[Lias] netNOW NZ - Getting to the source

[Paul Gear]

Andrew Dorrell wrote:

> ...
> And lets not forget the oodles of educational programs that are 
> written for windows (but not linux) 

Simon Bryan wrote:

>...
>3. 80% - 90% of what our school does on computers can be done with Mozilla,
>a mail client and Open Office. There are some specialist packages for
>education, but I am seeing an increasing number being made up of PDF, HTML,
>FLASH etc without using a n exe file of any kind. That is they are very
>portable. However it is often that 5%-10% of software that needs Wndows that
>is the major influence in purchasing decisions.
>...
>  
>

This is the absolutely critical issue for Linux deployment in schools. 
 Speaking as someone who wishes i could change my school to Linux 
tomorrow (stupid Windows XP licensing plans! :-(  ), i won't, and can't, 
because of application software.  It may be that 80-90% of what Linux 
geeks/businesses/IT professionals do can be done with OpenOffice.org and 
Mozilla, but it would be more like 40-50% at our school.  We have 
software for history, geography, physics, maths, earth science, 
literacy, accounting, etc. and *all* of it runs on Windows (much of it 
is from Windows 3.1!).  We just can't pick up Linux and put it on 
everybody's desk and expect it to work.  I can't even suggest a Windows 
XP upgrade without sending some people into a tizz about Windows 3.1 
application compatibility...

-- 
Paul Gear
Manager IT Operations
Redlands College
38 Anson Road, Wellington Point 4160
07 3286 0271
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