Linux on the clients, StarOffice, ... etc

On Fri, 24 Mar 2000, Raju wrote:

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Roger,

Here is what I found out during the budgetary exercise...

There exists a "School Agreement" by Microsoft Licensing. All prices given below are per this agreement. As far as I can tell the only thing they say is that the school should have at least 10 PCs. All latest versions will automatically be given to the schools having this agreement.

- NT Small Business Server (includes mail, proxy, web etc.) for schools is an one time cost of 385 pounds. This is one time purchase so no upgrades. Caveat: The server has an upper limit of 50 users in the latest release(4.5). Ealier releases used to have a limit of 25 users.

- School Agreement Client License Pack (MS-Office, subscription to Encarta online, Visual whatchamacallits, MS-Works, Fontpage etc., client

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Small Business Server) 41 pounds per year per PC.

- My school says it needs MS-Publisher (because the 4 PCs they have last 2 years have it and they are now used to it) and that will be an additional 17 pounds per year per PC.

That basically boils down to (ignoring Publisher for the moment) the following for a 30 PC network.

One time cost: 400 pounds for the server Recurring cost: 1400 pounds / year / PC

Now since the school has decided to go with the W98 clients, the recurring cost will apply to Linux server scenario as well. The only thing that differentiates it is the saving of 350 pounds!! Not much to go on here, is there?

BTW, the people who told the Pricipal about Linux being unstable was "Gemini 2000". They are in approximately the same business as RM plc. Although

Thought of that. Wanted at least 2 workstation to demo the "complete Linux" solution. But ..... I "installed" SO from the SuSE distro with Yast. Now "intalling" it requires Media Key etc. and there is absolutely no help on the stardivision site. I know there are people out there who have done it. But I can not figure out how to. I have registered on the stardivision site (as it says in the help file of SO) 2 weeks ago and have not even rcvd an polite "you have been registered" from them yet!! Could you send me step by step instruction on how to get the Media Key information? That seems to be the toughest part. Also does this mean I will have to stop using it in another months time? I am a little shaken with the ambiguity of the installation procedure. ----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Whittaker To: Raju Cc: Suse-inux-uk-Schools Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 2:27 PM Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Preliminary Budgetary exercise license to they

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keep claiming that they are not "rigid" like RM. The server they have suggested costs 3500 pounds. Sounds overkill for a network with 35 PCs (max) and 5 printers!! ... sigh!

----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Whittaker To: Raju Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 11:00 AM Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] One day exhibition of Linux?

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On Fri, 24 Mar 2000, Raju wrote:

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I have already sold the idea of Linux server but am still unsure since the costing does not work convincingly in favour of Linux yet!!

Can you give me an idea of why ... What else is involved?

-- Roger Whittaker SuSE Linux Ltd The Kinetic Centre Theobald Street Borehamwood Herts WD6 4PJ ---------------------- 020 8387 1482 ---------------------- roger@suse-linux.co.uk ----------------------