Linux Desktop for university staff

[Hodgins Family]

Good afternoon!

> This is backwards. In my university, myself and a few other linux
> users are respected because we use linux. We are thought of as the
> computer-guys. Even if I've been on linux for about three months and I
> continually ask newbie questions. No one will thing that you cant
> afford windows if you dont use it. They will think that you've
> outgrown it.
> 
> Dotan Cohen

You might want to toss in the use of Macs. Lots of academics use Macs
because it gives them comfort to hate/abuse Microsoft. And, Mr. Cohen,
you are, indeed, in a enviable position! Other academic environments
might have your pioneering mindset being written off with less desirable
titles!

Of interest to you, there is another thread developing in this list
under the subject of: Re: Vulgar posts by novell email address? was: OT:
Incredible Rudenessin Evolution Bugzilla

What is of interest is the following snippet from that thread:

> In addition to the other examples I already mentioned: I am trying to
> introduce Linux as a desktop where I work (big corporation, no garage
> shop), to save money. I am saying come on, let's try this and that
> app, so we can cut virus downtime and service costs (the "public
> forums are fast and helpful" argument). Evolution and its Exchange
> plugin would be great in our corporate environment, but I *must* step
> around it very carefully because if *one* tester or boss happens into
> a situation like this, I would be told exactly (see your words above)
> "You're an engineer, not a sysadmin. This wasn't your business, and
> you have little justification for involving yourself in the issue.
> Stop playing and go back to slooowly accessing Linux remotely from
> Windows".

This poster has the same vision as our own OP. And obviously, this
poster is encountering "issues".
Personally, I want to know how our OP will face these issues. Substitute
engineer for student and sysadmin for professor/chairman in the above
snippet.

Now, for what it is worth, for the OP who is still monitoring this
thread, I have had an off-list communication with an individual who is
enthusiastic about a distribution called Scientific Linux (The web site
is www.scientificlinux.org). It is based on RedHat. Some of the
applications  that it has are available for viewing at:
www.distrowatch.com . I know nothing about it. I have no idea how many
universities/departments have actually embraced this distribution. I am,
however, quite happy to recant my earlier statement that suggested that
*nix departments were unable to get faculty interested in using Linux.
Here, obviously, is ONE group that WAS successful. Might be worth
contacting the admin group to see how they got faculty to switch.

As well, I have encountered a distribution called: Skolelinux. Its
website is http://www.skolelinux.org/. Its packages are also available
for viewing at distrowatch.com. Again, I have no idea how extensive is
use is in the academic world, but it seems to have a lot of the software
that you might need. Note, that it is a Debian distribution, not a
RedHat/Fedora distribution.

Please, Mr. Tepegoz, keep us updated on your progress.

Rob