Karen Schneider writes: > Unfortunately, the webinar software we use doesn't support Linux. When we > looked at webinar software, the products that reliably supported Linux and > had other key features were very expensive for the number of attendees we > need to support. (In fact, finding a product with good Mac support was a > price hurdle, as well, though we were determined to offer that much, at > least.)
I had to laugh at this: a webinar focusing on open source software that will exclude users of the main open source operating system! I don't know squat about web conferencing, but surely there must be open source alternatives out there for hosting webinars? I think the mindset of looking at software as a "product" that is purchased from and supported by outside organizations is one of the main hurdles that OSS needs to overcome. Think of open source more as a collaboration between developers and users in the realm of the gift economy, just as learners and teachers collaborate in the transmission of knowledge as a gift. It requires active participation from both parties. The economic part arises out of the intrinsic usefulness of the software (or knowledge). Librarians are a big part of this gift economy, but have been slow to extend that thinking to software for some reason. Cheers, -- Larry Stamm, Network Administrator McBride and District Public Library Ph: 250-569-2411 http://mcbride.bclibrary.ca
