On Thursday 26 Jun 2003 1:22 am, Wayne Stallwood wrote:
On Wednesday 25 June 2003 20:26, Adam Bower wrote:
I don't know the details but I thought that many schools pay once for the OS with the machine and then again under the MSSA because they need a license for each computer in the school?
and lets not forget that as well as buying the Desktop OS and any Client Access Licences that are required those schools unfortunate enough to be involved with the RM connect world of pain also have to buy a Client license for the RM software. This is not an issue when replacing old machines but any RM based network I have seen has a number of licensed machines and if you exceed number that you have to purchase more RM licences.
Apologies for arriving at this discussion so late...
RM has been "in it" because they can charge the earth from what I recall. I left high school as they "got in" based on a cheque for a horrendous amount of money. I have little doubt that the school has been forced to upgrade licenses on a number of occassions and potentially had students without required software because of licensing and financial arrangements.
Unfortunately, complaining to a local newspaper actually doesn't do an awful lot of good. Getting in as an article helps, but you need to be of a) public interest and b) public understanding. Linux/OSS is not understood by the public and more problematic is that they have zero interest in it.
I would estimate that over 80% of the general public asked whether they would appreciate a very quick run-down on why Microsoft was evil and Linux was good would say, "nah, I'll leave that to you techies/nerds/boffins".
The way, I believe anyhow, to get Linux in, is through the more traditional method: staff working onsite. We already have plenty of evidence to suggest that organisations are running Linux machines perfectly happily without the managers knowledge, and we also have a number of US projects where students have been given a KDE desktop and used it in preference to a Windows desktop.
Such a strategy takes time, and a staffer to actually implement a gradual switch. Explaining to parents why they've got a load of KDE desktops instead of industry standard ones also requires some skill.
Getting the UK Goverment on board will be a massive coup, and I don't think that's possilbe without IBM.
IBM is a worldwide brand name, and having it's support in UK education would probably be the number one shift in balance you could wish for.
My thoughts, anyway.
Regards,
James