RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] The changing face of ICT
As a post script to my earlier missive: I am still finding my feet with Linux. It seems to me though, that there are a lot of people trying to make the whole thing a slicker and more GUI driven. Compare www.debian.org to www.xandros.com who have built upon the Debian then Corel distro. Even the name Debian is a bit naff now. ((Debra and Ian)4ever) Well intended in it's day but we need to get much slicker, much sharper and much more professional. Ok, text only interface, 640x480 x256 colours are still used by third world and poorer countries. We still need to address the issues that these people have. However, the other side of the coin is that Broadband Britain is happening, albeit slowly, but it is happening. Where does Linux fit in with these new horizons? We have Gimp. What else does Linux have though? What is there in the line of Macromedia Flash? Is there an equivalent to Dream Weaver? What about 3D Max and AutoCAD and Adobe illustrator? Do we have any good DTP software like Quark or even to match MS Publisher. I know Corel have dabbled but this has all been discontinued it seems. Does any one know anything about these ? Are they available or are people still hankering after text interfaces and command line OS's and there is nothing doing ? Bruce.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Tuesday 05 February 2002 11:13 pm, Bruce Miller wrote:
Even the name Debian is a bit naff now. ((Debra and Ian)4ever) Well intended in it's day but we need to get much slicker, much sharper and much more professional.
I have to disagree there. The Debian logo (swirl) and name are very professional IMHO. Or do you prefer the childish penguins stuck throughout Mandrake? - -- Cheers, Chris Howells -- chris@chrishowells.co.uk, howells@kde.org Web: http://chrishowells.co.uk, PGP key: http://chrishowells.co.uk/pgp.txt KDE: http://www.koffice.org, http://edu.kde.org, http://usability.kde.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE8YM0mF8Iu1zN5WiwRAoRNAJ9CUzUdwFrop50yVauxyq7ROePXtQCcCOBU ZL89/cBMHPQYuulJXLs9fNE= =x2ir -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
-----Original Message----- From: Chris Howells [mailto:chrish@gmx.co.uk] Sent: 06 February 2002 06:29 To: suse-linux-uk-schools@suse.com Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] The changing face of ICT On Tuesday 05 February 2002 11:13 pm, Bruce Miller wrote:
Even the name Debian is a bit naff now. ((Debra and Ian)4ever) Well intended in it's day but we need to get much slicker, much sharper and much more professional.
I have to disagree there. The Debian logo (swirl) and name are very professional IMHO. Or do you prefer the childish penguins stuck throughout Mandrake? - -- Cheers, Chris Howells -- chris@chrishowells.co.uk, howells@kde.org _____________________________ The Debian logo is good. But the web site is not. Xandros have improved Debian greatly. Mandrake need to take a leaf out of Xandros's book too. Tightly schooled structured programmers also need designers to work along side them. 'Given two equal products, the better designed will always outsell the other'. This is a well known saying in design and marketing circles. Linux shouldn't just 'sell' because it it cheap. It needs a design make over in places. Regards, Bruce. Web: http://chrishowells.co.uk, PGP key: http://chrishowells.co.uk/pgp.txt KDE: http://www.koffice.org, http://edu.kde.org, http://usability.kde.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE8YM0mF8Iu1zN5WiwRAoRNAJ9CUzUdwFrop50yVauxyq7ROePXtQCcCOBU ZL89/cBMHPQYuulJXLs9fNE= =x2ir -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help@suse.com
On Tuesday 05 February 2002 23:13, Bruce Miller wrote:
As a post script to my earlier missive:
I am still finding my feet with Linux. It seems to me though, that there are a lot of people trying to make the whole thing a slicker and more GUI driven. Compare www.debian.org to www.xandros.com who have built upon the Debian then Corel distro. Even the name Debian is a bit naff now. ((Debra and Ian)4ever) Well intended in it's day but we need to get much slicker, much sharper and much more professional.
Ok, text only interface, 640x480 x256 colours are still used by third world and poorer countries. We still need to address the issues that these people have. However, the other side of the coin is that Broadband Britain is happening, albeit slowly, but it is happening. Where does Linux fit in with these new horizons?
Mandrake provides an easy graphical install and KDE a GUI similar to Windows and as long as you have 2 meg of video RAM you can get good graphics resolution even on an old thin client
We have Gimp. What else does Linux have though?
Star Office with Star Draw, Logo, Squeak to name a few and that would keep most pupils going for a long time if we expected them to use all the applications properly and with expertise.
What is there in the line of Macromedia Flash?
Flash player with Netscape. Probably a port of Framemaker for DTP but it would be expensive.
Is there an equivalent to Dream Weaver? What about 3D Max and AutoCAD and Adobe illustrator? Do we have any good DTP software like Quark
Framemaker
or even to match MS Publisher.
Doubt it, Publisher is too Naff to have an equivalent on Linux :-) Use Star Draw and Starwiter.
I know Corel have dabbled but this has all been discontinued it seems.
Star Draw does everything you are likely to need in a school.
Does any one know anything about these ? Are they available or are people still hankering after text interfaces and command line OS's and there is nothing doing ?
Hardly ever use a command line but its handy to have it if you do need it. Regards, -- IanL
participants (3)
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Bruce Miller -
Chris Howells -
Ian