Try running a version of ubuntu with a faster window manager... such as Xubuntu or Linux Mint Fluxbox. I run 10 year old PC's with Pentium 3's running 500Mhz with these (one a laptop to give open office presentations). It takes about 1Ghz for Ubuntu to feel the same speed. Most netbooks are 1 to 1.6Ghz so easy for them to run Xubuntu etc.
Forget $100k... make 'em start at $10k, restricted to measurable in material costs (since all are hand built anyway). And use batteries or capacitors or solar cells.
Increase TV coverage on the engineering and less on the driver. Maybe we get more of the population interested in engineering and building things again.
I run Xubuntu on Pentium-3 @ 500Mhz & 256MB Ram, and a laptop with Linux Mint Fluxbox with same specs - about half of what your Netbook is probably running (most 1 to 1.6Ghz)- and can watch Youtube... Change your Ubuntu from Gnome to XFCE or Fluxbox window managers and you'll have a big speed increase. You can probably even use KDE and have success (Kubuntu). KDE runs on 700Mhz or better cpu's.
don't worry about c: and registers... install one of many versions of Linux to your flash drive and have a full portable OS and software like open office and firefox. leave a portion of the drive open to save files and settings. Or get fancy and put in persistence.
to switch stations. Argues about it. Even if it's a movie/show she might actually like, the watermark logo drives her to distraction. Her Dad used to watch trek and we grew up in the days of single-tv households. So now I suffer if there is a bit of SF I might want to watch.
And worked in a couple of Fortune 10 class corporations.
People are people with anything new like this. They prefer the old broken lounge chair to the shiny new because that old chair has been such a comfortable part of their life. No matter how many coil springs shot up through the seat every time they get a BSOD. : )
In the converted lab have a CD burner station available that students can burn LiveCDs. Many universities have Linux distribution mirrors already set up so it would just be a matter of locating the directory - so no 'download' necessary for the lab.
There is an LTSP user group on IRC (irc.freenode.com #ltsp) as well as the documentation to set it up in the Ubuntu.com site. It's only about five commands to get it running after base OS is installed. Later, IT people just need to upgrade the server and all clients are 'fixed' at once, no running around to 30+ workstations for separate independent installs.
LTSP is very easy - I use it in my home network (11 or 12 year old pc's stripped of all drives that have PXE bootable Ethernet cards). Plus I've set up a small manufacturing business with discarded hardware (biggest expense was running Ethernet cables). You'll only need around a 1Ghz or faster if available server and up to 30 client machines (new thin clients or free converted fat clients). For test purposes, you could use floppy disk images from rom-o-matic (.com or.net?) that will force PXE booting off the server and then they can be popped out and the client computers boot back into their normal 'fat' routines. Some labs do this at night for 'folding at home'-type of cluster computing activities.
For your coursework, you might work out something with Cannonical (www.canonical.com) to ship a box of LiveCDs to the bookstore that become 'mandatory' courseware like the student buys books - and the LiveCD is "$5" or something nominal and they are all set. They can run it Live or do an installation.
Go to this site: http://www.disklessworkstations.com/
They offer a new $110 thin client that works with LTSP. This company is active on the #ltsp channel and can help walk through initial setup.
Start with Firefox and Open Office. These programs install on Windows as well as Linux.
Get a lab switched to Linux (or 25% of a lab) - but use LTSP.org enabled on Ubuntu and use all thin clients or converted fat clients. See hardware and IT costs/attention drop dramatically. There will likely be many students who won't know the difference. Show how to download a LiveCD (from www.distrowatch.com).
Big feature to sell Open Office is the direct to.pdf export. Plus it gives students a better base to work with than they might have with their second hand pc using notepad or something or that Pirate Bay downloaded MSO that 'could have dubious viruses hidden in it'.
Bulletin board fliers, student newspapers, and "RA's" should have LiveCD's to either hand out, directions to download, or nominal fee like $5. Maybe include an Ubuntu LiveCD in the freshman 'welcome gift box', or a small sheet/card with getting one of three top LiveCDs with Open Office, Firefox, etc (gOS, Xubuntu, Mint Fluxbox - some students will have underpowered computers for Gnome or KDE or want more cpu cycles for applications).
Include links to the recommended software on the syllabus for all the entry-level classes.
It's hard to break into a switch.. you'll need to:
Get people using Open Office. Start with students, especially those using non MSOffice to complete their papers. Sell the export to pdf feature.
