On Thu, 2003-11-27 at 20:19, john@rygannon.com wrote:
Hi I can only speak from what I know from my days with MySQL AB and what I know about who is using my own app, Rekall MySQL is/was used by Oxford University as part of there contribution to the Human Genome Project - that's the biggy Huddersfield and Sheffield Universities Computer Science Dept use MySQL Nottingham Trent University use both MySQL and Rekall in preference to MS Abcess
The argument for MS software is often "to prepare them for real world apps" If this is the case there is a strong argument to junk Access and use a SQL database since real data base work these days is much more likely to be web based SQL than just about anything else. The real reason for sticking with the same thing is the inconvenience of change, the rest is just excuses. Fortunately, change always carries on because a small minority are pioneers who thrive on being original, different and innovative and drag the majority along in their wake. Paradoxically, those most resistant to change are often inconvenienced in the longer term more than most. They lose their jobs or constantly have to play catch up - they are often those in the education world who preach things like lifelong learning and preparing kids to change careers 6 or 7 times in a lifetime. Its OK as long as its the kids, not them ;-)
I believe one Dept at Cambridge are using MySQL and Rekall The OU are trialling MySQL and Rekall for their course M358 Relational Databases Rekall is very popular in US schools and colleges. Big organizations like Fujitsu, IBM and Vodafon are using Rekall
There really is no excuse not to use open source apps in education apart
from apathy and ignorance both of which should both be banned word in an
education environment.
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ian