[seul-edu] [Fwd: Re: [school-core] Computer Donations Message]

[Doug Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

Karl Sarnow wrote:

>
> Doug,
>         I am collecting voices on behalf of FSuB e.V. in Germany. We will (I am sure)
> probably vote with yes. But may be we can add some more arguments.
>
> 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."
> >
>
> May be we can add a sentence, that we think that coupling computer hardware and software is
> an illegal process. A consumer must have a choice on his hardware to use any operating
> system/software he wants and has bought legally.
>
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Dr. Karl Sarnow
> Teacher at Gymnasium Isernhagen
> German national co-ordinator of the European Schools Project
> e-Mail: karl@dadoka.h.ni.schule.de
> URL: http://www.shuttle.schule.de/h/dadoka




--
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