Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] New Clothes
--- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk> wrote:
Hi to all of those running RM out there, can I pick your brains please?
Hi Aidrian,
Have a look at:
http://www.openhgs.org/moin.cgi/LinuxProject http://www.ltsp.org http://www.ltsp.org/articles/ThinClient.pdf http://www.schoolforge.org.uk
Anyone who has not already looked at these would do well to invest a few minutes - very interesting, thanks. I'm not convinced that thin client is the way I want to go, and still not convinced that most of it's supposed virtues are revenant today. I know that the article says that it's a personal view, but some of the arguments were pretty thin (sorry no pun intended!). Maybe I should read it again. I've not been to schoolforge for a long time and I have to say, playing devils advocate, the left hand column could have so many more entries and the right hand column could hardly be more sparse, even with the wine entries! Although the software listed is very strong, it's hardly an advert for shedding windows! :-( It would seem that big, generic apps are not the problem as most 'business' type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivilent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of dartmoor, knocking out pc versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that these will not be given up easily by the departments that know and love them! I would also imagine that they would be unlikly to give up the income and move to open source nor invest the time to become multi platform. Kind regards Adrian Wells
On Wed, 2004-11-17 at 11:22, adrian.wells wrote:
It would seem that big, generic apps are not the problem as most 'business' type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivilent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of dartmoor, knocking out pc versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that these will not be given up easily by the departments that know and love them! I would also imagine that they would be unlikly to give up the income and move to open source nor invest the time to become multi platform.
That is exactly the argument for thin client. Low cost productivity tools everywhere and fat clients running Windows for specialist apps where needed. If you want a cyber cafe in the library a 15 station thin client network costing under 5k is a good way to do it. Also in libraries where fan noise is a nuisance and mostly the machine is used for Internet research and producing documents. Target the technology on need rather than assuming everything has to run everything. -- Ian Lynch <ian.lynch@zmsl.com> ZMS Ltd
On Wed, 2004-11-17 at 11:22, adrian.wells wrote:
It would seem that big, generic apps are not the problem as most 'business' type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivalent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of Dartmoor, knocking out PC versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that these will not be given up easily by the departments that know and love them! I would also imagine that they would be unlikely to give up the income and move to open source nor invest the time to become multi platform.
That is exactly the argument for thin client. Low cost productivity tools everywhere and fat clients running Windows for specialist apps where needed. But wouldn't this require logging into different servers to run different apps that run on different platforms? and how would productivity enabling things like cut & paste work? Could one run say Word from a "windows server" and Qubebase from a "MAC server" have both apps on the screen and copy and paste between the two? I understand that copy and paste isn't even that brill within the same server.
If you want a cyber cafe in the library a 15 station thin client network costing under 5k is a good way to do it. Also in libraries where fan noise is a nuisance and mostly the machine is used for Internet research and producing documents. Target the technology on need rather than assuming everything has to run everything. Don't forget that I'm not starting from scratch - I will inherit these machines as I imagine many people will, and as time goes on, the spec of these machines will grow. I just want to be able to put the machines to use, rather than fill a hole in the ground. My intention is to start small, but have the correct path set out to grow - I don't want to increase my admin overhead any more than necessary.
Adrian
--- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk> wrote:
type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivilent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of dartmoor, knocking out pc versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that
*cough* -- and you find something wrong with "View" and "Wordwise"? :) -- Thomas Adam ===== "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net "<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish you for all of them at once when you get better. The experience will probably kill you. :)" -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor) ___________________________________________________________ Win a castle for NYE with your mates and Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
On Wed, 2004-11-17 at 15:19, Thomas Adam wrote:
--- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk> wrote:
type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivilent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of dartmoor, knocking out pc versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that
*cough* -- and you find something wrong with "View" and "Wordwise"? :)
Yes, upgrade to Interword ;-) -- Ian Lynch <ian.lynch@zmsl.com> ZMS Ltd
--- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk> wrote:
type software tends to have a gnu/linux equivilent. The big problem are these ex teachers sitting in the middle of dartmoor, knocking out pc versions of their BBC micro software for Sup Ed and the like. I'm sure that
*cough* -- and you find something wrong with "View" and "Wordwise"? :) -- Thomas Adam
I suppose that a measure of something's popularity can be inferred by the sort of Google hit's it gets? :-) I remember introducing that to typists! How they quaked! New-fangled computers! And then we had a job prying the Beebs out of their hands! :-) Adrian
Adrian, On Wed, 2004-11-17 at 11:22, adrian.wells wrote:
--- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk> wrote:
Hi to all of those running RM out there, can I pick your brains please?
Hi Aidrian,
Have a look at:
http://www.openhgs.org/moin.cgi/LinuxProject http://www.ltsp.org http://www.ltsp.org/articles/ThinClient.pdf http://www.schoolforge.org.uk [-snip-] I'm not convinced that thin client is the way I want to go, and still not convinced that most of it's supposed virtues are revenant today. I know that the article says that it's a personal view, but some of the arguments were pretty thin (sorry no pun intended!). Maybe I should read it again. I suspect from this that you may not have actually put your hands on a Linux thin client system yet. If that's so, and if could find the time to visit a thin client lab, I feel sure you would find it a highly relevant solution, with strong arguments in favour of it.
I've not been to schoolforge for a long time and I have to say, playing devils advocate, the left hand column could have so many more entries and the right hand column could hardly be more sparse, even with the wine entries! Although the software listed is very strong, it's hardly an advert for shedding windows! :-( Thanks for your comments. Schoolforge-UK is a community project, and it's developing all the time. I don't know if you looked at the section headed "Philosophy", but I like Paul Nelson's quote:
"Some educators will cite the lack of traditional educational packages for Linux that teach reading or math with funny rabbits that wink at you and say "Good job!" I just don't think we need to go there. Teachers don't need cute teaching applications. They just need computers that work and provide basic access to the software we all use everyday". Best regards, John Ingleby ************ Webmaster - www.schoolforge.org.uk
[-snip-]
I'm not convinced that thin client is the way I want to go, and still not convinced that most of it's supposed virtues are revenant today. I know that the article says that it's a personal view, but some of the arguments were pretty thin (sorry no pun intended!). Maybe I should read it again. I suspect from this that you may not have actually put your hands on a Linux thin client system yet. If that's so, and if could find the time to visit a thin client lab, I feel sure you would find it a highly relevant solution, with strong arguments in favour of it. They say that seeing is beliveing! :-)
I've not been to schoolforge for a long time and I have to say, playing devils advocate, the left hand column could have so many more entries and the right hand column could hardly be more sparse, even with the wine entries! Although the software listed is very strong, it's hardly an advert for shedding windows! :-( Thanks for your comments. Schoolforge-UK is a community project, and it's developing all the time. I don't know if you looked at the section headed "Philosophy", but I like Paul Nelson's quote:
"Some educators will cite the lack of traditional educational packages for Linux that teach reading or math with funny rabbits that wink at you and say "Good job!" I just don't think we need to go there. Teachers don't need cute teaching applications. They just need computers that work and provide basic access to the software we all use everyday". I couldn't agree more, it's the teachers that you need to tell. In fact I'd go further; but I'm too tired even to rant! :-) Hard to grasp, but I learnt all sorts of things at school without computers or even much sight of a calculator! And not only that, the focus was on content rather than presentation and when we had power-cuts the teachers didn't run around headless chickens, unable to function.
I need sleep, So later Adrian
participants (5)
-
Adrian Wells -
adrian.wells -
Ian Lynch -
John Ingleby -
Thomas Adam