[Inschool] [Fwd: [Fwd: [KLUG Members] New LINUX products]]

[Tony Gettig]

Well, that's quite a message history to look back and read. :)

Here's my 2 cents:

> - Student learning (Reader Rabbit, Math Blaster, Kid Pix, Mavis Beacon,
>     Jumpstart, NovaNET, and many others)
Maybe with wine. Otherwise no. Honestly haven't tried those specific
apps, but there may very well be Linux equivalents. I'd rather see apps
written for Linux that cover the areas these windows apps cover. I am
familiar with all of these apps. 

> - Writing notes to parents (MS Word, MS Works)
Yes. Star/Open Office.

> - Creating presentations (MS Powerpoint, MS Excel, MS Works)
Yes. Star/Open Office.

> - Developing newsletters (MS Publisher, MS Works, and others)
Yes. Star/Open Office.

> - Recording grades and scores (I think this SW is provided by KRESA)
Yes. Not sure what the kresa software is, but there is gradebook
software for Linux. And I'll just bet GradeQuick would run with wine.
haven't tried it, but it seems like a simple enough app.

> - Writing and reading e-mail (MS Outlook, AOL, and others)
Yes, though probably not in Outlook or AOL. 

> -Surfing the web (Internet Explorer, Netscape)
Yes. Netscape, Galeon, Mozilla, Opera, and others.

Chances are, there are more than one of the specific kids apps that
might not work with Linux. Again, I'm not sure because I haven't
personally tried them. (When I do, I will drop a message to this list
with my findings.) To shut Linux out because of that is, IMO,
shortsighted. Saving money on licensing is a great motivator. But it's
not the only reason Linux is a good choice for schools. I can't think of
a good analogy, but there's got to be one somewhere. Maybe something
about tossing a baby out with bathwater. :)

I think one of the biggest challenges is getting the idea across that
Microsoft can be the exception and not the rule. I'd rather know what
the objective is and then find a Linux application for the purpose.
License closed source when you need to, but walk in freedom otherwise. 

It would be great to talk about this at a klug meeting to get all this
kind of stuff out on the table. klug is critical to the success of any
Linux related project like this. 


On Wed, 2002-06-26 at 21:19, Bruce wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> Here is a email reply from my school board connection, and the questions
> that he has.
...

-- 
Tony Gettig
http://www.penguindude.com
GBY!