Re: [school-discuss] Possibilities

[Mac ADd <madd@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Chris, 

I'm trying to prepare a *business* project proposal for a self-sustainably saleable K12LTSP-like configuration template that could be used in both the cities and countryside here in VietNam. Ideal requirements: cheaper, more stable, lower maintenance, less systems training and admin, relative to M$ -- which now dominates this nation, largely because 99% of the software in use has been pirated (according to the US Business Software Alliance). 

I'm relying mainly on D. Wheeler's "Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS)? Look at the Numbers!", http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html to make the business case. 

I've been looking at the K12LTSP site you refer to below, your case study at SilverValley K12 and an multi-part tutorial that was on LinuxWorld, "How to create a Linux-based network of computers for peanuts", http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/0823.xterminal.html. 

I just wondering if you, or anyone else here, is familiar with both the K12LTSP and the latter tutorial and, if so, if you could offer any advice on the relative merits of each. 

Grateful for any enlightenment offered,
An Ddi

At 10:19 2002.01.19 -0800, Chris Hobbs wrote:
>Jeff,
>
>Your best bet would be to use those 486's as dumb terminals connected to a much more powerful server - here's how:
>
>http://www.k12ltsp.org/
>
>An adequate server that would serve a lab (20-30 clients) could be built easily for $2000 from commodity parts, maybe much cheaper (been awhile since I built a new application server for our project <http://www.silvervalley.k12.ca.us/~chobbs/xterms>) .
>
>Other than that, I'd be very surprised if you could turn those 486's into really useful standalone machines - it doesn't matter what OS you put on them, they're going to feel very slow - but as terminals, they'll get new life.
>
>Chris
>
>Jeff wrote:
>
>>I can spell Linus and I do have it installed as part of a dual boot system on my computer(RedHat 6.2 from the CD). From this point
>>on I am supremely ignorant of the system. I did install a TInyLinux
>>at school - but other than the fact that it works, I haven't had much time to deal with it.
>>
>>Here is my question:  Is it feasible to create a distribution of Linux which could run on old hardware - say 486 with 16MB that could do JUST the following:
>>
>>connect to a Win2000 netrwork to access the internet with a JavaScript (not Java) capable browser?  There would be no need for any sort of additional peripherals except a floppy (no CD-NoPrinter-
>>No e-mail ABSOLUTELY no sound)   Obviously size is a major consideration. (I've heard this somewhere before...)
>>
>>This setup would be great for my classroom since most of what
>>I would like my students to do can be done with a web browser and JavaScript.
>>
>>
>>Jeff LeMieux
>>
>>
>>
>
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