RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] software in schools/piracy
-----Original Message----- From: Alan Harris [SMTP:alanh@bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk] Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 9:56 AM To: Ian Lynch Cc: Frank Shute; Schools List Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] software in schools/piracy
if we want this to work, and we want schools to go opensource, then we, the open source community, are going to have to provide training materials, faq's and example lessons which lead to defined National Curriculum Levels. When we can do this THEN we can provide a total solution to the Microshaft problem.... [Simon Wood] I agree 100% with this, I spent some effort with my local LUG (WYLUG) to put together a 'Schools Page' and wrote to a few local schools presenting ourselves and offer support and information if they wanted it.
So far we have not heard anything back - I guess that they are either not interested or simply are too busy coping with the other problems that they have in school. I think it is a very difficult situation, if you are too evangelical you will only create barriers Simon Wood. PS If you want help (or to help out) in West Yorkshire check the WYLUG web site - http://www.wylug.org.uk
I agree 100% with this, I spent some effort with my local LUG (WYLUG) to put together a 'Schools Page' and wrote to a few local schools presenting ourselves and offer support and information if they wanted it.
So far we have not heard anything back - I guess that they are either not interested or simply are too busy coping with the other problems that they have in school.
I wrote to some local schools offering Linux setup services as a private individual, guess what - none wrote back. Snap! I did manage to arrange a meeting with someone at a school in Slough, he said it sounded "intriguing" and that was the end of that. Eventually I hooked up with Nigel Pauli of St John's School in Northwood near Pinner, London. He is tremendously enthusiastic, very committed to the free software movement, and of course I met him at a LUG. Perhaps it's hard to convince skeptical people they should "buy" free software, in both senses of the word, because the motivation needs to come from within?
I agree 100% with this, I spent some effort with my local LUG (WYLUG) to put together a 'Schools Page' and wrote to a few local schools presenting ourselves and offer support and information if they wanted it.
So far we have not heard anything back - I guess that they are either not interested or simply are too busy coping with the other problems that they have in school.
I wrote to some local schools offering Linux setup services as a private individual, guess what - none wrote back. Snap! I did manage to arrange a meeting with someone at a school in Slough, he said it sounded "intriguing" and that was the end of that.
Eventually I hooked up with Nigel Pauli of St John's School in Northwood near Pinner, London. He is tremendously enthusiastic, very committed to
the
free software movement, and of course I met him at a LUG.
Perhaps it's hard to convince skeptical people they should "buy" free software, in both senses of the word, because the motivation needs to come from within
Its also hard to market anything - even free stuff - to people you don't know. RM are a good example. Successful in the schools market, much more so than any of the bigger rivals who are more successful in their business markets. Why? Its down to relationships and knowledge of the market. Once one brand is established its hard to displace it, not impossible but it takes time. -- IanL
On Tue, Jul 10, 2001 at 10:17:39PM +0100, Phil wrote:
I wrote to some local schools offering Linux setup services as a private individual, guess what - none wrote back. Snap! I did manage to arrange a meeting with someone at a school in Slough, he said it sounded "intriguing" and that was the end of that.
I've had the same experience.
Eventually I hooked up with Nigel Pauli of St John's School in Northwood near Pinner, London. He is tremendously enthusiastic, very committed to the free software movement, and of course I met him at a LUG.
Perhaps it's hard to convince skeptical people they should "buy" free software, in both senses of the word, because the motivation needs to come from within?
I think it's very much a case of the devil you know. They know that the commercial stuff is hideously expensive and costly to maintain and unreliable but at least they know how expensive, costly and unreliable. To them free equates with `can't be very good' or some other catch. I'm almost tempted to suggest that if SuSE started charging 1000 quid a copy then a few more would look into it (don't start getting any ideas Roger!:-) Eventually as the squeeze on resources and escalating software prices (and attacks from the software police?) hits them they will be forced to jump. After a few have jumped then in all probability it will turn into a stampede. We should do everything in our power as upright citizens to report schools for software theft, I'm sure MS et al would be very grateful for the attendant publicity and revenues they'd gain ;-) -- Frank *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* | Boroughbridge | Tel: 01423 323019 | PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 | *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ `Where do you want to go today? "Down to the police station to shop my local school!"' - New slogan from well known software company (allegedly)
participants (4)
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Frank Shute -
Ian Lynch -
Phil -
Simon Wood