Re: Unified Front... [was Re: [seul-edu] M$ Audits (shortened)]

[Doug Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

"Stephen C. Daukas" wrote:

> Imagine a School Board meeting considering the motion of "going
> Linux".  Imagine someone in the audience asking the simple question of
> "does what we run today work on what you are proposing?".  That is the sort
> of question you can't easily redirect because the inference is "are we
> throwing away our prior investment if we adopt your approach?"  Add to this
> concern the uncertainty of Linux (which vendor), the whispered advice from
> those who know, or think they know, what GNU/Linux/Open Source is all
> about, and you have the biggest case of the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt)
> factor imaginable!  This usually translates into no action - status quo -
> the marketing strategy of the market leader.
>

I'd imagine that you wouldn't try to get them to commit to converting to Linux
completely at the first school board meeting.  Instead, you'd try to convince
them that Microsoft was costing them dearly in limited funds that could be well
applied to other needs, and that investigation of alternatives and how they might
be advantageous to the school district was a very good, in fact a necessary,
idea.  In that way the question doesn't come up at the meeting because it's part
of the investigation.

> So how do we take advantage of the situation?  (Or, how do we get major
> Linux vendors to take advantage of the situation?)
>

Don't plan on the vendors doing this.  It's best done at the grass roots.  Of
course, we should try to provide the folks at the grass roots with the best tools
and arguments we can.

>
> I think it is pretty clear that Star Office is the productivity app of
> choice, even though it has an occasional glitch with M$.  Beyond that,
> everyone seems to have their favorite browser, favorite email client, and
> so on.  Dare I bring up gnome versus KDE?  ;-)
>

This isn't a problem.  Sure, there are lots of choices.  But the school or school
district can review them and choose one to implement.  That's no different than
having a textbook review committee decide on what texts to use in teaching
beginning algebra.

>
> So, my point in all this goes something like this:
>
> How do we overcome issues like:
>      the market dominance of M$ productivity apps (OK - S.O. it is)
>      the lack of non M$-based educational software
>      the ability to attract and retain Linux/UNIX Sys Admin talent
>      the multiple Linux offerings and the multiple "standard" apps
>      the contract requirements some schools have with Apple
>

These are all valid questions.  As I said above about the multiple apps and
distros, this is just a matter of investigation and choice.  The lack of non
MS-based educational software is more of a concern.  Our Educational Applications
Index may address some of that, but there are still some areas that lack
software.  Any investigation of changing wholesale to Linux would have to
identify non-Linux apps that have to run and would then look into running them
via Wine and WineX, or one of the Macintosh emulators.  I should mention that
MetaCard and Runtime Revolution offer authoring systems that will read Macintosh
HyperCard stacks, so those should be convertible to Linux.

>
> What is the "packaged" solution that can be presented to a School District
> that will give them relief from M$ fees, assure them that the Linux
> "solution" will meet or exceed the current installed "solution", relieve
> the FUD factor associated with "choosing the wrong Linux horse", and give
> assurance that they can fend off the criticisms from the parents who are
> self proclaimed technology experts, as well as from those who actually are?
>

There are no packaged solutions, nor should there be.  The school district needs
to do a reasoned analysis before deciding to undertake such a large-scale
conversion.  As for fending off the criticism of technophilic parents and other
self-perceived experts, it's probably best to draw them into the analysis at the
beginning and let them see for themselves what the benefits are.  If they just
have axes to grind and won't consider any option other than Microsoft (or Apple),
that will quickly be noticed by others doing the analysis.

>
> Once we think we have that solved, and once we think we have a solid
> understanding of the migration issues, we could try to support those
> willing to try to get their schools to move.  We could also approach a
> vendor to see if they are willing to join in...

As I say, don't depend on a vendor for this.  We've got some good starts already
with K12LTSP and Blue Linux.

--
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