$3 for Windows and MSOffice student Edition

Bill Gates has announced recently (19/04/07) in Beijing, China, of Microsoft latest initiative for the poor student. You can get windows starter edition and msoffice home and student edition for just US$3. Sound interesting. Unfortunately, as I read from their webpage, this kind of offering is only for poor country as listed by World Bank, and it's only if the government of the country willing to take the offerings. There is another catch, the government must sponsor the pc, either new or refurbished pc, and give it to the student. I wonder is Malaysia eligible for this. As far as I know, windows starter edition was built due to a demand from government of our country and others developing country.
On the marketing side, I myself look at the strategies with mix feeling. On the other hand, the government of the country that took part of this initiative, will be a 'free marketeer' of Microsoft. They are actually creating and building the future consumer of Microsoft product. We unwillingly will be abide with the 'law of microsoft technology' which means, our next/new generation will not only the user of microsoft software, but the only OS that they will ever use. Thanks for goverment effort in providing their fellow countrymen with refurbished pc. On the bright side, congratulation microsoft for the brave initiative.
An alternative offering that provide more software from linux and free software and license, you can also download and run Edubuntu, which is feature-rich and accepted and used widely worldwide.