I have been experimenting with a copy of Mandrake that I downloaded from
their site a couple of weeks ago. When you install, it gives you a dozen
options - network server, network client, games machine, office machine etc
etc.
I can't say that the server client set-up that I am running on a pair of old
K6's is doing that well. I like the potential idea and haven't given up yet.
The Sun website is keen to tell us that are releasing Gnome ver 2 and Star
Office ver 6 in the Spring.
I think Chris's idea is excellent and been toying with the idea of
approaching Mandrake about similar myself, anyway. I don't have any
experience of Red Hat but they seem to have a good record for corporate
support. What are Suse thinking Roger?
Not being too negative though, I think, we will probably look to be
installing XP because of the number of existing Windows based licences that
we have and the resident level of staff training that we possess throughout.
I include in this, all the staff nervously working through their NOF courses
on their new machines that their spent hard earnt cash upon as well as our
gap filling KS3 part timers.
Additionally, There are quite a few killer apps that I don't think we could
live without and quite a few departments have invested large amounts of
budget into resource CD's and windows based curriculum support software. We
have been using XP on standalones for a while now. It represents a big move
forward and so far is a very solid platform.
I have reservations too, about Sun Microsystems making a monoploly of my
network and taking over where Microsoft left off either. I wouldn't want to
invest curriculum development and good time into possibly buggy and soley
office based moves forwards either.
Now, start to resist the urge to flame me at this point, please. I am on
your side, really. I would love for Linux to succeed at a school level but I
don't mind paying Bill Gates if it makes my life easier. If I sweat and work
against the flow, upset staff and departments, all I will get for showing
the LEA and the Head that we can survive on less money is a budget
reduction. Not much incentive really, is it.
Pay a fair day's wage for a fair day's work and we might find some people
prepared to get Linux moving. Chris, you have already said that you are not
going to work full time on this. Is anyone? Will a slick system arrive in
time for me not to install XP. I have my doubts. If I can help in a small
way, though, I am happy to help you.