[K12OSN] Maine and Laptops

[Joseph Morelock]

Some thoughts:

[snip]

> This has made things quite easy, but I think my way would
> be even better.  Imaging the iBooks is quite a task due to the Open
> Firmware password that is in place.  In my plan....we could simple use
> "dd" to copy images willy-nilly all over the place....or maybe even 
> g4u.
> Knoppix has almost everything we need and then some....we could add
> anything else that's needed prior to distribution.  Well....that's my
> idea, but no ones really listening to me  ;-)

[/snip]

You need to consider closely a solution that lets you do incremental 
(think:updates) changes to your system easily

Check it:

http://www.radmind.org

Works with Linux and Mac OSX


[snip]

> Then we'd
> have a writable partition that would be the students persistent home
> directory and a place to store local settings such as browser prefs and
> printers.  Any locally added software could be loaded here as well.

[/snip]

You might be wise to keep the student home directories on the server, 
rather than having any write access to your boxes.

Just my 2 pennies.

Joe



On Dec 15, 2004, at 6:18 PM, David Trask wrote:

> I'm also on the front lines of 1 to 1 laptop computing....we have a 
> couple
> hundred here in Vassalboro.  They are Apple ibooks which for the most 
> part
> are fine....I happen to love my own G4 iBook.  Anyway...I had a 
> proposal
> (read fantasy) about how to pursue inexpensive and reliable mobile
> computing.  The thin-client laptop idea has a lot of merit, but 
> requires
> one to be always connected....my idea is this:
>
> An inexpensive yet functional PC laptop running a locally (statewide)
> rolled version of Knoppix loaded on to a read-only partition.  Then 
> we'd
> have a writable partition that would be the students persistent home
> directory and a place to store local settings such as browser prefs and
> printers.  Any locally added software could be loaded here as well.  
> One
> of the nice things about the iBooks is the ability to restrict users 
> from
> messing things up using permissions (after all it's based on 
> Unix...Mac OS
> X).  The Maine laptops have essentially 3
> users....admin.....teacher....and student.  Teacher can use most 
> anything,
> but is locked from "some" of the settings (to prevent them from 
> screwing
> too much up).....student can't use some apps such as iChat...etc....and
> they have virtually no access to settings outside of printers and their
> own password.  This has made things quite easy, but I think my way 
> would
> be even better.  Imaging the iBooks is quite a task due to the Open
> Firmware password that is in place.  In my plan....we could simple use
> "dd" to copy images willy-nilly all over the place....or maybe even 
> g4u.
> Knoppix has almost everything we need and then some....we could add
> anything else that's needed prior to distribution.  Well....that's my
> idea, but no ones really listening to me  ;-)
>
>
>
> "Support list for opensource software in schools." <k12osn at redhat.com> 
> on
> Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 8:07 PM +0000 wrote:
>> I certainly hope that we get to be "creative" in our 1-1 solutions.  
>> I am
>> still trying to get reimbursed for self wiring our highschool for a
>> wireless infrastructure.  The app. is about 5 pages long.  I was also
>> struck by the statement that they will be paying more of the 
>> educational
>> costs when in actuality they will be paying around 61 million dollars 
>> less
>> when going to the Essential Program and Services.  As the proposal is 
>> now,
>> we will lose over 1 million in our district alone -- and I am 
>> supposed to
>> buy laptops for everyone????  I am very interested to get the actual
>> facts.  We are opening our network up to students to bring their own
>> devices after the holidays and putting 25 linux laptops into the 
>> English
>> classes at the same time.
>>
>> I had a thin (flash bootable) laptop that I tested for a few months.  
>> It
>> was almost ready for kids and I am definately going to pursue it again
>> when I get the details on this new proposal.
>>
>> I suppose those of you not in Maine are not as interested in this, 
>> but we
>> may be calling you for input on open source solutions for 1-1.
>
>
> David N. Trask
> Technology Teacher/Coordinator
> Vassalboro Community School
> dtrask at vcs.u52.k12.me.us
> (207)923-3100
>
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>
>
Joseph Morelock
Director of Network & Information Services
Canby School District
morelocj at canby.k12.or.us
503.266.7861

Abstention from any aleatory undertaking precludes a potential 
escalation of a lucrative nature.