With regards to the discussion about putting Linux on the clients and using the free Linux software out there. My main problem Ive found is both the students and staff all want to take their work home and do it, then either email it or bring it in to finish off in break times.

Hi I face a similar situation here. It`s slightly different in that management here see paying for software licenses as "dead money" and so it can be politically hard to get across why you need to pay 99 quid to use Office 200, 30 quid for the OS, and whatever for CALS etc. As we are moving down a terminal server/citrix route in parts of the school just to get near obsolete beige boxes usable, the only chance for linux here is as the host client on the desktop, though in effect all we`ve created is a kind of "internet appliance" as students really only crave the "quick hit buzz" of fast internet access(the awfull open access that occurs in lunch breaks here at least means they can`t download windows specific games/messaging stuff like crazy if restricted to using the linux client). But giving them a full linux client at least would allow the exploration of alternative OS`s with the sad inevitability that at some point the demands of the vast majority of only moderately IT litera! te staff will mean they`re gonna hit the logon icon to bring up a windows2000/Nt terminal session. We have Macs here too, so I see linux as part of a variety of OS "experiences/choices" (That sounds so "hippy-chic"...I guess if the macs move to OSX it`ll be almost a user friendly unix client). I`m not keen on a one size fits all approach-there are still fervant riscOs supporters here but students aren`t keen because "it`s not what I use at home".However they love the macs because it`s a different user experience and has a few killer apps, I-movie being the prime one. I guess if Linux had a killer-app (and I`m sorry, but staroffice is NOT a killer app, maybe "The Gimp", and photogenics when it`s released-both art progs!!) then it`d have a better chance of making a dent on the desktop. Kind Regards to all -- Network Admin Icknield High School Beds Mobile/Sms: 0794 1929038 ------------------------------------------------------------ This e-mail is intended for the addressee shown. It contains information that is confidential and protected from disclosure. Any review, dissemination or use of this transmission or its contents by persons or unauthorized employees of the intended organisations is strictly prohibited. The contents of this email do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Icknield High School, it's employees or students. ___________________________________ Why do elephants 'flap' their ears? Find out at schoolmaster.net http://answers.schoolmaster.net/quiz?id=11