[seul-edu] Computer Donations Message--yes

[Cameron Miller <cdmiller@adams.edu>]

Doug Loss wrote:
> SEUL has been thinking about responding to Microsoft's attempt to
> force schools to refuse to accept donated computers without the
> original OS installed.  Below is a copy of the last version of the
> draft message we've come up with.  We were thinking that this
> message might have more impact if it came from Schoolforge rather
> than from just SEUL.  But we think it has to go out fairly quickly
> while people are still thinking about Microsoft's webpage.
> 
> Could we have a vote on whether or not to send such a message out
> under the Schoolforge name?  Remember, you're voting for your
> organization, not yourself, so do whatever consultation you need to
> before deciding.  To vote, just reply to this message with the
> appropriate subject line--"Computer Donations Message--yes" or
> "Computer Donations Message--no".  I'm voting "yes," of course,
> since I'm bringing the idea up.  Please try to vote as soon as
> possible.  Time is important here.  We'd like to put this out this
> week yet; certainly no later than Tuesday of next week.
> 
> --------8<----cut-here----8<--------
> 
> LINUX ENABLES SAFE COMPUTER DONATIONS TO SCHOOLS
> 
> The Internet, Thursday, 02 May 2002: In an official announcement
> from the SEUL
> group today, spokesman Leon Brooks overturned Microsoft's draconian
> threats
> against the acceptance of donated computers by schools and other
> needy
> organisations.
> 
> "Microsoft claims that it is a legal requirement that pre-installed
> operating
> systems remain with the computer for the life of the computer," he
> said.
> "Like viruses and security issues, that problem is almost exclusive
> to
> Microsoft. Using Linux, OpenOffice.org and other Open Source
> software, you
> can accept practically any donated computer regardless of operating
> system,
> erase the existing software, install Open Source software and
> operate the
> computer legally and safely as a powerful workstation or a server,
> all at
> little or no cost."
> 
> Mr Brooks also noted that Linux rolled away the burdens, costs and
> legal
> risks of licence management and software asset auditing for all
> businesses,
> organisations and individuals. Linux is also easy to operate as a
> diskless
> workstation or "thin client", and many schools were rolling out
> networks of
> student terminals using this technology with both donated and new
> equipment,
> he explained.
> 
> SEUL has dozens of case studies from real schools on line
> (http://casestudy.seul.org/) showing the immediate financial
> advantages of
> this strategy, and the K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project group
> (http://www.k12ltsp.org/casestudy.html) are also recording the
> extensive
> benefits of the thin-client approach with scores of real examples
> submitted
> from real schools by the people using it at the front lines.
> 
> Some charitable organisations, such as Western Australia's Computer
> Angels
> (http://www.ca.asn.au/) already use Linux rather than risk being
> destroyed at
> the whim of Microsoft or their allies (http://www.bsaa.com.au/) as
> the
> Australian organisation `PCs for Kids' (http://www.pcsforkids.org/)
> effectively was late last year,
> (http://www.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/asia/08/09/aus.microsoftkids/index.html)
> 
> and a similar organisation in New Zealand was in 1997
> (http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/1B2EA829EEBB476CCC256A8F000AD1BE?opendocument).
> 
> On the other hand, Linux suppliers and users have a long tradition
> of
> supporting truly charitable organisations
> (http://www.idgnet.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/DC8B080246F1F98CCC256A940001A54C!opendocument).
> 
> Larger or American organisations are not immune, here's
> (http://www.softwaremetering.com/fines.html) a long list victims,
> with only
> one fine under USD$50,000 and some exceeding USD$500,000.
> 
> SEUL is an organisation working towards a simpler, easier Linux
> experience for
> all, and may be contacted through their website at
> http://www.seul.org/. In
> combination with your local Linux user group - which you can locate
> at
> http://www.linux.org/ - SEUL can field volunteers to help schools
> and
> charitable organisations get started in the stable, secure, safe
> world of
> Linux.
> 
> --------8<----cut-here----8<--------
> 
> --
> 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
> 
> 
> 



-- 
- cameron miller
- UNIX Systems Administrator
- cdmiller@adams.edu