Re: [sf-uk-discuss] Fwd: [Dfey-general-discuss] Remember *that* meeting?....

[Joe O'Dell]

Hello Nigel,

> I recommend Debian-edu/Skolelinux. I did a complete overhaul with it 4
> or 5 yrs ago. It seems largely ignored in English-speaking countries,
> and I don't know why. It provides a complete school network - main
> server, ltsp servers (thin or fat clients), desktops.

I have personally never heard of it before, and looking at it know it does seem 
a good distribution.
However, it is the fact that it is ignored in english-speaking countries that 
worries me a little, as these schools want support for their network, and if 
no-one has heard of it, then they are not going to want to install it on their 
network.
And support is usually contracted to outside organisations, either that or they 
have 2 MS Certified Technicians.

> Perhaps stick to school distros? (Edubntu, Debian-edu, Karoshi, and
> the openDisc)

I would recommend the school distros for desktop and mobile computers, however 
it would be necessary to include a server version of software as well.

> I recommend Untangle over Smoothwall free.

Ah, I had almost forgotten about Untangle. Yes, that does seem a good idea, and 
I shall definitely try and include some media of that in the pack.

> Could you consider not using Quark, or at least exporting to some
> format that we would be able to edit with Scribus, then it could be
> tailored for use in different situations?

If I can find a good alternative to Quark, then yes I would be happy to use it. 
However, I have yet to find a good alternative that I can use - I can, however, 
export to EPS, which I believe is editable in Scribus.
Is that suitable for you?

> I am linking to a guide I wrote for parents in 2008, in case it has
> anything useful.

> http://www.hiroshima-is.ac.jp/news/media/blogs/infotech/ITguidelines2008.pdf


The guide is very useful for parents - perhaps it would be useful also creating 
a similar guide that would be produced in tandem with this guide, explaining 
FOSS to parents? could just be a leaflet that was emailed to schools to 
distribute to parents.

Thanks

Joe
-------------------------------------------------------
Joe O'Dell

GreenerClassrooms Project Co-Ordinator
http://www.greenerclassrooms.org.uk

Fedora Ambassador & Contributor (FreeMedia)
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Ascenseur

bedsLUG Co-Ordinator
beds.lug.org.uk

DFEY Member (SouthEast)
dfey.org



On 4 Aug 2010, at 05:33, Nigel Barker wrote:

> On 3 August 2010 20:56, Tim Dobson <address@hidden> wrote:
>> I wonder if people here would be willing to weigh in any thoughts on this...
>> 
>> A lot of people here must have some experience here... :)
>> 
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [Dfey-general-discuss] Remember *that* meeting?....
>> Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 10:50:11 +0100
>> From: Joe O'Dell <address@hidden>
> 
>> 
>> Here are the key points that I think should be included - please add
>> points or expand on them, but bear in mind it is a booklet, not an essay!
>> 
>> 1. Introducing FOSS
>> Describe (in short terms) the philosophy of FOSS, the fact it has nil
>> cost, and that it is improved and repaired by the whole community?
> 
> Main thing for me is freedom from corporate lock-in and control.
> 
>> 
>> 3. Complete Overhaul/Starting Afresh
>> Explain that if they are thinking of a complete overhaul, or if they are
> 
> 
> 
>> 
>> 4. Providing Resources
>> I am thinking that it would be worth including CDs/DVDs of Ubuntu,
>> Ubuntu Server, SmoothWall, the OpenEducationDisc and perhaps another
>> distribution (fedora? I can get a fair amount of fedora dvds direct from
>> fedora if you want them). These could then go into plastic wallets at
>> the back?
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> 
>> So that's my idea at the moment - the only thing I will request is an
>> EPS of the DFEY logo - as we discussed at the hackspace, FOSS DTP
>> software is far from brilliant, and as I have a Quark license, I am
>> happy to build it on that.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I am linking to a guide I wrote for parents in 2008, in case it has
> anything useful.
> 
> http://www.hiroshima-is.ac.jp/news/media/blogs/infotech/ITguidelines2008.pdf
> 
> cheers
> 
> nigel