[KLUG Members] K12Linux: From Windows to Linux (fwd)

[Ralph M. Deal]

Now these Canadians know how to save money and improve their operating
system.  What's wrong with those schools south of the border?

	Wondering,  Ralph deal@kzoo.edu

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 20:35:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: John F Cuzzola <vdrifter@ocis.ocis.net>
Reply-To: k12linux@riverdale.k12.or.us
To: k12linux@riverdale.k12.or.us
Subject: K12Linux: From Windows to Linux


Hi everyone,
 not a technical question but an important issue concerning Linux in the
schools. I was hoping people would be kind enough to share their
experiences. We at school district 73 are definitely moving toward the
direction of Linux. We are planning on deploying our first
"all" linux/open source school in September as well as converting a lab
over to Linux x-terminals at one (possibly two) other schools. Not
surprisingly their is "concern" (bordering on resistance) with some of the
teachers/principals who don't care much for change. Our techs although
worried about the switch from Novell are geniunely putting in an effort to
learn linux - with that I'm pleased. With the teachers/principals we have
decided to dual boot the systems into either Windows or Linux. That way
all their legacy software that they have purchased would still work and we
would highly encourage them to seek Linux versions or alternatives of
their favorite apps. Eventually over a period of year or two we could
phase out the Windows side of it - hopefully. Windows emulation through
Wine is *tricky* at best and Win4Lin works great but it's licensing costs
are too much to make it feasible for us- hence the dual boot
alternative. Anyways I was wondering if anyone would comment on how the
transition period was like for them. What did their techs
think? Teachers? etc .. What kind of resistance/fears did they encounter
and how they overcame them. Your comments in this area would greatly be
appreciated.

Thanks

 _____________________________________________________
| John Cuzzola               |                        |
|  jcuzzola@sd73.bc.ca       | 1383-9th Avenue        |
|  System Analyst/Programmer | Kamloops, BC  V2C 3X7  |
|  School District #73       | Phone:  (250) 374-0679 |
 -----------------------------------------------------
   ... In God we Trust, all others must show proper 
                     identification ...






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