[sandGorgon]

India is going to be (if not already) one of the largest consumers of Linux and other open source software.

I find it sad that most OSS conferences are held in Europe or USA, where you will find everyone toting Macbooks. Do note that I dont begrudge this and I do understand that it is the birthplace of most software.

However, I do wish that the chief developers reach out to the Indian community and help establish a vibrant ecosystem before we achieve Apple affordability.

[kamaal]

India is easily one of the largest consumers of Linux. But consumer has a different meaning than contributor.

>>I find it sad that most OSS conferences are held in Europe or USA

Bangalore has its own version. Its called FOSS.in, there is also a Pycon. We also have regular conferences, meetups and hack nights. Checkout this Bangalore based company called HasGeek(https://hasgeek.com/)

The ecosystem is no where as mature as silicon valley, there is no where the kind of VC ecosystem like silicon valley. And YC like initiatives are non-existent.

And yet despite all this, nearly every one good I know has a namesake large company job while they are starting up on the side. There is massive start up interest and we are well past the days where people used to aspire for large company jobs. Though Ivy league degrees, and strong alumni connection gets you fat pay checks at big companies. People are beginning to match that with their own start ups.

Long way to go for us. But the opportunities are immense.

[sandGorgon]

I am a frequent attendee at Hasgeek. However what I asked for was not about interesting conference but about decision making.

For example I wish that the top level decision making conferences (like UDS,etc) happen in India which is on track for being their largest consumers. This can only happen through the current decision making body.

[jace]

I can assure you that is our concern too at HasGeek. It won't happen overnight but we will get there.

[Pxtl]

The problem is that the macbook really is the best piece of laptop hardware on the market. The only other product that comes close in terms of build-quality and design is the Chromebook Pixel, and that one is a very niche device.

For a long time the laptop makers ceded the high-quality market to Apple and kept making cheap plastic crap. Even their high-end products were still plastic crap, just plastic crap containing better electronics.

After years and years, we're seeing makers like Asus and Dell take quality design seriously in their top end. But it's very late for that and Apple has a very strong hold on that market, and plus these companies sabotage their brand by making low-quality crap as well.

I mean, look at something like an HP Elitebook - a solidly built piece of hardware, but ugly as sin and plus every time HP tries to sell something high-end they're having to overcome the customer's bad memories of some horrible Pavilion.

[textminer]

Ah, ain't that the truth. I loved my HP Pavillion, until its motherboard glue melted and internal parts detached. Twice. Shame for them, too-- circa 2007, you saw as many of those on college campuses as you did MacBooks or netbooks. No longer.

[Pxtl]

I feel like HP made a tactical error by eliminating the Compaq brand for their garbage products. It feels like car companies have the right idea - Toyata/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Chevy/Buick, and so on. If HP had used Compaq for their low-end cheap products, they might not have reaped as much profit in that space as the HP brand got them, but the HP name might still mean something. Now the HP brand is worthless.

[jdhzzz]

As I read this on my own hideous Pavilion. It has a keyboard designed by catbert.

[dirkgently]

> I find it sad that most OSS conferences are held in Europe or USA, where you will find everyone toting Macbooks.

And how I weep, every time I see it.