Show Firefox, inkscape, and gimp.. along with Open Office these programs all load on standard Windows.
Then look at LTSP.org. There are some case studies in there that show cost savings. The biggest after licenses is the need for IT support - it goes way down.
www.distrowatch.com
Just go into the OO settings and click "always open and save in MS formats" and it will be easy.
I do work with Fortune 10 corporations on down to 200 person small businesses. And we trade.ppt.doc and.xls files back and forth daily between many flavors of MSOffice and OO.
The most frequent benefit of using OO is the direct.pdf exporter. That alone has gotten many more converts.
If you're brave then switch the whole office over to OO at once. If there are some queasy nerves then do a small pilot of general office staff first before getting it to technical users (that might be pushing bleeding edge use with macros). Later these same users will be able to get there too.
For the advanced course... take a random server, install Ubuntu with the LTSP.org packages, PXE boot the clients with old stripped and converted pc's. Then load the office productivity apps. Enjoy IT cost savings joy.
I once outfitted an entire small manufacturing business this way with 'rescued from the landfill' computer equipment. Ethernet cable was the only real expense. (routers and print servers ran monowall and freesco).
Something like Revolutionary War - Tea Parties - etc. Not just 'free' as in no cost.
Quest for Freedom
Free of DRM / Restrictions on use / etc.
(and oh, by the way, it's a free download too).
FreeNAS would be a good choice - easy to install and run. You could build a Debian server that might be faster but wouldn't have the easy interface that FreeNAS has (I use debian based distros so recovery is easier than pulling files out of a BSD based FreeNAS).
Ignore the issues about energy use with a pc. You can probably choose an older PC, set the energy management features, and be close. I've had towers that run just 30w actual (using a meter) where most people read the power supply label that says "300w" and freak out that their build uses huge amounts of energy all the time.
Read the FreeNAS forums (or post your question) as some have done extensive and impressive speed runs with their builds.
You must not work at a big corporation... most of the time the new guy just starts digging in and ignores all the prior person's work (as it's somehow suspect).
Or use Xubuntu (or switch from Gnome to XFCE) - you're speed will go way up. You can add back in some eye-candy with less overhead (but I'd advise just turning most of that off on your main work station). A lot of people will have a special log-in account set up with all the eye-candy so they can demo to their friends and then use a regular account for real work.
Go into the 'Tools/Options/Load&Save' menu and change OOo from native into automatically loading and saving in MSOffice formats.
I use OOo and trade documents with my Fortune 10 corporation clients using MSOffice all the time.
I've seen more MSOffice document changes from pc to pc all using MSOffice depending on the fonts installed than I've seen with OOo to MSOffice issues.
Are there still some advanced things (outlining, macros, etc) that may work differently? Sure. But you're getting 98% of the way there and most users will never have an issue (especially if all they've used is the standard pre-installed load of non-MSOffice MS software on their pc).
Once people start to see that a PDF writer is in OOo (and you can get a PDF editor with plugins), and all the other functionality of OOo then they are hooked.
Firefox and Open Office were the software that convinced me to switch to Linux five years ago.
Not sure about SUSE... but load Xubuntu on it and it'll fly. Or load up regular Ubuntu.
The real inexpensive solution - for SMB's with 5-10 or more users is to go the route of LTSP.org It's easy to put into Ubuntu, and probably SUSE too.
Then a moderately powered server with up to 30 thin-clients (or even 10 year old pc's stripped of all drives and network PXE bootable) can function for the business.
SMBs can start with gnucash for accounting... but what they may really want are the open source ERP systems that incorporate all inventory/manufacturing/CRM/accounting into one package. OpenTap is one, but there are a lot currently and expanding in this space.
Try ganttproject.biz
I use it with Fortune top 10 corporations.
I usually export to.jpg then insert the.jpg into presentations (OOo Impress) for screen presentations or printing.
Slashdot Mirror
Try running a version of ubuntu with a faster window manager... such as Xubuntu or Linux Mint Fluxbox. I run 10 year old PC's with Pentium 3's running 500Mhz with these (one a laptop to give open office presentations). It takes about 1Ghz for Ubuntu to feel the same speed. Most netbooks are 1 to 1.6Ghz so easy for them to run Xubuntu etc.
I've been thinking the same thing. Cool to get a dozen netbook motherboards and stack them up. Probably fit in a Scooby-Do lunchbox.
