"One might think that Eastern Europe would be fertile ground for Linux and Free Software. Conventional wisdom suggests that in areas where populations are well-educated but have fewer economic resources, Linux would be an attractive option. One would think that better, more reliable code and lower costs would result in wide adoption; but this is not enough, and Free Software faces an uphill struggle in these regions.
"Over a decade ago we witnessed an extraordinary series of events as the Soviet Union broke apart and Eastern European Communist governments toppled like dominos. In the wake of change, many of the former Communist countries were left in economic disarray. High unemployment, periods of hyperinflation, decaying infrastructure, rampant corruption, low wages; the list of problems is long. Several of these countries are faring better now, but few enjoy anything close to the living standards of the west. Western currencies are in short supply and few can afford proprietary products. Yet Free Software is far more rare than one would expect..."
