[seul-edu] Computer Donations Message

[Doug Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

SEUL has been thinking about responding to Microsoft's attempt to
force schools to refuse to accept donated computers without the
original OS installed.  Below is a copy of the last version of the
draft message we've come up with.  We were thinking that this
message might have more impact if it came from Schoolforge rather
than from just SEUL.  But we think it has to go out fairly quickly
while people are still thinking about Microsoft's webpage.

Could we have a vote on whether or not to send such a message out
under the Schoolforge name?  Remember, you're voting for your
organization, not yourself, so do whatever consultation you need to
before deciding.  To vote, just reply to this message with the
appropriate subject line--"Computer Donations Message--yes" or
"Computer Donations Message--no".  I'm voting "yes," of course,
since I'm bringing the idea up.  Please try to vote as soon as
possible.  Time is important here.  We'd like to put this out this
week yet; certainly no later than Tuesday of next week.

--------8<----cut-here----8<--------

LINUX ENABLES SAFE COMPUTER DONATIONS TO SCHOOLS

The Internet, Thursday, 02 May 2002: In an official announcement
from the SEUL
group today, spokesman Leon Brooks overturned Microsoft's draconian
threats
against the acceptance of donated computers by schools and other
needy
organisations.

"Microsoft claims that it is a legal requirement that pre-installed
operating
systems remain with the computer for the life of the computer," he
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,
all at
little or no cost."

Mr Brooks also noted that Linux rolled away the burdens, costs and
legal
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,
he explained.

SEUL has dozens of case studies from real schools on line
(http://casestudy.seul.org/) 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.

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 was late last year,
(http://www.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/asia/08/09/aus.microsoftkids/index.html)

and a similar organisation in New Zealand was in 1997
(http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/1B2EA829EEBB476CCC256A8F000AD1BE?opendocument).

On the other hand, Linux suppliers and users have a long tradition
of
supporting truly charitable organisations
(http://www.idgnet.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/DC8B080246F1F98CCC256A940001A54C!opendocument).

Larger or American organisations are not immune, here's
(http://www.softwaremetering.com/fines.html) a long list victims,
with only
one fine under USD$50,000 and some exceeding USD$500,000.

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.

--------8<----cut-here----8<--------

--
Doug Loss                 All I want is a warm bed
Data Network Coordinator  and a kind word and
Bloomsburg University     unlimited power.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Ashleigh Brilliant