Re: [school-discuss] [Fwd: (LOSS, Mr Doug) Britannica Technical Support [No Ticket]]

["Chris Calise" <chris@oip.net>]

Doug,
I have been floating around the idea for a while that we have a non-profit
host a repository so companies like Britannica can donate the linux port to
schools, take a tax break and still sell it to the general public. I believe
this would give Microsoft and Apple oriented companies an incentive to
rewrite for OS. This post just helps prove my point.

Chris Calise
User Friendly Developers Association
www.ufda.net






----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Loss" <drloss@suscom.net>
To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 6:40 AM
Subject: [school-discuss] [Fwd: (LOSS, Mr Doug) Britannica Technical Support
[No Ticket]]


> I just received this from Britannica Technical Support.  From the sound of
it,
> if we can generate sufficient requests for a Linux version of the
Britannica
> software they'd be interested in having our help in doing a conversion.
We
> should think about a campaign to have people request such a version.
>
> CD Technical Support wrote:
>
> >  Dear Britannica Customer,
> >
> > The Development Team Leader has responded to us regarding your enquiries
in
> > the following way.
> >
> > He advised us that at this time there is insufficient demand for a Unix
or
> > Linux conversion of the Britannica software but that should this change
in
> > the future that they would be very interested in working with your group
to
> > develop the converted product.
> >
> > In the mean time he has advised us that although the version of
Britannica
> > (2003) that they are currently working on is only being developed for PC
and
> > MAC it will be a Java based application and they feel that it will
require
> > very little work to get this new program to function under Linux.
> >
> > If you require further assistance with this then please do not hesitate
to
> > contact us on 0906 751 0101 (calls to this number are charged at 75p per
> > minute) or 0044 117 976 0260 for customers outside the UK.  The solution
to
> > problems can also be found on the Britannica Technical Support website
> > (http://cdsupport.britannica.co.uk).
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> > Britannica Technical Support
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Doug Loss
> > To: support@britannica.co.uk; enquiries@britannica.co.uk
> > Cc: schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net
> > Sent: 26/04/2002 19:17
> > Subject: Linux support for Britannica
> >
> > I represent Schoolforge, a coalition of over 70 organizations from
> > around the world dedicated to fostering the use of Linux and other open
> > resources in educational settings.  I'm not sure that either tech
> > support or customer service is the right place for me to send this
> > message; if there's someone better positioned to address the points I'll
> >
> > raise here, please forward this to that person.  Thank you.
> >
> > Many of the schools we deal with are interested in installing Linux in
> > their schools, for many varying reasons.  One of the concerns we
> > regularly hear about is the ability to use the educational software
> > they're familiar with.  Some schools have gone so far as to say, "If
> > Britannica won't run, we can't use Linux."  We plan to test the ability
> > to run your Windows software on Linux via WINE (a compatibility
> > program), but we think having a native Linux version would be much more
> > desireable.  Since you've already ported the encyclopaedia to the Mac
> > OS, this would seem like a fairly straightforward thing to do.  We would
> >
> > be interested in assisting in developing such a Linux port in any way
> > you'd like, even up to doing the port for you ourselves.  We haven't
> > allocated any resources toward that yet, of course, but if you're
> > interested in this please contact us and let's see what we can do for
> > each other!
> >
> > --
> > Doug Loss                 All I want is a warm bed
> > Data Network Coordinator  and a kind word and
> > Bloomsburg University     unlimited power.
> > dloss@bloomu.edu                Ashleigh Brilliant
>
>
>
>
> --
> Doug Loss                 All I want is a warm bed
> Data Network Coordinator  and a kind word and
> Bloomsburg University     unlimited power.
> dloss@bloomu.edu                Ashleigh Brilliant
>
>