On Sat, 17 Mar 2001, Alan Davies wrote:
You only need to take one look at programs like 'crocodile physics, technology, chemistry' to be converted. They are simply fantastic compared to anything (are there isn't much) to satisfy CAL.
This is one motivation for the existence of OSIE - to research and publicise the existence of Linux-based CAL. It does exist - have a quick search on Freshmeat.net for evidence.
The 'control' programs for Data logging....all require MS OS.
http://www.iaeee.tuwien.ac.at/sensor/samplin/ http://www.newplanetsoftware.com/glove/ http://www.ni.com/linux/ (not free) http://llp.fu-berlin.de/ http://freshmeat.net/search/?q=lego ...and others (I got tired of searching at this point)
Publisher (....and I hate it....much prefer my Acorn copy of !Style) is everywhere...integrates very nicely with other MS packages (just as well because it doesn't have much else going for it) but it simply doesn't have a convenient way of transfering material to LINUX platform.
Is this a major problem, since Publisher is not (unless the 4 years-old known bug has been fixed) compatible with a multi-user NT system anyway? ;-)
I might well migrate by NT servers to LINUX... I might well change my Netscape proxy server to LINUX (although I've never managed to get the MS proxy client software (winsock proxy) to work with anything but MS server).
What are you attempting to proxy? If it's just web access, then you don't need any "MS proxy client software" - the web browsers contain their own support for proxying. If you're trying to proxy everything (web, ftp, telnet, ssh, irc, etc.) then you can use IP Masquerading, which still doesn't require any "MS proxy client software". I've never actually found a use for the MS "proxy client software"... E-mail me if you want some help setting up the proxy / masquerading.
I use telnet and introduce some C programming as a change to Visual Basic (again....nothing anywhere near as good for LINUX.. and yes, I'd be first to agree that VB has its problems)
Try KDevelop (http://www.kdevelop.org/). It's a GUI C++ IDE for Linux. Programming is one area where Linux really wipes the floor with NT. You have compilers/interpreters for C, C++, Perl, Python, Java and loads of other languages, all available out of the box and for free. You have at least one high-quality visual integrated development environment (KDevelop), and debugging support so good that, according to an NT developer at Microsoft, you can write your first Linux device driver in only two days! Linux also wins here on the (flawed) argument that you should teach pupils the tools they are likely to use in "the real world". C/C++, Perl and, to a lesser extent, Java are all used extensively for "real" software development. Visual Basic is not - it's much more of a "toy" language. What would you rather be equipped with if you were looking for employment: C++ and Perl or VB?
You could use CITRIX to deliver MS interface to LINUX clients...but I'd say that was only to be resorted too when really necessary. Sound and moving graphics are pretty slow, and CITRIX is expensive. A Terminal Server Client for LINUX would be attractive but I can't see MS doing/Allowing that.
Add to that the dearth of 'cheap' (sorry) LINUX capable technicians,
*cough* Managed service! *cough* :-)
the dearth of teaching staff that have any familiarity with LINUX (in fact there is dearth of IT capable staff) and the desktop battle is lost - except for niche schools and or workstations within a school.
Lost?! It's only just starting! :-) Michael Brown Fen Systems Ltd.