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

[Brent Wallis]

Hi,

Could I make a suggestion on the CD Distro?

Why not go one step better and deliver a freebie PC/ laptop to some
key individuals
with preloaded, perfectly tuned software that has everything being
touted as useful.

In my mind, the best way to win this would be to present a complete,
no stress solution..(not ethos/philisophical arguments)..and it would
start with them getting something that just turns on and
works....something that really wows some decision makers...
Flash wallpaper...I mean a team of experts should create a really wow
package to load up...! Flash wallpaper etc!

If cost is an issue, why not pool resource, negotiate with potential
hardware suppliers to get the equipment?
Even a small order would make it worth it for them.

Providing it wasn;t going to "Frank's friends in the EDU IT
departemnt"...I would glady put up for 5 LTs
to achieve this...

5 LT's, perfectly setup by the best in LA to 5 key evaluators would
really go a long way.

Rgds
BW

On Dec 5, 2007 10:32 AM, Paul Wayper <paul.wayper at anu.edu.au> wrote:
> David Lloyd wrote:
> > Indeed - it may be easier to introduce people in education (students,
> > teachers, lecturers and such) to open source applications that provide
> > value rather than to an operating system.
> >
>
> This I totally agree with.
>
> > Specifically, an operating system is rather useless without any
> > applications for most end users. Consequently, replacing Windows and its
> > host of applications (Microsoft Office, Matlab, Photoshop) with
> > something people don't know how to use is actually a step backwards.
> >
>
> Although, once again a point in our favour is that when people buy
> Microsoft Windows they don't get any of those applications for free,
> they all have to be purchased separately.  You can't find some
> already-installed 'package manager' to help you install them, either,
> you have to buy products at a store (usually).  So while I agree that
> installing 'just' Linux - e.g. the kernel, the standard GNU utilities
> and X-windows - isn't going to deliver any real value, a standard
> install of Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, SuSE or whatever already delivers far
> more than that.
>
> Naturally, the end users of the talked-about laptops aren't going to do
> this process - they'll get whatever system image is rolled out by the
> team of experts who put it together.  The key feature I think we can
> push here is that that Open Disc or Ubuntu install CD or whatever can be
> copied and given out and shared and utilised in many more ways than any
> proprietary software offering.
>
> One point, here.  Whatever accompanying letter goes with the Open Discs,
> it needs to have a way for the recipients to verify that what they're
> getting is authentic.  I talked to a person who'd just done a week's
> training on Microsoft Windows XP Pro and they were repeatedly told that
> you should not install anything that is unsigned, and the trainer
> acknowledged that that basically meant only products that it suited
> Microsoft to sign.  So if that's the message that's being pushed, we
> need to have something quite clearly in there saying "these are fully
> legitimate applications - to verify them, you can ring us or email us or
> whatever and we'll walk you through the whole verification process."
> Alternatively, simultaneously with sending out the CDs, approach the
> party organisers to try and get them to pass on the message that these
> CDs are OK.
>
> While I don't think there are that many phishing attempts aimed
> specifically at politician's offices, I don't think that any half-savvy
> computer user these days expects to get an unknown, unsolicited CD in
> the mail and just plonk it in their drive and press the go button.  The
> last thing we want here is some sort of 'scare' caused by someone
> misinterpreting our genuine offer of help as a dodgy scam.  If they can
> try to pass bills banning dihydrogen monoxide, then they can easily call
> the police on this kind of thing.
>
> > So, the open source CD may be a good way to go as well with real support
> > by web-sites and by professionals.
> >
>
> I'll put my hand up here and volunteer to be a person 'on call' for any
> MP who wants any help with using or installing the Open Disc.
>
> Have fun,
>
> Paul
>
>
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