Re: [K12OSN] M$ Cost Comparisons

[Bill Kendrick <nbs sonic net>]

On Tue, Jan 13, 2004 at 01:42:54PM -0800, Chris Hobbs wrote:
> Jim Hays wrote:
> 
> >With K12LTSP, the cost is $0, zilch, nada, never.
> 
> This just isn't true for most school districts. There is a cost, perhaps 
> only in time, to switch from what you know to what you don't know.

That's a VERY hard argument for me to accept.  How many different 'versions'
of Windows are there?  And in the last 20 years, how many schools went from
Apple II -> Mac -> Win31 -> Win95 -> WinME -> Win2K, for example?

If people believe they're "done" learning new things, they haven't been
paying attention to the past. ;^)


<snip> 
> True - but what I'm trying to say is that you're short-selling Linux if 
> you only look at the immediate out of pocket savings.

This is true as well.  Along with up-front costs, there's so much more
in the benefit of Linux.  To use pointy-haired-boss-speak, it's a whole
new paradigm. :^)

If I get hit by a truck tomorrow, it's not like "well, that's the end
of Tux Paint, we'll have to find something new", for example. :^)


<snip> 
> Agreed. But take a look at the technology magazines/articles targetted 
> at your superintendents and school boards. TCO is going to be on their 
> minds, and that's where the real change has to start.

Here's what _I_ think we should all do... stop talking amongst ourselves
and begin an uprising! ;^)

I recently submitted an article on OpenOffice.org, directed towards
the Windows-using public that had never heard of it, to a local PC
magazine that's widely and freely distributed. :^)

You can read it online here:

  http://www.ccnmag.com/index.php?sec=mag&id=284


Sadly, I haven't gotten any feedback from readers yet, but perhaps the
editor has, and migth have some interesting feedback in the 'Letters'
section next month or the month after.  Who knows? :)


Anyway, point being... let's _write_ to these magazines.  Let's be the
authors of those articles that are targetted to superintendents and
school boards! >:^)

-bill!