-----Original Message----- From: Malcolm [SMTP:malc@ngfl.gov.uk] Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 6:12 PM To: kevin.taylor@powerconv.alstom.com; Schools List Subject: RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Letter to local schools.

hi all

the embedded device, (single function) is already widely employed, for example Cisco's PIX Firewall is an expensive low-end Pentium and Coyote's Web Switch runs on FreeBSD. They are common place in the market.

I agree, but it's a good selling point that Linux is strong enough that whole companies are based on it.

The danger of this approach is of losing the benfits of Open Source. For example if you look at Navaho, they have written excellent but propretiary code which runs on a Cobalt (sorry i mean Sun) RaQ. Its good stuff, web admin etc etc, but your reliant on the supplier to provide updates etc, back to square one where we are with many providers now.

Another good point, but as well as being no better off, you are also no *worse* off.

The technical idea is sound, the support, development and maintenance model have to keep with the OSS approach.

The Computers within Reach initiative has recently put me in touch with about 20 equipment recyclers and refurbishers, some more ethically sound than others, if you want contacts let me know. An estimate stated that there were around 250,000 unwanted 486s in warehouses in the UK, that's half a landfill site.

Yes please. I tried to set up such a project early this year and one of reasons it failed was because of a lack of supply.

Malcolm ------------------------------- Dr Malcolm Herbert Head of Technology R&D, Becta 02476 847126 Mob: 07801 612438 -------------------------------

----------------------------------------- Gary Stainburn. Work: http://www.ringways.co.uk mailto:gary.stainburn@ringways.co.uk REVCOM: http://www.revcom.org.uk mailto:gary.stainburn@revcom.org.uk ----------------------------------------- Murphy's Laws: (327) Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will use it. -----------------------------------------