hello everyone

can anyone provide me with more advantages to using Open-Source software in American public schools? I googled for some information but, in summary, this is all I could get:

• OSS provides a lower TOC
• Helps teach concepts instead of software features

if anyone can expand my list (with some resources preferred), it would be appreciated.

thank you

I can see a big advantage when it comes to teaching certain things like OS design and concepts. Because of the existence of linux (any OSS OS would have been good for this.. we happened to use Linux), I was able to actually do projects such as redesign the OS Scheduler to building and testing new file systems because it was easy to get the source code, modify/add to it, and watch it run. To see examples of things that particular class I took is doing these days check out the GT CS3210 Projects Website.

To do projects of that scope with Windows, or any other proprietary closed source OS, I probably would have had to sign an NDA and a non-compete clause if they would even allow us to see the source code at all.

It also gets students used to using compiler tools such as GCC which are valuable for all kinds of applications since GCC can be used to build applications for some many architectures and platforms.

I'm in 12th grade and in Computer Science III (the top level CS class).

my class wanted to use linux but the IT people said 'Microsoft Products only'. It made me kind of mad that they didn't let us. I wasn't mad because I didn't get to use linux, because it doesn't matter to me that much. What made me mad about them was their closed-mindedness: they said linux was a 'hackers haven' and inferior to MS.

I don't think that windows is the optimum choice for any type of large-scale installation, since each computer would need individual software liscenses for all the software on them, not to mention the time it takes to individually image every harddrive.

i would imagine it's pretty expensive. If i was a school admin I would set up the workstations as linux thin clients. You would have better security, easier maintenance (one hard drive = multiple workstations) and lower cost.

I would say that the main advantage of using Linux at a school would be security. linux is inherently more secure, and as thin clients they would last longer, run faster, and be more secure.

Apart from the administration and cost benefits, there is also the education of the students. Linux promotes an alternative to Windows, and that is a good thing in my opinion.

When I was at school, we used macs and everyone squealed like cut pigs about it. IE: "Windows is much better, why use this apple crap" etc. However I now realise that they were right, in that Windows is NOT the only OS or the best OS or the only way to use computers. When I went to uni and was exposed to Linux, I was then more willing to accept it, since I had been exposed to alternatives to Windows.

--Ian

2 more advantages.

1. Server skills. If you have students that are looking into a future in networking knowledge of a Unix-based operating system is a must. Many servers in exsistance use Unix based operating systems and a little knowledge can go a long way.

2. Programming Skills. It is a lot more cost efficient to use programming tools that fall under GNU/GPL. Sure most of them will also run under windows but my expirience has been quite painful getting them to work.

dgeronimo,

This is probably a very good place to start:

http://www.k12linux.org/

K-12 Linux is a thin-client system for US education that has been around for some years. The Websites and discussion forums would probably give you as much info as you want on this.