On Dec 10, 2007 8:39 AM, Gautam John wrote: > I'm currently working with a non-profit and as part of our work we run > ~400 libraries across Bangalore and many more across the state. We are > hopeful, if we find sponsors, of putting a computer in each library > both to manage the library and as a tool for the kids to work/play > with. As it stands, the computer request includes Windows XP as the OS > of choice. >
If the hardware specifications are recent (dual core processor, 1 gb ram etc...) you could look at a virtualized instance of windows i.e. one that runs as a virtual machine within a Ubuntu installation (AFAIK, a windows XP license allows you to install it on one desktop and also another instance as a virtual machine...)... VmWare player is free (http://www.vmware.com/player)... To manage libraries there is an excellent opensource library management system called Koha (http://www.koha.org/). Basically the virtual windows instance means that even if the virtual windows gets hit by viruses, malware etc.. you can simply delete the virtual windows, and copy a backed up instance of the virtual machine and have it up and running again instantly. Much much easier to manage than having to invest in antivirus and re-installing windows etc... > On the other hand, I have been using Ubuntu for a while now and am > happy with it and the philosophy behind it. However, it's difficult to > translate this into a meaningful argument for a project of this scale. > As far as I can tell there is the price/support argument and the > philosophy, which matters less than I might expect. >
