I make a counter-proposal. Why don't WE, as a group, offer a program called * Linux Learner Loaner *(L3.) L3 could be a way to see what is holding people back from Linux migration, especially as an Internet appliance.
Select candidates, with a emphasis on teachers, could be loaned a computer w/ KVM switch over a 90 day period. They could then see how to wipe via DBAN, load Linux, browse the web using NoScript, Web of Trust, etc. Throw in some creative programs like Lilypad and Rosegarden for a local music appreciation spin and I think we'll win over some people. Could be a great summer... Brian On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 8:25 AM, JS Kaplan <[email protected]> wrote: > When I first happened upon NextStep Recycling on 10th near Garfield, I > thought it was a helluva an idea. > Hearkened me back to the days of Stan's PC Training where used good PC's > were to be had for all. I've even bought > a microwave oven and a wifi card there. > > However, after volunteering there I've changed my tune considerably. I > won't go as far as to say that the largess of the establishment cancels out > any reduction in carbon benefit. I'm just not that savvy, but I have my > opinions. > > So, first off, to get a "volunteer box" you need to put in now 40 hours > (Figure around minimum wage your wholesale net worth is about $300 for > argument's sake). Secondly, what you'll receive is a Dell Optiplex GX50. > Which is a single board non-upgradeable celeron based POS around 1200 MHz > with 384 MB or less ram and a 20 GB drive. You'll also likely not recieive > your "gift" for volunteering until several weeks after you're done. I'm not > sure if this is to discourage you taking inventory or to encourage more > hours out of you. Probably both. > > Why am I complaining? Well, they have pallets and pallets of these little > gomers, which can be had on e-bay for as little as $7.99. $40 if you want it > tomorrow. Instead of offering a choice or being progressive and loading > Ubuntu or some nice current distro, you are stuck to the task of > un-infecting the drive of it's case of Windows 2000. (The P4 1.8's littering > the place seem to be ending up in Guatemalen schools. You can purchase a P4 > 2.6 system for around $175 there). > > I'm complaining because I feel that my hours of labor are worth a tad bit > more than a doorstop in which a full-sized PCI card won't fit and an AGP > slot doesn't exist. I'm complaining because I feel that no matter what the > cost, even free, a Microsoft license is a Microsoft license and a non-profit > has no business purchasing Microsoft licenses when Open Source exists. When > Ubuntu exists. If Ubuntu is good enough for IBM, it's good enough for every > American. > > I'm complaining because I feel the politics inside NextStep are about to > swallow itself whole and barf it back out. It looks like a Eugenian Social > Experiment, complete with a dot alt Board of Directors. It's become really > large inside and while still providing valuable services to the community, > most of thosse services should be borne by the consumer purchasing home > electronics. California now has a tax on electronic goods, in effect a > deposit law. Recycle electronics, net a bonus. Toss them in the landfill, > lose the bonus. Yet here in Oregon we still can't control our Bottle Bill > and recycle Coca-Cola Brand Water Bottles. > > I'm complaining because I feel NextStep should be using Linux in every task > from Office to Refurbishing. I'm complaining because I hate to see people > thumping their chests in the Weekly. *Usually* if the Weekly has an overly > positive take on something, it's called damage control or a pre-emptive > Media Strike. > > Now, don't go away just yet. Just because I've had a bad experience with > them doesn't mean you will too. After all, you can still give 40 hours and > opt for an iMac. > > James S. Kaplan > [email protected] > currently under-employed > > "Sic Semper Tyrannis" > Marcus Junius Brutus, March 15, 44 BC * > John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865 AD* > > > > > > ------------------------------ > Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. See how it > works.<http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009> > > _______________________________________________ > EUGLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > >
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