Re: [OS:N:] Open source in Education - with senior citizens

[Paul Nelson <pnelson riverdale k12 or us>]

Here's the MS link on rules for donated PC's

http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=DonatedComputers

Bottom line, EVERY PC must have a MS license if you are running MS
software.

I question the need for MS software and for traditional PC's. Seniors,
kids, most of the people who just sit down and want to use a computer
have very basic needs:

1. Click on an icon to write or surf.
2. Save it.
3. Print it.

Using proprietary software to do this is unnecessary. Using something
like K12LTSP means that you don't have to license the software or manage
the computers. You just manage the server and you don't even have to be
there to do that. See http://k12ltsp.org

Most people really don't care about the OS. They just want to click and
go.

;-) Paul

On Sat, 2002-09-28 at 10:49, Jon Adam wrote:
> > 	I (in my spare time) train senior citizens how to use computers and
> > hopefully, the internet.  Yesterday I picked up donated computers from
> > the County of Fresno, California.  I was so excited.  They are Pentium 2
> > 266's with 17 inch monitors, ethernet cards included.  I haven't fired
> > them up yet, but I know they also have windows 95 and some components of
> > Office Installed.  Over the summer I also got donated 5 old compaq
> > presario 166's.  I am planning on installing linux on at least some of
> > these.  Would it be legal, as far as you guys know, to make a backup
> > copy of one of the new windows machines (they were ghosted on there) and
> > then install linux. (I'm thinking Redhat 8 when i get it, actually).  
> 
> I started the Giving Back Technology Foundation.  We pretty much do the 
> same thing you do, except we donate the computer back to a kid without a 
> computer.  According to my lawyer, whom is sitting next to me, Microsoft 
> no longer requires 95 to be liscenced.  SO you are free to do whatever you 
> want with it.
> 
> Please feel free to visit www.givingbacktech.org or email me personally at 
> anytime if there is anything we can help you with.
> 
> Jon
> 
> -- 
> Jon Adam
> Executive Director/Founder
> Giving Back Technology Foundation
> www.givingbacktech.org
> Helping Children Get the Technology Needed to Succeed
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
======================================================================
Paul Nelson .............................. pnelson riverdale k12 or us
Riverdale High School .................. http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us