OpenSuSE to Release Linux Distro for Educators

christian.einfeldt writes "The next version of openSUSE, due out in the fall, will include an add-on CD optimized for educators. According to the Education section of the openSUSE wiki, the openSUSE community sees the add-on as a way to make it easy for school administrators to create both networked systems and stand-alone desktops for teachers and students. To tailor the add-on CD to the needs of educators, the openSUSE community is asking educators and technologists to submit their software successes, applications used, and 'HOW-TOs' for writing applications and using applications. Dubbed the SLEDucator, the package collection is being included as an add-on, as opposed to a new distro or a fork."

Comments

Good approach

[SplatMan_DK]

Making the CD as an add-on is a great idea. One of the nightmares most educators face when they attempt to introduce Linux into their school is the myriad of distros and choices they have to somehow analyze and understand. By simply adding the tools an educator needs for administrating a collection of Linux computers in a school, they make the distro a lot more attractive.

Schools generally don't have large IT department loaded with hardcore Linux geeks.

Re:the SLEDucator

[Overzeetop]

...edubuntu...worth a look too if you run linux and have kids..."

Looked at it, loved it, got it running now on an old laptop for the 4yo. Can't get the wireless networking running, but she's still working through the "games". Wish there were some more puzzles; for some reason they're her favorite.

Re:What is different?

[JasonWM]

-school technician
-uses LTS in school district
-doesn't get summer off
-knows techs aren't part of the teachers union
-no commercials, no crap,no budget, just work as hard as you can
-doesn't bitch

Being the tech director (sole technician/network admin/everything guy in a system with 250 desktops, 13 servers, 1200 accounts), and having tested SUSE enterprise for distribution, I know it isn't close to edubuntu as far as being ready for school distribution. I know some CIO's/techs are saying SUSE is ready for enterprise, and it may well be, but I don't have the time, money, or political support to move something like this forward despite a solid pushing from my part towards open-source technologies.

Time will tell, but even with an add-on to suse, it will be awhile before they get my support

Why Linux in Education Fails

[MadMacSkillz]

Adding another CD won't matter. Linux won't take off in schools for a boatload of reasons, support being perhaps the biggest. We've got former and current classroom teachers running networks in schools. They've got their hands full with OS X Server, they're completely blown away by Windows 2003 Server, and they've got no hope of making Linux work campuswide with all of their current peripherals AND finding replacement software for all of their educational titles AND securing the thing so the kids don't mess it up AND keeping everything up and running AND finding open source alternatives to programs mandated by the state that don't come in anything but Windows and OS X AND... I could go on and on and on. Linux will one day be the number one operating system, or some future OS based on it will. But not today.

Re:Now all we need is a similar add-on for SMBs

[SplatMan_DK]

While i do have some understanding of business processed, IT architecture and basic programming I am no way near geeky enough to undertake such a project.

I am the guy who would be able to push such a product/distro/add-on to the SMBs ... not the guy who can code it. In other words I can increase the use once it is there - but not create it from scratch.

I will be following SUSE and openSUSE more closely in the future though. I think that the more business-oriented approach that Novell has, strengthens Linux community - not the opposite (as some might say).