent in five years. "The free software movement," he says, "is closer to the ideology of the Cuban people, above all for the independence and sovereignty." Be sure to check out the video of this latest weapon in the battle against U.S. software hegemony after the break (music by Jaco Pastorius and The Weather Report).
fun = ruined
They downloaded a Linux Open Source and translated couple of screen and that's all. Check the video and you will see some of the screen in English! They do not speak English in Cuba!
Not worth learning spanish for.
No va, means Do not go.
There are free kits available for download allowing anyone to create/skin/package/distribute their own Linux distro. The ideology and freedom this means to Cuba's citizens is huge; the technological achievement behind it isn't.
Back up that statement and I'll put it on my computer.
@slamEVIL
You just reminded me of one South Park episode... Thanks for ruining my lunch.
CastrOS 1.0
Sweet, now I don't have to go through all the trouble filling out the paperwork to prove what I was thinking. They can just look right on my PC automatically!
music by Jaco Pastorius and The Weather Report).
Thats not Weather Report!
CastrOS 1.0 LOL
Cuba, DOES NOT have better health-care than the USA, not even Mexico. Their health-care maybe better than Haiti, Jamaica and Dominican Republic if you go as a tourist, for the average Cuban citizen it is a nightmare. I am Cuban, lived there until 2007.
So you are a disgruntled unreliable source, leaves us still guessing.
Seriously, does that girl have sideburns?!
...uhmm...Fidel is not the leader anymore.
She's watching Joaquin Phoenix's Letterman stint!
I want to see Linux running on a '55 Buick.
This is a huge step for Cubans. Any form of freedom is welcome there. For those of you painting the Cubans with a broad brush as "commies" need to STFU and read more. I've been there a couple times (via Mexico) and the people there are very open and friendly and WANT a relation with the US. Sure their gov't. sucks but we're partly responsible for that. Google Fulgencio Batista and Meyer Lansky and learn something.
Could you get the job in America if you declare yourself you don't believe in GOD and Holy Shit ???
They are more free than you'll ever be.Go quick and spend,spend and be patriot.
More? I'd say about equal.
"The free software movement," he says, "is closer to the ideology of the Cuban people
Hahahaha, sure, that's why they swin all the way to Miami.
Cuba, here at least the software is free.
I hope its better than Redflag (I havent tried the "Olympic Editon")
Why not CubanOS?
Who wants to bet that the first thing they do is violate the copyright by not actually releasing the source for the Linux variant? The second will probably be to load up their variant with enough "spyware" or "citizen monitoring software" to make the machines almost useless. Finally they'll close up their PR stint into the world of Open Source by arresting a half dozen "politically motivated agents of foreign counties" (read as "16 year old hackers"). Good Luck with that. "No Va" appropriately foreshadows the fate of this OS.
I'd like to get cool with that girl.