Forget $100k... make 'em start at $10k, restricted to measurable in material costs (since all are hand built anyway). And use batteries or capacitors or solar cells.
Increase TV coverage on the engineering and less on the driver. Maybe we get more of the population interested in engineering and building things again.
Use an mp3 player for the vrroom vrroom sound.
I run Xubuntu on Pentium-3 @ 500Mhz & 256MB Ram, and a laptop with Linux Mint Fluxbox with same specs - about half of what your Netbook is probably running (most 1 to 1.6Ghz)- and can watch Youtube... Change your Ubuntu from Gnome to XFCE or Fluxbox window managers and you'll have a big speed increase. You can probably even use KDE and have success (Kubuntu). KDE runs on 700Mhz or better cpu's.
don't worry about c: and registers... install one of many versions of Linux to your flash drive and have a full portable OS and software like open office and firefox. leave a portion of the drive open to save files and settings. Or get fancy and put in persistence.
to switch stations. Argues about it. Even if it's a movie/show she might actually like, the watermark logo drives her to distraction. Her Dad used to watch trek and we grew up in the days of single-tv households. So now I suffer if there is a bit of SF I might want to watch.
Greek Fire
English Longbow
Atom bomb
A few nerdly projects that turned fate in wars.
Science & Engineering needs to be more celebrated in the US - the country that does not recognize it is at a disadvantage to those that do.
We have lots of movies and tv shows though. Because we'll just entertain the enemy to death.
I lived there a couple of times.
And worked in a couple of Fortune 10 class corporations.
People are people with anything new like this. They prefer the old broken lounge chair to the shiny new because that old chair has been such a comfortable part of their life. No matter how many coil springs shot up through the seat every time they get a BSOD. : )
You're right, it's a religion!
It's also Fear of something new and different.
Unless there is a big enough reason to force the move then the religious inertia will slow adoption.
In the converted lab have a CD burner station available that students can burn LiveCDs. Many universities have Linux distribution mirrors already set up so it would just be a matter of locating the directory - so no 'download' necessary for the lab.
.net?) that will force PXE booting off the server and then they can be popped out and the client computers boot back into their normal 'fat' routines. Some labs do this at night for 'folding at home'-type of cluster computing activities.
There is an LTSP user group on IRC (irc.freenode.com #ltsp) as well as the documentation to set it up in the Ubuntu.com site. It's only about five commands to get it running after base OS is installed. Later, IT people just need to upgrade the server and all clients are 'fixed' at once, no running around to 30+ workstations for separate independent installs.
LTSP is very easy - I use it in my home network (11 or 12 year old pc's stripped of all drives that have PXE bootable Ethernet cards). Plus I've set up a small manufacturing business with discarded hardware (biggest expense was running Ethernet cables). You'll only need around a 1Ghz or faster if available server and up to 30 client machines (new thin clients or free converted fat clients). For test purposes, you could use floppy disk images from rom-o-matic (.com or
For your coursework, you might work out something with Cannonical (www.canonical.com) to ship a box of LiveCDs to the bookstore that become 'mandatory' courseware like the student buys books - and the LiveCD is "$5" or something nominal and they are all set. They can run it Live or do an installation.
Go to this site: http://www.disklessworkstations.com/ They offer a new $110 thin client that works with LTSP. This company is active on the #ltsp channel and can help walk through initial setup.
Start with Firefox and Open Office. These programs install on Windows as well as Linux.
.pdf export. Plus it gives students a better base to work with than they might have with their second hand pc using notepad or something or that Pirate Bay downloaded MSO that 'could have dubious viruses hidden in it'.
Get a lab switched to Linux (or 25% of a lab) - but use LTSP.org enabled on Ubuntu and use all thin clients or converted fat clients. See hardware and IT costs/attention drop dramatically. There will likely be many students who won't know the difference. Show how to download a LiveCD (from www.distrowatch.com).
Big feature to sell Open Office is the direct to
Bulletin board fliers, student newspapers, and "RA's" should have LiveCD's to either hand out, directions to download, or nominal fee like $5. Maybe include an Ubuntu LiveCD in the freshman 'welcome gift box', or a small sheet/card with getting one of three top LiveCDs with Open Office, Firefox, etc (gOS, Xubuntu, Mint Fluxbox - some students will have underpowered computers for Gnome or KDE or want more cpu cycles for applications).
Include links to the recommended software on the syllabus for all the entry-level classes.
Training costs? Are you serious? These are Phd totting educators! They will be able to adapt quite quickly to the new software.
