Thanks for all the help guys. Ya'll have really given us some good resources
to start with. We are newbies to Linux, but we are trying to get our feet
wet so we can use it more predominantly in the future. The CACRC is a
non-profit organization so it is impossible for us to show an annual profit
and keep our non-profit status. We would love to give them away, but we must
pay technicians to test hundreds of junk computers and monitors to find
working ones that can be refurbished. That is why we are going to charge
$25-30. At this price I can assure you that we are not even going to break
even on an endeavor such as this. This is the kind of thing that is simply
necessary, especially in this area. Since we are charging a minimal fee,
then we will weed out people looking for a free handout, and the computers
will get to people that will really use them. If we can successfully design
a model for distributing these computers to low income families here in
Baton Rouge, then we can apply that same model to our CLK schools across the
state. The CLK schools could then distribute computers to low income
families if they desired to do so.
We operate a program known as the CLK program which delivers
computers to 75 schools across the state. The schools use the equipment to
train students on computer repair. The schools get to keep what they want at
their school, and we pick up the unusable scrap for recycling. When we
receive usable equipment, such as Pentium IIs and IIIs, we give some to the
CLK program and auction some on ebay. We don't sell direct to the public,
unless it is to another non-profit organization, in which case they receive
a discount. Since the schools receive all of our services and equipment for
free, we must fund our program by selling some of the equipment on ebay. For
instance a hospital may be a non-profit organization, but you must still pay
for your treatment. If anybody knows of a school interested in teaching the
class and becoming a CLK school, have them contact me for the information
below. Thanks, and sorry for the long explanation.
David Grant
Director, Computers for Louisiana's Kids (CLK)
A Program of Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council (CACRC)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
800 St Philip st
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-379-3577
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Tim Fournet
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 1:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [brlug-general] Distribution of linux to the masses
For one, it's probably not the best idea to give/sell computers to
families when there's a boot screen with the word "Damn" in it.
On Mon, 2004-11-22 at 12:57 -0600, Baudouin, Andrew wrote:
> I would respectfully point out to John that FeatherLinux looks almost
> exactly like DSL in that they are both based on Knoppix on top of the
xfbdev
> server using the Dillo web browser. I could not tell from the screenshots
> what WM it uses, but it didn't look any more advanced than fluxbox. How
is
> this any different from DSL? How is it any more user-friendly?
>
>
> Andrew Baudouin
> Applications Programmer
> AWC, Incorporated
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> (225) 752-3939 x228
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Hebert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 12:39 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [brlug-general] Distribution of linux to the masses
>
> I agree with Andrew. Gnome/KDE are "desktop
> environments", in that they provide a large collection
> of nifty GUI widgets for apps to use to make apps
> purty and easier to use. The catch is that they take
> up a _lot_ of system resources. You can try these
> Gnome/KDE distributions, but my experience has been
> that the target hardware described would be very slow.
>
> However, I respectfully disagree with Andrew
> concerning Damn Small Linux. Though it is a really
> neat distribution (I've played with it often), I think
> it is directed at really old or small machines (~12MB
> RAM).
>
> I think a better Linux distribution for the target
> machines David described would be Feather Linux:
> http://featherlinux.berlios.de/
>
> It comes in a bootable ISO image that you burn to a
> CD, then boot and run off of the CD in an easy GUI
> desktop with nice application icons. You can then
> install it right from the desktop menu easy as pie. It
> installs in under 70MB! of diskspace, so there is
> plenty of space left over. If it gets messed up, the
> user can easily reinstall it. The installation process
> is _very_ easy and basically consists of clicking
> defaults. Did I mention it was easy? :)
>
> It includes a number of apps chosen to run in little
> RAM, so 64MB RAM will be fine. It does not come with
> Mozilla, but that can be easily installed from the
> menu.
>
> Ideally, once one machine is installed and setup with
> the desired apps, an image can be made of it with
> Ghost or PartImage and then copied to the other
> machines. A Linux geek could remaster the Feather
> Linux ISO to include Mozilla and other apps using the
> info at:
> http://featherlinux.berlios.de/remastering.html
>
> David, you can download the CD edition of Feather
> Linux at:
> http://featherlinux.berlios.de/download.htm
>
> Let us know if you have any questions!
>
> John
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- "Baudouin, Andrew" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
>
> > http://suse.lsu.edu/dist/9.1 is bringing up a 404
> > for me. I would like to
> > note that neither Fedora Core nor Suse would work
> > well on the proposed
> > system configuration as they are Gnome / KDE based
> > distributions.
> >
> > Andrew Baudouin
> > Applications Programmer
> > AWC, Incorporated
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nashid Hasan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 11:37 AM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: [brlug-general] Distribution of linux
> > to the masses
> >
> > I would suggest Suse Linux Personal 9.1. It can be
> > downloaded for free
> > from http://suse.lsu.edu
> >
> > Redhat's free version is called Fedora which is in
> > version 3. You can
> > download it from fedora.redhat.com. However, I
> > suggest Suse as it seems
> > to be more user-friendly than Fedora.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Nash
> >
> > David Grant wrote:
> >
> > > Hey guys,
> > >
> > > We are distributing a k12ltsp lab to Broadmoor
> > High School on December
> > > 1^st . We would love it if there were one or two
> > of you guys that
> > > would be willing to correspond with the teacher
> > there to assist her
> > > with the configuration and maintenance of the lab
> > and possibly help
> > > set it up. The teacher is Alicia Vidaurreta, and
> > her email is
> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _
> > >
> > > Those that would like to help, please contact her
> > or myself at
> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> .
> > Thank-you to those of you
> > > that came to our "No Computer Should Go To Waste"
> > recycling day on
> > > November the 6^th . We were able to collect ten 24
> > foot truckloads, or
> > > 72 Tons of computer equipment for recycling that
> > would have gone to a
> > > landfill otherwise.
> > >
> > > I have a question for you guys: what type of Linux
> > would be the most
> > > user friendly for low-income families? Many of
> > these people have no
> > > idea how to use a computer, and we are trying to
> > bridge that gap.
> > > Since the price of windows would make the computer
> > out of the price
> > > range of this group, we are going to install
> > Linux. Low income
> > > families will receive a 15-17" monitor, a Pentium
> > 233Mhz, 64MB RAM,
> > > 2.5 GB hard drive with a Linux OS, and Open Office
> > installed. They
> > > will be able to purchase these for around $25-$30.
> > We are ready to
> > > roll out with these units as soon as we can figure
> > out which Linux OS
> > > to install. We investigated using red hat, but I
> > couldn't locate a
> > > download that was free. Any input or suggestions
> > that you guys might
> > > have would be quite welcome.
> > >
> > > David Grant
> > >
> > > Director, Computers for Louisiana's Kids (CLK)
> > >
> > > A Program of Capital Area Corporate Recycling
> > Council (CACRC)
> > >
> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >
> > > 800 St Philip st
> > >
> > > Baton Rouge, LA 70802
> > >
> > > 225-379-3577
> > >
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
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