| Linux enables computer donations to schools |
May 08, 2002
The Internet -- (press release excerpt) -- In an official announcement from the SchoolForge group today, spokesman Leon Brooks refuted statements on Microsoft's website which have been widely interpreted as a roadblock to the acceptance of donated computers by schools and other needy organisations.
"Using Linux, OpenOffice.org and other Open Source software, a school or charity can safely accept almost any donated computer," he said. "Simply wipe it and replace the software with Linux and Open Source pplications[2], then use the computer as a powerful workstation or server. It's an excellent idea to erase the existing operating system anyway - this also erases viruses and trojan horses, protects the donor's privacy, and complies with the typical EULA - so why not upgrade to Linux while you're there?"
Brooks also noted that Linux removed many of the burdens, costs and legal risks of licence management and software asset auditing faced by most businesses, organisations and individuals.
The price tag is also attractive. "School decisions are often dominated by cost; much Open Source software is available at little or no cost, and runs well on donated computers," Mr Brooks explained, "Linux is easy to set up as a fast diskless workstation or 'thin client', so many schools are rolling out networks using this robust technology with both donated and new equipment."
The most important benefits were outlined by Peruvian Congressmen Edgar Núñez, Daniel Estrada and Jacques Ackerman after sponsoring a bill to require State agencies to use Open Source where possible: greater autonomy, development of local talent, greater security, more complete accountability, and adherence to standards (interoperability).
The ecological advantage in keeping computers and toxic parts out of landfill speak for themselves.
"Microsoft claims on their website that 'it is a legal requirement that pre-installed operating systems remain with the computer for the life of the machine'," Brooks said, "I see this kind of problem often with Microsoft's software, as with viruses and security issues. The approach that many schools, charities and public bodies have taken is simply to use other software without this handicap. This happened when Oregon and Washington schools recently found themselves being pushed into a software audit."
The Simple End User Linux group has dozens of case studies from real schools online showing the immediate financial advantages of this strategy. The K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project group are also recording the extensive benefits of the thin-client approach. They have scores of real examples submitted from real schools by the people using it on the front lines.
Organisations of schools and charities have been springing up to take advantage of this newly publicised wealth of software. SchoolForge is one of the many alliances formed to give schools a running start in Open Source.
Footnotes and addional resources are available here.
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