[Linux-aus] New Federal Govt's Education/PC plans

[Jeff Waugh]

<quote who="Paul Coldrey">

> Phil Rhoades wrote:
> > Since they are supposed to be new computers, we should be pushing a
> > Linux OS as well . .
> >   
> If the machines don't need Windows then that should save some money and
> allow for less budget or more PCs,.. right? Surely that is a simple
> message that would make sense to politicians.

They won't save much on machines without Windows. Either the machines will
already have Windows and/or mass education licenses will make it irrelevant
anyway. The pitch would need to be about "value" not "cheap".

The challenge for the community is that we offer ideology, not solutions --
and both this government *and* this project are going to be totally focused
on solutions. (I hold our values dear, but our message must be appropriate
to our audience.)

We need to be careful about how we approach this, to avoid coming across as
a difficult, single-issue-driven, political hot potato.

(As such, I think OSIA is the place for pursuing this.)

Thanks,

- Jeff

-- 
GNOME.conf.au 2008: Melbourne, Australia http://live.gnome.org/Melbourne2008
 
  "First-born children are less creative but more stable, while last-born
         are more promiscuous, says US research." - BBC News, 2005