[Wylug-discuss] PDA's in schools

[Rob Hall]

On Wednesday 10 January 2007 20:32, Richard Wade wrote:
> If we consider that the schools in question are probably running Microsoft
> operating systems and applications already, then why would they purchase
> Linux-based PDAs?

Absolutely. Even though I am a Linux advocate we are mainly Microsoft based in 
our school for a very good reason - no support from major players in 
enterprise Linux solutions.

> about this, but I'd guess that it's generally down to status quo in the
> LEAs (i.e. we'll run the same stuff that our neighbouring schools do),
> what is deemed 'safe' (e.g. 'noone ever got sacked for buying
> $bigAcceptableCorporate')

Hmm. We are certainly not adverse to the Open Source route but again it comes 
down to support and training. Our VLE is Moodle based but it couldn't be 
simpler to maintain but sheesh, ask a hardened MCSE to even try and 
understand the layout of a Unix based filesystem and they poo themselves and 
run away chanting, "Volume Licensing, Restart Machine, BSOD" 

We do use Linux in the workshops and I am slowly educating people about the 
usability of Linux but it is hard, hard work when even the educators will not 
be educated. 

> in ISPs/telcos/devcos). I'm not aware of the type of commercial support
> and professional services package offered by RedHat or Novell to education
> institutions,

None that I am aware of otherwise I may have been able to swing more Linux 
based servers in school - I'd be interested to know if I am wrong.

> Microsoft. It'd also be interesting to see a total cost of ownership model
> over, let's say, 5-8 years, which includes
> hardware/network/storage/professional services/support requirements.

Given that our Senior Management Team don't even flinch over the 
resubscription to our M$ volume licensing and that it seems to offer pretty 
good value for money in terms of support, material, training and usability, 
enterprise Linux has got a long, long way to come in the UK education market. 

Technically, there is no reason at all why it shouldn't be more widespread but 
Linux enthusiasts are few and far between in a school/college/FE environment. 
I suppose that I was lucky and I have been exposed to Unix and Linux since 
university in the early 90s and I have enjoyed using it ever since. Get more 
support and training at a reasonable cost/cost benefit level and you might 
find more people in education listening and implementing Linux but until 
then, M$ have done a good job (shudder) at infiltrating this market.

Rob Hall