Re: [K12OSN] We're promoting k12LTSP (continued......)

[BMan <bman bman is-a-geek org>]

My wife and I had a discussion yesterday about XP vs. Linux.  Some 
background here.  She is a Usability Specialist for a Human Factors 
consulting firm who has done work for Sony/Ericsson, IBM and other large 
and small clients.  The discussion basically revolved around how the 
cartoonish desktop and interfaces fit the users needs.  Long story short 
what came out of the conversation was we believe the Linux user has the 
tools to make it whatever they want it to be in a much easier and 
quicker fashion.  It also allows for higher customization, tweaking and 
personalization.  We are individuals aren't we?  So why does microsoft 
try to force us to utilize a more common environment?  Dependency?? 
Simulation or is a limitation in there ability to code for all the real 
issue?  Regardless, the real question in my opinion is how it limits our 
resouces of tommorow, our children.

Look at the interface in XP and you will see once again microsoft is 
hiding or taking away the ease of control from the user.  Meaning, look 
at how many clicks it takes you to get the administrative interface up 
and controlling gui's.  :(  On the other side Linux allows you not only 
to customize the look and appearance of the desktop easier but has taken 
it many steps further.  If you don't like the windows manager you toss 
it out the window and find one you like (pun intended).  Another 
interesting point to make is why the heck is the command prompt under 
accessories in both XP and 2000?  More and more the command prompt is 
removed from the picture even though many useful commands are available 
only via the command prompt.  We believe Linux gives the power to the 
people.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying students shouldn't see XP, 
2000 and such.  As I said in earlier posts/rants, they should be given 
the choice.  I personally feel the Redmond products take many of the 
choices away from the user and limit the abiltiy for students to expand 
there thinking.

Another area that maybe interesting to comment on, excuse me if someone 
has already done this, is TCO  (total cost of ownership).  Yes we all 
know that Linux is distributed freely, however, that doesn't mean it is 
totally free as many of you already know.  Does this out way the large 
costs you pay for windows?  and does paying for the OS give you better 
support?  I'm not sure I can really thoroughly verbalize the next 
thought, however, I want to throw it out to the list anyway.  When we 
speak of  TCO, do most folks even take into consideration the outcome of 
how it impacts the student and their daily life?  If we deem exposure to 
variety of areas important for a well rounded student, then doesn't 
limiting the exposure to one vendors OS and software limit the exposure 
and thus increase the TCO?  If we only taught students Math and Science 
or English and Art where do you think this country would be?  Isn't 
teaching only windoze limiting us?  Your thoughts?

Regards,
BMan

P.S.  Sorry for the rant.



Amy Daniels wrote:

> Hi,
>
> My colleague and I are "new" to the Listserv and have been lurking
> since last fall. We are both Media Specialists at a high school in South
> Carolina.   We are very interested in learning more and have spent many
> hours reading and researching all we can.  We were very fortunate to be
> able to visit Michael Williams in NC to see his beautiful new lab.  
>
> We submitted a proposal to present a session on K12LTSP for others here
> in SC.  We have just found out that our proposal to the University of
> South Carolina's InfoTech has been accepted.  We are very excited about
> this and hope that others in our state will begin to open their eyes.  
>
> If you have any suggestions you would like to offer, please feel free
> to contact us...we are still in the early learning stages, and currently
> meeting must resistence to our ideas!
>
> Here are two links you might like to see...one is to the page for
> InfoTech and the other is to the homepage for our high school....
>
> http://usr.cla.sc.edu/FMPro?-db=sessions2003.fp5&-format=inf203%2fbrwlv2.html&-lay=detail&-sortfield=sday&-sortfield=sbt&sday=%3dWednesday&-recid=105&-token.0=25&-token.1=Wednesday,%20May%2014,%202003&-find=
>
>
> http://www.lex2.k12.sc.us/ahs/2002/
>
> Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge...we hope that one day soon
> we will be able to implement this with our students!
>
>
> Amy B. Daniels, CIC
> Media Specialist
> Airport High School
> 1315 Boston Ave.
> West Columbia, SC 29170
> 803-822-5640
> 803-822-5665 fax
> adaniels lex2 k12 sc us
>
>
> I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious
> cult. 
> - Rita Rudner
>
>
>
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