Re: [seul-edu] Donated Computers Issue (opportunity knocks)

[Leon Brooks <leon@brooks.fdns.net>]

On Wednesday 01 May 2002 15:20, Roger Dingledine wrote:
> On Wed, May 01, 2002 at 10:09:10AM +0800, Leon Brooks wrote:
> Excellent. I nominate you as $PERSON. I'll stamp the word 'official'
> on it, and we're good to go. You want to make a web page out of it? Or
> just get a final draft here and then send it out to places.

Send you a final draft and have you put it on SEUL.org.

>> $LOCATION, Wednesday:
   ^^^^^^^^^ where is suel.org hosted?


>> In an official announcement from the SEUL group
>> today, $PERSON overturned Microsoft's draconian threats against the
>> acceptance of donated computers by schools and other needy organisations.

>> "Microsoft claim that it is a legal requirement that pre-installed
>> operating

> claims

Dunno, is Microsoft a group (collective) or a single entity? The Borg always 
said `we'. (-:

>> systems remain with the computer for the life of the computer," $HESHE
>> said. "Like viruses and security issues, that problem is almost exclusive
>> to Microsoft. Using Linux, OpenOffice.org and other Open Source software,
>> you can accept practically any donated computer regardless of operating
>> system, erase the existing software, install Open Source software and
>> operate the computer legally and safely as a powerful workstation or a
>> server, at little or no cost."

>> $PERSON also explained that Linux rolled back the burdens, costs and
>> legal

> Is 'rolled back' a well-known PR phrase here? I only know what it means
> because I know what it's meant to mean.

I could say `rolled away', would that do? Also, `noted' instead of `explained' 
twice in the one par.

>> risks of licence management and software asset auditing for all
>> businesses, organisations and individuals. Linux is also easy to operate
>> as a diskless workstation or "thin client", and many schools were rolling
>> out networks of student terminals using this technology with both donated
>> and new equipment, $HESHE explained.

    SEUL have dozens of case studies from real schools on line
    (http://casestudy.seul.org/cgi-bin/caseview0.pl) showing the
    immediate financial advantages of this strategy, and the K-12 Linux
    Terminal Server Project group (http://www.k12ltsp.org/casestudy.html)
    are also recording the extensive benefits of the thin-client approach
    with scores of real examples submitted from real schools by the
    people using it at the front lines.

> Having a couple of example schools here would be excellent. Eg,
> look at http://casestudy.seul.org/cgi-bin/caseview0.pl and
> http://www.k12ltsp.org/casestudy.html. Beacon, Riverdale, and Yorktown
> are the canonical examples we use.

Yes.

> Would it also be worthwhile to reference libraries and schools that are
> refusing donations because they're scared of attracting attention from
> Microsoft? It would give people a sense of urgency and seriousness,
> but it might also distract them.

No. It's a distraction at this point. The most I would do is quote the wording 
from one, if there is one to hand already...? Anyone...?

I'm wondering if it's worth mentioning that `a library site', in presenting 
Microsoft's claims unedited, has apparently lent them unwarranted authority.

It would probably be worth mentioning organisations like Perth's Computer 
Angels (http://www.ca.asn.au/) which have already turned to Linux rather than 
be shut down as their colleagues in the Eastern States (name soon to be 
supplied, and hopefully (a) URL(s) documenting the shutdown). How's this?

    Some charitable organisations, such as Western Australia's Computer Angels
    (http://www.ca.asn.au/) already use Linux rather than risk being destroyed
    at the whim of Microsoft or their allies (http://www.bsaa.com.au/) as the
    Australian organisation `PCs for Kids' (http://www.pcsforkids.org/)
    effectively were late last year,
    (http://www.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/asia/08/09/aus.microsoftkids/index.html)
    and a similar organisation in New Zealand were in 1997
(http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/1B2EA829EEBB476CCC256A8F000AD1BE?opendocument).
    Linux suppliers and users have a long tradition of supporting truly
    charitable organisations
(http://www.idgnet.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/DC8B080246F1F98CCC256A940001A54C!opendocument).

>> SEUL is an organisation working towards a simpler, easier Linux
>> experience for all, and may be contacted through their website at
>> http://www.seul.org/. In combination with your local Linux user group -
>> which you can locate at http://www.linux.org/ - SEUL can field volunteers
>> to help schools and charitable organisations get started in the stable,
>> secure, safe world of Linux.

Cheers; Leon