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Aussie Uni Dumps Dual-Boot In Favor of Linux

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the greater-good dept.

kNIGits writes "News.com.au is reporting that the University of Wollongong have dumped their previously dual-boot installations in favour of booting Linux only. Among other reasons, staff enjoy the ease with which they can 'lock down' first year students, stopping them messing with the systems prior to learning anything about them."

5 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. Why use anything other than Linux for comp sci? by Omega · · Score: 5, Insightful
    When you think about it, Linux really is the best operating system for comp. sci students. It offers open source access to the kernel, so you can see the actual code for the operating system and how it interacts with many different types of hardware. Also you have low level access to many devices through the dev. tree so you can teach device programming methods. Not to mention the fact that the primary unix networking protocol (TCP/IP) is the same protocol that runs the internet. What better way to gain an understanding of packet based protocols than by experimenting with BSD sockets? "The Unix Time Sharing System" by Dennis Richie is one of the most elegant descriptions of an operating system that I have ever read. And by working with the text and the operating system together, students can gain a fundamental understanding of many basic low level concepts in modern computers.

    If all you want is to be an MCSE, then why waste you time with college? You can take a weekend course for a few hundred bucks (instead of 4+ years for several thousand dollars). This quote from the article by Dr. Chris McDonald of UWA pretty much sums it up:

    "Personally, I think that just showing students how to use operating systems tools and networking tools, is more training than education.
    Exactly. Showing someone how to point and click isn't teaching them anything. It's only training them how to use someone else's tools (and there are books that can teach you that in 24 hours). Real computer science education, where you gain a fundamental understanding of both high and low level concepts of the computer requires more than just clicking a start button.
  2. As someone at an Australian university... by CaptainPotato · · Score: 4, Insightful
    ...who wishes to do convince the IT powers that be to do the same, I am very happy to hear about other institutions that are doing the same. Whilst there remains a need for Windows-based machines, Macs, and whatever else is used, there are many compelling reasons for switching to Linux - these are just a few I have (whilst on University time...).

    1. Control. Whilst I would normally shudder at the thought of restricting IT access, I do appreciate UOW's desire to better manage their machines. We recently had some new machines running Win2k installed in my area, and within a day, one was in poor shape thanks to a particular idiot installing the latest Windows Media Player version on it and somehow stuffing up the OSA installation. He was able to so do thanks to the IT stroke of genius of giving everyone admin access. Whilst this may be an human issue rather than an OS one, every bit helps :)

    2. Cost. We are all aware of the studies that compare the cost of Linux to other OSes. In any case, regardless of the outcome, I do know that my insitution will be spending multiple millions per year (as of next year) for desktop software licences for MS products because of the new licence arrangements. In a country that has mounting financial challenges in university funding, alternatives to MS software need to be found.

    3. Ethics. Maybe this is too strong, but IMO it is not. Why should tapayer money be spent on making a single corporation (even) richer? A centre of teaching and research ought to have academic independence of multinational corporations.

    These are just a few, IMO, valid thoughts about the issue. Regardless, UOW deserves to be applauded for the initiative.

    --
    I heard that your library burnt down and destroyed your only two books - and one was not even coloured in yet.
  3. Just a Thought... by Hasie · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I see their point, and I agree that Linux has a place in any computer-related university curriculum as an introduction to UNIX (even ignoring the other advantagess it has), and I am a major Linux fan (to the point that I actually find Windows difficult to use).


    (You all know what comes next:) BUT, I don't think that Windows should be completely eliminated. Windows is still the de-facto standard in industry and universities owe it to their students to give them skills they can use. It is also essential that universities maintain neutrality in the sense that they do not give the impression that they are promoting one system over another - a university's role is to eductate and do research, not dictate what the world will do or follow current fads.


    Before everyone gets the wrong idea; I use the same argument to motivate the use of Linux at the university where I work (it is a very good way to teach students UNIX rather than only teaching them Windows). So what is needed is a balance.

  4. Going towards it here... by imevil · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At my school the math section has linux-only PCs for the students. The CS section has Solaris (SUN) and Windows-only machines, and they justified the no-linux by saying that the companies use Windows so no point in teaching Linux to the students. I think they got it all wrong: more and more companies are migrating to Linux, and in a couple of years there will be a need for Linux experts.

    GNUWin: open your Windows!

    1. Re:Going towards it here... by Peyna · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A CS degress means you know how it all works, but you don't have be an expert in any particular langauge, operating system, or application. Instead you should be able to easily adapt to a quickly changing field.

      For all we know, there may be some new radical ideas in the next few years that void the need to be an expert in Linux or Windows. What a horrible waste of time to work at perfecting a restricted set of skills for a proprietary system.

      --
      What?