On Sun, 15 Oct 2000, Randy Edwards wrote:
> Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 09:38:51 -0400
> From: Randy Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: Jeffry Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: Recycled computers
>
> > Or talk to Bob ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for the NH State program to
> > recycle them into Linux machines for non-profits around the state
>
> If that's the program I think it is, they're not turning them into
> GNU/Linux boxes. The program I know of that's operating through the
> prison is the governor's "Computers in the Schools" program.
>
They obviously run 2 different programs. The one I'm talking about
gives the computers to non-profits, like rape counseling, job
counseling, etc. According to Bob, they do load Linux, so they can
provide them a complete server for no cost (i.e. they have a web
server, file server, mail server, etc). They do use the prison, and
Bob has helped teach how to install & use Linux there.
> This program takes donations of old computers, mixes it with donated
> corporate money and some state money, and spends the money to upgrade the
> computers, having prisoners do the work for job training purposes. The
> computers are then given out to schools and libraries. It's a really
> slick program with very little red tape involved in applying for a grant
> of computers (I know; the school district I presently work for is
> receiving 35 of these computers).
>
> The drawback of the program, if you can call it that, is that the
> computers come with absolutely no software installed. IMHO, this almost
> begs schools to pirate copies of Win9x and Office. I mean, let's face it,
> if the schools are too poor to buy hardware, does anyone really think
> they're going to go out and buy copies of Win9x at ~$80 a pop for these
> new computers that were given to them?
$80 / pop? Only if they buy an upgrade license. Last time I was in
Best Buy, it was $179 for a full copy of Win98 (right next to Red Hat
$39.95, Caldera Open Linux for (I think) $39.95, Mandrake for $39.95,
etc)
>
> I talked to the people involved about putting GNU/Linux on the machines
> and I suggested putting a Red Hat install on the machines with a working
> copy of Netscape and StarOffice; but their feeling was what was recently
> talked about on the list -- that people wouldn't feel comfortable with
> GNU/Linux and that the learning curve would throw them and turn off these
> people who were new and/or reluctant to use computer technology.
>
Of course, once it's installed, Netscape is Netscape (take that how
you want), and StarOffice is, in my opinion, a clone of MS Office
right down to the bugs, bloat, & bad help. Don't see how it would
throw the learning curve off that much. Besides, these are schools,
isn't learning what's supposed to happen in schools?
jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffry Smith Technical Sales Consultant Mission Critical Linux
[EMAIL PROTECTED] phone:603.930.9739 fax:978.446.9470
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought for today: warez kiddies n.
Even more derogatory way of referring
to warez d00dz; refers to the fact that most warez d00dz are
around the age of puberty. Compare script kiddies.
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