To Linux or not to Linux?
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| ColonelPanik Feb 19, 2009 4:15 PM EDT |
What kind of answer would you expect from a Linux site? 1. Cost of computer w/xp and w/Linux? 2. How much longer will xp receive any support? 3. Learning curve is almost a flat line. 4. The students should be multi-lingual with computers. |
| tracyanne Feb 19, 2009 4:53 PM EDT |
Christopher Dawson is quite a good read. He's working in the trenches in IT in Schools, which means he generally reports on the real problems he has with Linux (the Ubuntu variety anyway), with acceptance, with deployment. In general he seems to prefer Linux, so when he writes about why he chose Windows, it will bw because he is unable to deploy a solution based on Linux. It really is worthwhile finding out about those issues. |
| tracyanne Feb 19, 2009 5:34 PM EDT |
Has anyone thought that the real reason that the Linux on netbooks is so dumbed down, so locked down, as in no decent repositories, other than the updates for the limited preinstalled software, is that with Linux the owner gets to gave a computer that replaces much more expensive laptops, for a very low price. |
| Steven_Rosenber Feb 19, 2009 5:55 PM EDT |
It's really about applications. List EVERY app you need in order from most to least important. Then go app-by-app and figure out which platform is best on which to run it. Do some extensive tests, even put a few test machines into the field and get user feedback. There are lots of ways to go: Replace Windows apps with open-source equivalents (OO for Office, Firefox for IE, etc.), use WINE (only with extensive testing) or a VM. See how much work it is to admin both platforms. Again ... look at apps first, OS second. |
| caitlyn Feb 19, 2009 6:53 PM EDT |
tracyanne: Not all netbooks are dumbed down or locked down. My Sylvania g Netbook Meso came with Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Two clicks to go back to a "classic" desktop, normal repo access, normal admin tools, etc... It's a full featured, normal version of Ubuntu with a second GUI designed for small screens. Sylvania isn't the only vendor that has gone this route. (OK, on the second try. The first Sylvania with gOS was a disaster.) Dell also does the Ubuntu Netbook Remix and doesn't lock it or strip it. I'm not saying Ubuntu is the answer. I am saying the way Dell and Sylvania have done it is a good model. Intel seems to be basically following that model with Moblin. Moblin, at leastt v2 alpha 1, looks very promising. |
| tracyanne Feb 19, 2009 8:01 PM EDT |
Sorry this is off topic: but does any one know if it's possible to transcode webex (wrf) media file on linux. Or to extract the contents which is likely to be spreadsheets (probably Microsoft Excel and other tyopes of MS Office stuff) |
| hkwint Feb 19, 2009 9:41 PM EDT |
Quoting:is that with Linux the owner gets to gave a computer that replaces much more expensive laptops, for a very low price. Indeed, both the cheap Intel and Microsoft products are limited (first in hardware, second in software), and it seems those big hardware companies are trying to limit Linux too. It shouldn't eat away market share of their more expensive products with the bigger profit-margins. Circumventing the limitations of XP (Starter?) on a netbook probably breaks the EULA, shoving Linux 1 out and Linux 2 in is however always legal I suppose. Quoting:but does any one know if it's possible to transcode webex (wrf) media file on linux. Are you sure it ain't Thinkfree Office - write? |
| tracyanne Feb 19, 2009 9:59 PM EDT |
@hk I need to transcode or extract the encapsulated media, which is likely to be microsoft ppt or xls files. the extension is .wrf it's a proprietary cisco compression format |
| cabreh Feb 20, 2009 4:29 AM EDT |
@hk Although the hardware manufacturers are going along with it, it is actually Microsoft who is limiting the netbooks. They drew up a list that cannot be exceeded at peril of having to pay MS more per copy of Windws or losing kickbacks. So the manufacturers fall into line. There is no reason otherwise for a 10" screen to be hobbled to a 1024x600 resolution. Or to not use more powerful CPUs. |
| DiBosco Feb 20, 2009 4:47 AM EDT |
Linpus that comes on the Acer Aspire One has a decent repository. The weird thing is that you have to go through an arcane series of commands to access it, |
| cabreh Feb 20, 2009 9:10 AM EDT |
On my wife's Acer Aspire One (which has XP Home for her Palm to sync) I installed Eeebuntu 2.0 and the only "fix" I needed was the acerfand program to keep that Acer fan under control. Everything else worked perfectly and I have the full Ubuntu repositories. |
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