---
layout: default
title: "UN Body Releases Desktop Linux Guide"
description: "A ZDNet news article by Ingrid Marson on the International Open Source Network's Linux desktop manual for developing countries, with Sunil Abraham as the primary spokesperson."
categories: [Media mentions]
date: 2004-08-24
authors: ["Ingrid Marson"]
source: "ZDNet"
permalink: /media/un-body-releases-desktop-linux-guide-zdnet/
created: 2026-03-30
---

**UN Body Releases Desktop Linux Guide** is a *ZDNet* news article by Ingrid Marson, published on 24 August 2004. The piece reports on the International Open Source Network (IOSN), a UN-funded organisation, releasing a Linux desktop manual aimed at encouraging developing countries to adopt open-source software. [Sunil Abraham](/sunil/), then a manager at the Malaysia-based IOSN, is the primary spokesperson throughout the article.

## Contents

1. [Article Details](#article-details)
2. [Full Text](#full-text)
3. [Context and Background](#context-and-background)
4. [External Link](#external-link)

## Article Details

<dl class="media-details">
  <dt>📰 Published in:</dt>
  <dd><em>ZDNet</em></dd>

  <dt>📅 Date:</dt>
  <dd>24 August 2004</dd>

  <dt>👤 Author:</dt>
  <dd>Ingrid Marson</dd>

  <dt>📄 Type:</dt>
  <dd>News</dd>

  <dt>📰 Publication Link:</dt>
  <dd>
    <a class="btn" href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/un-body-releases-desktop-linux-guide/">
      Read Online
    </a>
  </dd>
</dl>

## Full Text

<div class="highlighted-text" id="fulltext">

<p><em>A UN-funded organisation has produced a Linux desktop user guide to encourage the take-up of Linux in developing countries.</em></p>

<p>A Linux desktop manual for novice PC users has been produced by a UN-funded organisation, the International Open Source Network (IOSN). The manual has been produced to encourage developing countries to use open-source software. It includes basic information on how to manage files, browse the Web and produce OpenOffice documents on a Linux PC.</p>

<p>Sunil Abraham, a manager at the Malaysia-based IOSN, said on Tuesday that it hopes the manual will encourage the development sector, especially Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) projects, to explore open-source software.</p>

<p>According to Abraham, there are over 800 ICT4D projects across the globe, and at the moment most are running proprietary software.</p>

<p>The Linux user manual is available online in OpenOffice and PDF format. Abraham said the IOSN is also planning to distribute a printed version as well as a Linux Live CD — a bootable CD that lets users try the Linux operating system and applications without making any changes to their system.</p>

<p>The manual explains how to use Fedora, the Red Hat-sponsored community Linux distribution, although Abraham admits that some stakeholders had strong views on the subject. "Our choice of Fedora was controversial. I think it is the least frightening version of Linux to a new user, but others have disagreed with me."</p>

<p>Abraham stressed that the IOSN does not endorse this distribution over others.</p>

<p>The Linux manual has been released under the Creative Commons Attribution License to allow other organisations to copy and distribute the work.</p>

<p>One developing world project that has already benefited from open-source software is Schoolnet Namibia. This project has provided free hardware and training on the Linux operating system to 250 schools in Namibia since February 2000. IOSN hopes to reach similar projects across the world.</p>

</div>

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## Context and Background

This article dates from Sunil Abraham's time as manager at the IOSN, before he co-founded the Centre for Internet and Society. It reflects his early work promoting open-source software adoption in the developing world, particularly through ICT4D initiatives. The manual's release under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence was consistent with his longstanding advocacy for open licensing.

The choice of Fedora as the reference distribution, which Abraham acknowledged as contested, illustrates the practical decisions involved in producing accessible open-source documentation for audiences with little prior Linux experience.

## External Link

- [Read on ZDNet](https://www.zdnet.com/article/un-body-releases-desktop-linux-guide/)

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