> PLUGgers, time to state our case!
> It just so happens I can get a line directly to the think tank of our new DECS
> Secretary (Department of Education), yes Sen. Raul Roco. They are in
> brainstorming mode.
>
amen to this brother! we must emphasis that linux is not just the cost
winner but it is a very good solution. education from the grass roots will
address the inate repulsion to linux contained in most people.
> Now is the time for us to see if our two cents can make the difference in
> Philippine society.
>
well, as reponsible netizens and linux advocate. it is not enough to be
using it. we must help promote it.
> I propose that:
>
> "The Linux Operating System and applications become standard issue for
> ALL Government Schools for the following reasons:"
> (this is where all of us PLUGgers show our worth...)
> (I will collate everything for all of you later)
>
not just government schools. linux is also a must for private
institutions. and let us not limit our selves to linux but open source.
> 1) Linux is FREE which saves the government millions of dollars!
>
oops! this maybe a good benefits. but, we do not like to make the mistake
of selling open source because of its cost benefit alone. yes there is a
cost benefit, but open source must be sold because of its true merits as
an operating system and as a platform. place this at the end or the middle
of the list NOT the top. there is a tendency to look at open source as the
solution only when there is not enough money. it must be always be a
choice in all it decision making NOT just a panakip butas.
> 2) We the Filipinos respect IPR, as in piracy is stealing, as in show
> students the example by using licensed software (in this case, GPL).
>
hehehe. no say here... IPR is good up to a certain extent, but when you
start to patent one-click buying, gzip, gif and web-indexing it becomes
absurd.
> 3) Use of Linux is GUILT FREE. Do not encourage stealing in any form.
>
same as number two can be merged and placed at the bottom of the list.
> 4) Linux is Virus resistant. (less downtime)
>
> 5) Linux is more reliable. (less downtime)
>
this must be on top of the list. open source software that are battle
tested can be mentioned such as squid, apache, bind and others. present
surveys such as netcraft and other to prove a point. must show that
even the big names are willing to trust open source.
mention the beauty of kernel 2.4 with all the goodies like 32-bit uids,
more everything from ram, ide, storage, processors and other that make
it trully enterprise class.
> 6) StarOffice files are Compatible with MS-OFFICE files.
>
> 7) StarOffice has OTHER tools not available in MS-OFFICE.
>
make this two into one reason. mention that there are a large number of
alternative office suites such as StarOffice(OpenOffice), AbiOffice,
KOffice and other in the works. there are also linux productivity tools
that are available.
> 8) Use of Mandrake Linux 7.1 and above with ReiserFS is perfect for schools
> who cannot afford UPSs where brownouts can cause data corruption and we
> avoid FSCKs.
>
do not limit outselves with mandrake and reiserFS. linux can run with a
variety of filesystems and some of these offer journalling. to name a few
would be reiser(stable), jfs, sgi xfs, ext3fs (experimental).
> 9) Other countries like Mexico, Thailand and other countries are doing it.
>
china, france, germany and many more. free ourselves from the monopolistic
tendency of americans (microsoft) hehehe.
> 10) C is now the beginner's language, please stop using that stupid old
> Borland Turbo C (circa 1988?) since it is PIRATED, it's OBSOLETE and stuck
> in the old MS-DOS world. C as it is included in Linux is always the
> PRODUCTION VERSION, so students actually learn USEFUL, CURRENT
> technology, thus starting with the correct foot.
>
it will force them to write clean code. not only is there c there is:
haskell, lisp, python, perl, fortran, java, ruby and many more. what is
great about all these languages??? they are available for free. name the
language and you have probably a linux version.
> 11) APPLICATIONS: Linux distros are in themselves complete and interested
> students can learn a great many things about WEBSERVERS, SQL
> DATABASES (drop dBASE and foxBASE please)
>
cool new technology like object oriented databases in the works,
application development frameworks and many more.
12.) open source operating systems linux and the bsds are very similar to
the big iron unix and are very good training grounds.
13.) the philippines can contribute to the open source movement in a more
concrete way. student can do thesis on new technology like VoIP, IPv6 and
other instead of writing viruses and trojans.
14.) practice real software engineering development lifecycle and etc.
etc. use vi, CVS/RCS, Makefiles, manpages/texinfo, autoconf, automake and
other tools....or...use tools like glade and other tool kit builders.
> ....... guys, I'm tired, I need sleep. Please continue for me and in a few days
> we'll get a nice enough collection to submit to the DECS.
>
do not forget CHED and NCC. can i get a copy of the final one too.
--------------------------------------
William Emmanuel S. Yu
Ateneo Cervini-Eliazo Networks (ACENT)
email : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
web : http://cersa.admu.edu.ph/
phone : 63(2)4266001-5925/5904
today, n.:
A nice place to visit, but you can't stay here for long.
_
Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph
To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
