[CALUG] Let's Advocate Open-Source to the HCPSS Technology Advisory Committee

[James Ewing Cottrell 3rd]

Ray Lischner wrote:

>On Tuesday 23 May 2006 03:57 pm, Kelly Price wrote:
>
>  
>
>>If HCPSS needs newer PC's, but
>>the cost is an issue, this may help sway them.
>>    
>>
Please be aware that for schools and nonprofits, cost is rarely an 
issue. First off, the basic Windows software is essentially bundled in 
with the PC itself. Second, M$ will *almost always* discount their 
software, even going so far as to give it away to avoid Linux 
installations if faced with that.

>I don't think cost is an issue. The school district has already made the
>decision to replace hardware on a large scale to ensure support for the
>latest OS releases.
>
Well, that's nice, but hardware isn't the issue. Both systems run on PCs.

> The money has been budgeted and lots of it has
>already been spent. It's a done deal. They are leasing the equipment,
>ensuring that they always have up-to-date hardware and OSes. Getting
>Linux on these platforms would be extremely difficult.
>  
>
I don't see why. Move and resize the Windows partitions and install 
Linux as well. Have dual boot systems.

I imagine that someone will say that the leasing contract forbids this. 
More likely, they might refuse to support such systems, but so what? 
They can support them themselves! Besides, when the systems are 
returned, they will have to be re-imaged anyway.

>I think our effort would be better spent focusing on open source
>applications, in particular ODF-compliant office suites instead of
>proprietary, vendor-lock-in office suites.
>  
>
That's one approach. It all depends on whether the computers are to be 
used in a business fashion (which for schools means presenting homework 
and reports better), or as a computer lab, where programming itself is 
studied.

>My kids are still too young to face this problem, but I've heard stories
>of students being told to submit documents specifically in Microsoft
>format. Woe betide the kids who use OpenOffice.org at home, convert to
>Microsoft for submission, and the teacher knocks points off because the
>conversion was imperfect. I don't know if that has every happened, or
>how likely it is to happen, or if it is even a plausible scenario.
>  
>
Good question. In any case, if anyone truly takes this seriously, they 
should visit Blair HS in Silver Spring, a Magnet School for Math, 
Science, and Computers: http://www.mbhs.edu/

Notice the .EDU in their name. Probably an accident, but given that they 
serve up college level courses, they deserve the doman name. I believe 
they also have a very active Linux Computer Club with pretty sharp people.

Another interesting development is the Howard County Library computers. 
They are Linux based.

>--
>Ray Lischner
>
JIM