Open Office and Firefox are very similar in UI layout to existing options too.
It's hard to break into a switch.. you'll need to: Get people using Open Office. Start with students, especially those using non MSOffice to complete their papers. Sell the export to pdf feature. Show Firefox, inkscape, and gimp.. along with Open Office these programs all load on standard Windows. Then look at LTSP.org. There are some case studies in there that show cost savings. The biggest after licenses is the need for IT support - it goes way down. www.distrowatch.com
Just go into the OO settings and click "always open and save in MS formats" and it will be easy.
.ppt .doc and .xls files back and forth daily between many flavors of MSOffice and OO.
.pdf exporter. That alone has gotten many more converts.
I do work with Fortune 10 corporations on down to 200 person small businesses. And we trade
The most frequent benefit of using OO is the direct
If you're brave then switch the whole office over to OO at once. If there are some queasy nerves then do a small pilot of general office staff first before getting it to technical users (that might be pushing bleeding edge use with macros). Later these same users will be able to get there too.
For the advanced course... take a random server, install Ubuntu with the LTSP.org packages, PXE boot the clients with old stripped and converted pc's. Then load the office productivity apps. Enjoy IT cost savings joy.
I once outfitted an entire small manufacturing business this way with 'rescued from the landfill' computer equipment. Ethernet cable was the only real expense. (routers and print servers ran monowall and freesco).
You're up for a great adventure - don't miss it.
"it's a recession when your neighbor looses his job, and a depression when you loose yours".
Something like Revolutionary War - Tea Parties - etc. Not just 'free' as in no cost. Quest for Freedom Free of DRM / Restrictions on use / etc. (and oh, by the way, it's a free download too).
FreeNAS would be a good choice - easy to install and run. You could build a Debian server that might be faster but wouldn't have the easy interface that FreeNAS has (I use debian based distros so recovery is easier than pulling files out of a BSD based FreeNAS).
Ignore the issues about energy use with a pc. You can probably choose an older PC, set the energy management features, and be close. I've had towers that run just 30w actual (using a meter) where most people read the power supply label that says "300w" and freak out that their build uses huge amounts of energy all the time.
Read the FreeNAS forums (or post your question) as some have done extensive and impressive speed runs with their builds.
Need to run Xubuntu (not Ubuntu) as XFCE is faster than Gnome.
You must not work at a big corporation... most of the time the new guy just starts digging in and ignores all the prior person's work (as it's somehow suspect).
Or use Xubuntu (or switch from Gnome to XFCE) - you're speed will go way up. You can add back in some eye-candy with less overhead (but I'd advise just turning most of that off on your main work station). A lot of people will have a special log-in account set up with all the eye-candy so they can demo to their friends and then use a regular account for real work.
Go into the 'Tools/Options/Load&Save' menu and change OOo from native into automatically loading and saving in MSOffice formats.
I use OOo and trade documents with my Fortune 10 corporation clients using MSOffice all the time.
I've seen more MSOffice document changes from pc to pc all using MSOffice depending on the fonts installed than I've seen with OOo to MSOffice issues.
Are there still some advanced things (outlining, macros, etc) that may work differently? Sure. But you're getting 98% of the way there and most users will never have an issue (especially if all they've used is the standard pre-installed load of non-MSOffice MS software on their pc).
Once people start to see that a PDF writer is in OOo (and you can get a PDF editor with plugins), and all the other functionality of OOo then they are hooked.
Firefox and Open Office were the software that convinced me to switch to Linux five years ago.
Not sure about SUSE... but load Xubuntu on it and it'll fly. Or load up regular Ubuntu.
The real inexpensive solution - for SMB's with 5-10 or more users is to go the route of LTSP.org It's easy to put into Ubuntu, and probably SUSE too.
Then a moderately powered server with up to 30 thin-clients (or even 10 year old pc's stripped of all drives and network PXE bootable) can function for the business.
SMBs can start with gnucash for accounting... but what they may really want are the open source ERP systems that incorporate all inventory/manufacturing/CRM/accounting into one package. OpenTap is one, but there are a lot currently and expanding in this space.
Get a "kill-a-watt" meter & you can test your setup. Most setups I've tested show 20w-30W on the pc and 90w on the CRT.
Try ganttproject.biz .jpg then insert the .jpg into presentations (OOo Impress) for screen presentations or printing.
I use it with Fortune top 10 corporations.
I usually export to