[K12OSN] *Everyone Please Read - Banding Together to Create Market Forces*

Paul VanGundy vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us
Sun Jan 29 11:02:23 UTC 2006


Scott and All,

I agree. We do need to start banding together. Not just as an
educational community as a whole, but as small educational groups as
well. It would be great for us to share what programs we each use at our
schools on a listserv such as this or on a website. 

For example, let's suppose we have a website. On that website can be
educational programs and testing applications that schools and school
districts use. You hyperlink the name of the program/testing software.
In my example we'll use the NWEA testing. So you click on the NWEA
testing and a list of all school districts/schools that use NWEA will
pop up. I now have a list of all the educational organizations that use
this program and would potentially like to see it ported to Linux. With
that, then you have your educational group that can push and report it
to vendors like CrossOver office. This reference could also be valuable
to vendors as they can visit and see what programs are in high demand
for Linux production.

Without something like OpenSource/Linux Educational Groups then we stand
less of a chance of seeing programs we would like to see produced for
Linux a reality.

Anyone and everyone. Let me know if this is something you feel that
would be beneficial. I will be purchasing a website so that we can start
banding together and listing programs we use. I believe it would be an
invaluable resource on many levels. Give me feedback please. Thanks.

-Paul

-- 
Paul VanGundy
Information Technology Director
Epping High School
Epping Middle School
P: 603.679.5472
F: 603.679.2966
vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us
Registered Linux User #398783


On Sat, 2006-01-28 at 21:54 -1000, R. Scott Belford wrote:
> As this list grows and as FOSS installations reach more and more 
> academic markets, we will be FOOLS not band together to create market 
> forces.  We just read Jeremy tell Paul "we just need a few of you guys 
> to band together and nudge us into it."  Rhetorically speaking, how many 
> of you need this program and have either written or now plan to write 
> Jeremy?  He just made it clear; your *market* feedback counts.
> 
> Guess what the Pearson sales team told me about running NovaNet on 
> Linux? "I am sure that if we heard from enough school districts asking 
> for it, we'd make it happen.  We'd have to."  Since he has only heard 
> from me, he is happy to see HOSEF try to make it work with CrossOver Office.
> 
> There are really nice, well-meaning, but overwhelmed sales teams all 
> over the education marketplace.  The need more money for their 
> commissions.  Now.  When you are the first to call, explain the 
> potential size of your sale,  and emphasize your need for their product 
> to run on Linux, you get attention.  When you are the 10th, you are part 
> of trend.  When you are the 20th, you may have just cemented change.
> 
> --scott
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 





More information about the K12OSN mailing list