[K12OSN] D Day

[Scott Sherrill]

I think the phrase "the real world uses Windows" is the next big 
point we need to address.   The same statement has been mentioned at 
my school too.  I have a teacher very afraid of switching to Linux, 
I've shown him how it works, he's used it, knows what applications 
are available, he even likes using Linux, but don't switch his lab 
because "the real world uses Windows".  The phrase raises it's ugly 
head in other spots too (substitute Windows for Office and I am 
fighting that one too).

Perhaps we should compile a list of companies that are using Linux on 
the desktop. If we could illustrate and document that companies large 
and small are using Linux and switching to Linux on the desktop 
perhaps we could dispell that statement?

Off the top of my head:

* IBM - switching to 100% Linux on desktop in 2005? (anyone have an 
article to support?)
* Haliburton - 13,000 desktops switching in 2005 
(http://www.cio.com/archive/031503/opensource.html)
* Ford - I swear I heard Ford was considering the switch on Slashdot.
* Largo, FL
* ?

Thoughts?


>I went in and it was clear from the outset that his hands were tied.
>
>He wanted Linux - and was very very curious as to how it would perform (I
>haven't a spare machine that I could have setup to demonstrate how easy it
>is to use) in the school environment.
>The management however didnt see the use in using Linux as "the real world
>uses Windows" - I gave up at that point, there was no point in talking to
>him about it as he was on my side, it was the management who were stubborn
>with it.
>
>Strangle-hold is right - and it's really such a shame. An entire lab has to
>be upgraded to make it suitable for Windows 2000.
>*sigh*
>
>Daniel
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: anthony baldwin [mailto:anthonybaldwin at snet.net]
>Sent: 02 June 2004 10:25
>To: Support list for opensource software in schools.
>Subject: Re: [K12OSN] D Day
>
>
>daniel.hunt at iibbank.ie wrote:
>>  Windows it is ... ah well :o)
>>
>
>I just don't get it....With so many advantages to open source, there is
>no logic whatever in choosing to shell out thousands of dollars for
>bloated, insecure, buggy, unstable software.
>I don't understand why anyone chooses windows or this strangle-hold M$
>has on our schools.  It's sickening.
>Gosh, I'm probably as dissappointed as you are!
>
>tony
>
>
>======================================================
>This email and any attached files are confidential and may
>be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee.
>Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.
>If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, reproduction,
>copying, distribution, or other dissemination or use of this
>communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received
>this transmission in error please notify the sender immediately
>by telephone at ++353 1 6035800 or email emailadmin at iibbank.ie
>and then delete this email.
>Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free
>as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed,
>arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses.The sender therefore
>does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents
>of this message, and shall have no liability for any loss or damage
>suffered by the user, which arise as a result of email transmission. 
>If verification is required please request a hard copy version.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>K12OSN mailing list
>K12OSN at redhat.com
>https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn
>For more info see <http://www.k12os.org>