On Thursday 19 July 2007 17:44:26 Rodney Donovan wrote:
Come on Phil! There is so much more than CAD out there. Truly, I know how you feel because some one left the idiots in charge. They can't see the forest for the trees. What we have here is one software package dictating what operating system you have to use. Really now, what we need is to experiment with other packages on linux. OK VariCAD works on Linux. Is it cheaper than AutoCad? Well then, problem solved. Maybe?
No, not really. Yes VariCAD is cheaper than AutoCAD, but then very few schools use AutoCAD over here anyway. About 8 years ago PTC did a deal with our govt to distribute ProDesktop free of charge to all UK secondary schools. It's not especially good but it was a good deal, PTC got the publicity in return for some CDs, the government paid for support and training by leaving it in the hands of the Design & Technology Association (DATA, trade body for D&T teachers in England and Wales). DATA charged for training and the money came from the schools' training budgets. If you did the training your school got 'free' software. Now ProD is obsolete (see reply to Ian) DATA is trialling ProE in some of our more adventurous schools, chances are it won't be free but probably highly subsidised. DATA have already told me they aren't even considering supporting the Linux version in schools. I agree about other software, and as far as I can see in UK secondary schools most of the other sujects use Office and IE for almost everything, so moving to Linux, OO and another browser is no problem, but D&T departments are generally the most demanding computer users in our schools. They've struggled to master ProD, are sort of used to it now and if Linux cannot offer a simple (preferably free) alternative it stands no chance. It's not stopping me pushing, and in the absence of any official encouragement I'm starting an unofficial YouthLUG in my school in September using kit dragged out of the school skip (dumpster to US readers). I'll probably use Edubuntu though, I gave up on SuSE with 10.1 since then my desktop and laptos have all been Kubuntu. -- Regards Phil Thane Bryn Villa Penycoed Road Llangollen LL20 8LR 01978 861677 07971 087623 phil@brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk www.brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org