On 5/21/05, Todd Walton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 5/21/05, RB W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I'm looking for tips to add to my list of things to do to prepare > > several laptops I managed to get donated from local universities for > > college/sub-college students overseas in Jamaica. > > How were you connected to these people? How much communication do you > have with them?
I don't know them directly at all. I have a relative who is a mentor and program director in the P.A.L.S. program in the Jamaica branch of that organization: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/pals/pals.html http://www.vmbs.com/pals_jamaica.htm There appears to be a few Linux devotees that I want to steer the recipients of these unit towards: http://www.jalug.org > > > The units are PIII 600Mhz, 256Mb RAM, 10Gb HD w/modem jack... no > > Ethernet. Win2000 is installed. These units run Knoppix v3.8.1. > > You're hoping they'll run Knoppix, right? But from CD? Boot from CD > everytime? That might be doable, I suppose. If you want them to run > Knoppix, why leave Windows 2000 on it? Were I in your situation, I'd > probably delete Windows. If they insist on having it, they can put > out the money or effort in getting it, you wouldn't be denying them > anything, and you'd be 100% legal in every jurisdiction known to > mankind. I just want to do what it takes to cause them to at least visit the JALUG without forcing an obstacle to their using the laptop as they will already know. I have no illusions that I'm going to "save" anyone from stealing from BG, but I can introduce them to another option. The motivation is up to them and that's where my part stops. The only reason I don't want to force them to wipe Linux is that is a sure fire way to cause someone to say, "hey this Linux stuff doesn't work". Most people I explain Knoppix to and who try it and come back to ask a question say, "I started Windows and then I put the Knoppix CD in and it didn't do anything... ." > > > because a HD install will in all likelihood just get deleted. If I can > > make the Knoppix option as viable as possible I may get the recipients > > to actually go to the Jamaica LUG and get converted. > > Yeah. For every problem you pre-emptively quash, the chance of Linux > staying goes up by a couple percent. Yeah that's what I mean. It appears that these units will get down there just before the June 11th JALUG meeting so if I can make it attractive enough maybe they will attend and get the right idea [1]. I will probably print (yeah I said print) out an essay to describe in detail what is being delivered, how to contact me and how to contact the JALUG. If I can I am going to try to get them to go to the JALUG even before they get the laptops. > > But all of this depends on what kind of relationship you have with the > people who will receive the equipment. If they're complete strangers > expecting only hardware, then making happylinux makes sense. This is the case... So completely n00bs they don't even know there is an alternative. > If > there's some prior arrangement, in which they want complete systems, > they might be confused and/or upset when "complete system" didn't > include Windows. I'm going to double check the Win2000 for stray documents (these units were donated by Lawrence Tech University, my fathers Alma mater), include some CD's of M$ cleaner apps and that's it for the WinDoze support. I will field Linux questions. > > Last thing is: there won't be any power connector or phone jack > problems, right? According to one page[1] I found, this is power for > these countries: > > COUNTRY ||| VOLTAGE ||| PLUG > Canada ||| 110/220V 60cycles ||| B > Jamaica ||| 110/220V 50cycles ||| A & B Check this just went on my list. When I was down there I was at resorts an such. I will check what the situation in the real world is down there. > > I include Canada on the assumption that Canada is the same as America, > and therefore, what these laptops are likely set up for. > > [1] http://www.call220.com/Resources/electric_current.htm > [2] > http://home.cwjamaica.com/content/products_services/data_ip/internet_services/ipass/faq.asp?ID=315#11 > > > The news of Cuba going to Linux will be an additional assist as the > > citizens of 2nd and 3rd world countries pay much more attention to > > their peers than we do. > > For some value of "peer". Are you familiar with how Jamaica views Cuba? >From what I experienced when I was down there they have a closer identification with the people of Cuba although they think the government is not desirable. Interestingly most Jamaicans, poor as they are and undereducated as they are, have a tremendous amount of contempt for Americans who they view as rich and stupid and easy marks for an advantage. I'm really doing this because that relative of mine has done a lot of good work trying to help people find alternate ways of dealing with conflict and violence and she is a mentor to the students who will get these units. Anyway I may be off base with this query but the dumb question is the one you don't ask when you think you know it all... TIA, RBW [1] I really get sick of hearing people complain about their poverty but when it comes to finding solutions to technological deficits the only ideas are to make a bigger pile of money to send to the richest guy in the world. That's true for Jamaica and also collapsing inner cities like Detroit. Suggest Linux and the derision comes quickly. -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
