Re: [seul-edu] MS offer

["Ed Sheridan" <esheridan@forestcity.k12.ia.us>]

>> Best way to deal with this is to _not_ deal with this.

I agree that such offers are not free as in freedom, and that should be
taken into account, but that doesn't mean that any such offer from M$ should
be dismissed out of hand or simply ignored.

Microsoft certainly realizes that if they lose the school market, they will
really lose the war. When Linux on the desktop really becomes a threat, the
first sign will be free software to schools, and not just old copies of
Windows for Workgroups 3.11.  They simply cannot afford to lose the
mindshare of young people.

These sort of offers from M$ are our opportunity to push for
interoperability and open document standards. What good is "free" software
for the school if the documents created in that software cannot be
accurately rendered by OpenOffice?



----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Hornbaker" <chrishornbaker@earthlink.net>
To: <seul-edu@seul.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: [seul-edu] MS offer


> Okay, on a more serious note.
>
> Best way to deal with this is to _not_ deal with this.
>
> Even if they gave it away for gratis, doesn't mean the support will be,
that is, if they offer any.
>
> Just my (real) two cents.
>
>
> On Wed, 9 Oct 2002 18:33:35 -0500
> "Dave Prentice" <prentice@instruction.com> wrote:
>
> > Hey guys,
> >     Looks like MS is starting to pay attention to public concern. I
> > got a very nice email from a lady who works for MS asking if I am
> > still trying to load Linux on old machines at my school. It seems MS
> > is now looking into making available OS's and Works for older machines
> > in schools. She says she hopes it will be free, and wants to come
> > visit. Comments?
> > Dave Prentice
> > prentice@instruction.com
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Christopher Hornbaker              Email: xion@openschooling.org
> Founder of OpenSchooling           Jabber ID: hexCAESAR@jabber.org
> http://www.openschooling.org       IRC Nick: hexCAESAR