Hi Mark, I built a Mobile Command Centre for our Fire Services a few years ago as well as managed the development of the volunteer MMC operator team - Please let me know if I can help in any way. Some thoughts below to toss into the mix.
When talking "solid and dependable" (for computers bouncing around in the back of a bus), the choice of operating system is of very little import. We have Windows and Linux machines that have run for months without a reboot. The reliability of both is excellent. This is just not an issue nowadays. What is an issue is the application for which you intend to use these computers. Our MMC's are multi-discipline (just as likely to be used at a fire, flood, SaR, storm etc. by any number of different agencies) and computing requirements do vary... GIS is widely used by response agencies nowadays so you certainly should support Mapinfo, and possibly AutoCAD. These require Windows computers. You might also choose to support the Sahana Disaster Management System which requires a Linux computer. Most agency-specific DVR systems are Windows-based and will require Windows. You should expect agency Commanders to want these apps loaded when using your MMC as a mobile EOC (I certainly would!). Radio and Satellite comms as well as 'net connectivity, GPS positioning and mobile weather reading facilities are a 'given' nowadays for any MMC and I expect you have these areas well covered. My suggestion is to provide one Linux computer; the rest Windows. You don't need to get bogged-down in a "Windows-v-Linux" debate - Both are reliable - It's the application of your computers that matters. Regards, Don Cameron _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
