Hawaii Linux Institute wrote:
I went over to Makiki community library yesterday. This should offer a
great testimony to the benefits of adopting a Linux system. Unlike
other state libraries, Makiki does not receive any state fund. Without
HOSEF/Linux, its two Windows2000 computers would have been dead (or one
dead and the other severely crippled).
Yes. This is true.
OTOH, with hindsight, our State library system could have saved at least
half of the 1.5 million dollars that it spent on buying those Windows
2000 computers. Many jobs would have been saved, and our libraries
could be open during some of the hours that it is needed the most.
No question.
I am also wondering that, in a couple of years, where will we find money
to upgrade our current computer system? Cut a few more jobs? Reduce
more library hours?
Install more thin client labs that utilize the computers we and
Computers for Kids collect. Money problem solved.
But is Linux the perfect answer? yes and no.
Some users who know something about computes would like to have Windows
re-installed. "Why?" This is one of the critical issues regarding
"user experiences" that probably need to be explored.
Of course. What we count on is our volunteers, in this case, Andy,
Michael, and Paul, to stop in to help bridge the gap of familiarity.
Feel free to play a pro-active role if you have time.
Come by our weekend workshop at McKinley for more details. We have
created an 8 part class that teaches why and how to install the K12LTSP,
as well as securing, updating, configuring, and troubleshooting skills.
This enables volunteers to
Familiarity, or more specifically, the lack thereof, is one thing. I
have heard a story that someone installed Firefox in a public computer
(running Windows). No one used it. Then this guy changed its icon and
re-named it "Internet Explorer". (you can do everything on your own
computer, there is no trademark infringement issue.) All of a sudden
everyone is using it.
Then there is the customization issue. The stock Mandrake 10 does not
include Java, flash-plugin, mplayer, codecs for DVD movies, and perhaps
a few other things. With Fedora/RedHat, in addition to these missing
customer items, you also need to install mp3 plug-in. When these are
all in place, as far as for use by library patrons is concerned, Linux
is, indeed, at least as user-friendly as Windows. Thereafter, we can
talk about some of the advantages of Linux, including, as we all know:
security (I believe Microsoft has decided to take it easy, if at all, on
issuing Windows 2000 patches), user management (separate user accounts,
mounting your own USB drive, etc.), portability, serviceability, etc.
We took care of installing java and flash on both computers. We made
sure that sound was running to play CD's. We created the same usernames
and passwords as previously used. We created Desktop Icons named for
the appropriate tasks: OOffice = Word Processor, Mozilla=Internet.
You bring up a good point that branding the icons, Internet Explorer,
Word, Excel may actually make them more usable. We do not promote this,
though. So far it seems that most patrons find the computers just as
usable.
Oh, we also donated a mouse, a Laserjet 4, and Andy donated a parallel
cable.
But the more trouble-some issues are regarding providing "professional"
Linux desktops (such as office automating jobs, use of GIMP, working
with more advanced hardware, etc). This is the area that I am most
interested in but feel the most inadequate. wayne
We are drafting some class proposals. If you have something else that
you would like to learn, propose it and I will teach it or look for
someone else to.
http://lists.hosef.org/pipermail/hosef-managers/2004q3/002055.html
As far as GIMP goes, we have an interesting case study of the Kailua
Redemption Academy. It was nearly two years ago now that I picked out
the parts for 10 computers. They ordered them. I taught some teachers
and students how to build a computer, from scratch. We installed
Mandrake 8.x, I think, or whatever was current at the time.
At this point our only support options for Rudy were LUAU and our
bi-weekly workshops at PB. I offered both, but then explained that my
job had me too busy to provide *any* training. He had been using a
donated Mandrake box for a few months already, so he was not concerned.
These are kids we are talking about, after all.
When I went back a few months later to replace a failed power supply, I
noticed that the students had decorated the walls of the lab with
magazine photos and various images. It looked cozy. As it turns out,
they had made these images, and they were unreal.
The class had purchased digital cameras (I suggested some compatible
ones), hooked them up to the computer, uploaded the images, used gimp to
layer, crop, edit, and all those things I know nothing about, connected
a printer, and printed their projects. Oh, they also burned CD's on
their installed cdrw's (installation created ide-scsi emulation by default).
This was on a much older version of Mandrake. Trying this on anything
earlier than windows98, and even windows2000, would have required
numerous drivers and other apps. It has and continues to just work for
them. The only thing keeping OSS from more desktops is us and our
willingness to be credible and responsible ambassadors.
--scott
