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-- warning - rant alert -- Who is going to be teaching the students in the Linux lab? You? If not, is the teacher going to be familiar enough with Linux? Do they have lesson plans geared towards Linux? What is the plan when 25 kids are in there and the teacher can't figure out how to print? How about when they want to use the new scanner that was just donated? Or when last year's yearbook project doesn't format correctly with OpenOffice? How about when they want to add a new font for the yearbook? So the teacher is supposed to be troubleshooting or be contacting you while 25 3rd graders go unsupervised? It will be pandemonium. Oh an how about when the kids surf to some illicit content - because the net- nanny software doesn't work on Linux? Wait untill you get that call from their parents. You really need to have all this stuff figured out. I've been there. It's not pretty. We currently support 3 catholic schools in a nearly identical context. You _can_ make Windows XP work really well for what they need. Plus, if you go to the right places you can get legal licenses for XP and Office for next to nothing (seriously - like 10ドル each). Plus you will know that all the software they are using will work well (ie: ask the Librarian what they use - it probably requires MS SQL). Get the windows desktops under control. You can use Linux on your server(s), firewall, and other network components quite effectively. And this will save a LOT of money because the schools don't get discounts as much on the server stuff or 3rd party web filtering tools. There is a lot of free software for windows that will help you get them stabilized. Also, keep track of the saving that Linux provides on the server/network side. Once everyone's seen how stable it is and you've earned their trust, you will then have the credibility to get buy-in for a switch to Linux later. Also, you will have better understanding of the big picture and may determine that it's best to leave them as is. Linux is that it's come a long way in the last few years and is probably as nearly as good as an Apple. That means that anyone who could make the transition from Windows to Apple could probably also make the transition from Windows to Linux. However, if you give the Apple desktop to someone who is not ready, willing, and able to make the transition they will be unhappy and will most likely let you know this every chance they get. This is even worse if you've forced Linux on them and they don't want it. At least with Apple there is market pressure also working on your side. So, unless you like to hear people complain all the time, it won't be worth your trouble. Instead, I would set an example. Install Linux on your workstation and/or laptop. Be sure to take this with you when you are fixing things or at meetings, etc - and have all the eye candy installed. As users see that you can function with this - they will start asking you about it. If you show a good enough example - soon they will ask you to convert them. Regarding XP - Microsoft has already been forced to extend XP once for OEMs -the so-called "C" version. They will most likely do this again as the June deadline approaches. If they don't - it would be the opportunity that Linux / Apple needs to gain a foothold in businesses. I know first hand that forcing Vista on the consumer is driving adoption of Apple at home. Of my little circle, I'd say 1 in 20 go for a new Apple computer instead of a new Vista PC - it would probably be higher if Apple was more affordable. MS isn't stupid, they see what's happening on the consumer side, I doubt they will repeat it on the business end. But if they do, I hope that Linux companies can figure out a way to leverage this opportunity. (Linux Store equivalent to the Apple Store?) But for your school - you can be certain that XP has many more years of life, On Jan 19, 2008, at 8:16 AM, James Barrett wrote: > On Fri, Jan 18, 2008 at 09:32:56PM -0500, Ed Ackerman wrote: >> I have my kids trained, actually they trained themselves on Linux >> (Fedora >> Core) XP, W2K, W98, and MAC OSX at school. They don't have a problem >> switching between XP/W2K/Linux/MAC. They just know some machines >> function >> differently or that things are in different menu positions for each >> OS. > > Kids are definitely more technologically apt than their grandparents, > aunts, uncles and parents. Often times, programming a VCR is a real > crisis for most "older folk". Kids don't use manuals, they just > "know". > One of my friends has a granddaughter who uses his computer to play > games. She is not old enough to read, and only knows how to type her > name. When an error message pops up on the screen she does not know > what to do and just walks away. > > I like to say that I know quite a bit more than the average person in > regards to "computer-related stuff". I also like to say that 1 out of > 10 teenagers presently know way more than I do. Good thing I don't > work > with them! > > -- > James Barrett > ___________________________________________________________________________ > Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org > Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce > General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug -- W. Chris Shank ACE Technology Group, LLC www.MyRemoteITDept.com (610) 640-4223 ___________________________________________________________________________ Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug