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User: willie_wampus

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  1. Re:OMG ! SWITCH TO LINUX! on Transitioning From Small Shop IT To Enterprise? · · Score: 1

    Ok...I'm quite sure you're joking. But lets think about this since some people would make a serious argument to the same tune. I work for a school district. Pure MS shop with around 1300 users and 700 comps across 4 sites. Not a small network, but not exactly enterprise. Heres what would happen if we migrated to Linux:

    1. Extreme confusion among high-ups as to why we have rendered their computers useless to them.
    2. IT staff spending all day teaching software rather than solving problems.
    3. Wide spread mutiny.
    4. Another staff going back to MS since we all got fired and/or ravaged in the riots.

    This applies only to desktop. Servers would be ok. And if you were to make such a bold move, would you seriously choose Gentoo? Any Linux distro is confusing as hell to a Linux virgin...but Gentoo would be way too difficult for inexperienced users(and lets face it. most users are exactly that). Then you have other issues to consider such as hardware/software compatibility. Last year I pitched an idea to our superintendent to install Edubuntu on one machine in each classroom of our primary school. Everything went great. I pitched the idea. Two weeks later demoed the software for admins. Two weeks later started the project. About one month later I received an email from the state board of ed saying we had 5 days to return the 31 machines to xp. Heres the point: Linux is scary, scary stuff to anyone who doesn't know it. Needless to say, I was very frustrated at the states decision. The reason for the migration was so the kids could understand the software they were using. I know children learn things much faster than adults, but can you really expect a pre-k student to understand and enjoy using windows. Of course not. They need a OS for children...like Edubuntu. Not to mention the benefit of having a OS strictly for learning. But heres the kicker. What happens when a student uses Linux from grades K-6? You have a 7th grader with a genuine knowledge of computers, not just the candy coated MS crap. Last year 68% of students taking the first of two required computer courses failed it. There is no reason for that. Everyone <b>must</b> have a decent knowledge of computers and an ability to adapt to different software if they want to land a job where they will be using computers, and I figure thats about 99% of all jobs offered to college grads. And isn't that the big idea for schools? Producing students who can go to college, got a job, and make somebody lots of money. MS software does not provide people with that ability.

    To anyone who actually read this post:

    Please promote Linux when and wherever you can. Microsoft and Apple both are making people computer illiterate. It's impossible to gain technical knowledge when the software you are using does everything for you with a simple mouse click.

  2. Re:What happened to Apple? on Edubuntu - Linux For Young Human Beings! · · Score: 1

    I think you guys are missing the point. I have never seen or heard of this os until now (even as a kubuntu user...out of the loop and proud of it!) It is my opinion that the developers of ubuntu did not write edubuntu with the intention of hooking children on linux. I'm sure that was a factor, but i would like to believe that the idea was to create on operating system that would aid in the education process. I am a technology assistant for a school system. All of our workstation run win 98 - 2k - xp. children don't get it. Our primary school students can't lauch games and other apps by themselves. Even after the teacher starts the app for them, it is difficult for the kids to use the app. I think an entire os designed for children is a wonderful idea.