Yet again the idiots (yes - I really do mean to use the word IDIOT here!) at Becta have decided to give both stupid and expensive advice. As a MAC OS/X user I feel that I should really point out that MAC OS/X is BSD with pretty bits and therefore effectively contains 'free' software, not only that but the default browser on a MAC is now Safari and that is also 'free' software. (Ian, if I can get to the FLOSSIE conference I will quite happily bring my iBook and demonstrate OpenOffice.Org on the thing if you'd like that) Strangely enough, here at Bryngwyn School I'm running a Mac on my desktop - it has MS Office X and OpenOffice.org / X11 on it. The other office PC's also have OpenOffice on them. We also have several systems running XP Pro and Office XP. Strangely enough, I can complete work in OpenOffice (on the MAC) which can then be picked up and edited using OpenOffice on the PC and vice versa - does'nt work at well with office! I'm sick and tired of such stupid, ignorant attitudes from our so called 'advisors' - it's long past the time when most of them were put out to grass! Such things really make me angry - But wait a minute, what happens if a teacher wishes to purchase a computer with an operating system that operates entirely through the medium of Welsh? Windows won't do this so why can't i use Linux which will? Answer me that one BECTA! Or could it be that you're going to discriminate against native Welsh Speakers then? Sorry for the rant but this makes me really angry... Alan
On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 11:18:12AM +0000, Alan Harris wrote:
Yet again the idiots (yes - I really do mean to use the word IDIOT here!) at Becta have decided to give both stupid and expensive advice.
As a MAC OS/X user I feel that I should really point out that MAC OS/X is BSD with pretty bits and therefore effectively contains 'free' software, not only that but the default browser on a MAC is now Safari and that is also 'free' software.
Depending on the exact definition of "free" there arn't many browsers which are anything else. The term is somewhat overloaded.
I'm sick and tired of such stupid, ignorant attitudes from our so called 'advisors' - it's long past the time when most of them were put out to grass!
Unless they are smoking it.
Such things really make me angry - But wait a minute, what happens if a teacher wishes to purchase a computer with an operating system that operates entirely through the medium of Welsh? Windows won't do this so
Or indeed any language other than American "English". In the case of the LFT scheme it's the LEAs doing the purchasing anyway.
why can't i use Linux which will? Answer me that one BECTA! Or could it be that you're going to discriminate against native Welsh Speakers then?
What powers does the Welsh Assembly have? Maybe they need lobbying to pass a statute against language discrimination.
Sorry for the rant but this makes me really angry...
-- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
On Wed, 2003-12-17 at 12:26, Mark Evans wrote:
In the case of the LFT scheme it's the LEAs doing the purchasing anyway.
But they toe the BECTA party line. This was triggered by a primary school teacher asking about buying a laptop from us so I assume that the LEA can delegate. She was told it had to conform to the BECTA spec which was the main reason I came across it.
why can't i use Linux which will? Answer me that one BECTA! Or could it be that you're going to discriminate against native Welsh Speakers then?
What powers does the Welsh Assembly have? Maybe they need lobbying to pass a statute against language discrimination.
Sorry for the rant but this makes me really angry...
Don't get angry, get even :-)
--
ian
On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 12:39:29PM +0000, ian wrote:
On Wed, 2003-12-17 at 12:26, Mark Evans wrote:
In the case of the LFT scheme it's the LEAs doing the purchasing anyway.
But they toe the BECTA party line. This was triggered by a primary school teacher asking about buying a laptop from us so I assume that the LEA can delegate. She was told it had to conform to the BECTA spec which
Just because they can dosn't mean they will. My LEA is very much "here's what you are getting, like it or lump it".
was the main reason I came across it.
-- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
Letter duly sent... I selected Owen Lynch - Chief Executive of Becta - as my target. If anyone wants a copy of my letter please let me know. I've used this line... 'My understanding of current government policy is to consider Free, Libre and "Open Source Software solutions alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements". This last is quote from the statement by Cabinet Office Minister of State, Douglas Alexander MP.' ===== rgds, Richard Rothwell -------------------------------------------------------------------- rind (n) acronym for 'rind is not defined' ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html
participants (4)
-
Alan Harris -
ian -
Mark Evans -
Richard Rothwell