Very Computer

Hi Folks,

Here is a provocative suggestion.  Surely you know that Microsoft and other
software companies are using a front organization to sue companies and schools
for software piracy when someone installs unlicensed copies of software.  The
latest victim is the Los Angeles School District, who is going to have to pay
$300,000 to 1,500,000.

So I was wondering, perhaps this is the way to get Linux into main stream use.
 If someone approaches the school about checking their software licenses, and
pointed out to them that they can install Linux for the whole district for
$29.95, and that some distributions have demo programs of Word Perfect, etc.
for most of their everyday use, maybe they would be interested in this
alternative.  While it is true that they might need a system administrator,
$300,000 a year can probably pay for this professional.  Plus all the savings
on Windows, Office, etc?

Moreover, I would bet you that a local university would be glad to give all
these services to the school and in return use the network for distributed
computing after school hours.

What do you think, is this worth pursuing?

Zvi.

remove nospam. to mail.

Wow, I hadn't heard about the LA School District. Can I read about it on the
web somewhere? It's funny that they are suing when my hometown made a deal with
MS such that they get all the software they need to run the district network
for free.

--
Tracy Reed      http://www.ultraviolet.org
If Microsoft made cars instead of software, the seats would force everyone
to have the same size butt.

Quote:>Wow, I hadn't heard about the LA School District. Can I read about it on
the
>web somewhere? It's funny that they are suing when my hometown made a deal
with
>MS such that they get all the software they need to run the district
network
>for free.

They do it this way everywhere...only trouble is you're locked in. You can't
use anything BUT MS software...and at the college level is where it does the
most damage..why do you think MS is doing it? they sell their wares to these
schools for next to nothing compared to the retail price...the school uses
MS in all their computing related courses...soon the students are learning
Visual this and ++ that..purchasing this shit for dirt..hell last year you
could buy Visual J++ for $45 and you got NT Workstation for FREE in the box!
All this is to provide the big MS*for the kids to get hooked on. This is
MS's best attack on Unices that I have seen. It's insidious, and it goes on
everywhere in this country..why? because as concerned citizens we
aren't...we suck...we don't give a shit as long as we are getting a good
deal...and now big Bill has come in and sucked it all up...and we are
hosed...and so is Linux...you think MS will let this thing build for long?
shit...
I'll bet Ballmer already has stock in half the distro's....Other countries
aren't so *ing stupid...they actually *read* the friggin contract MS
wants them to sign..and most of the time they say "no way, we will buy your
software, but we won't be told what we will teach with and what we must use"
We get what we pay for, and it's Bill. And I'm of the mind that we deserve
it.
Because we are selfish and stupid as a nation.

"for free"?

are you sure about that?

--
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*   for software, to me, it seems, is a conversation not a product    *
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