Re: [PLUG] Community Service Project (Devil's advocate)

[Art Clemons <artclemons@aol.com>]

Kyle R. Burton:
> If it doesn't cost the installers any more to do 98 vs Linux, why not poll 
> the kids and their families and let them choose?  List what each one
> comes with, the beneifts that we feel relate to each offering and
> allow them to choose their own destiny (perhaps with an offer to re-install
> their system if they change their minds later?).

Unfortunately there is a cost technically, since there are no free 
versions of Win98.  MS also officially ceased to support Win98 earlier 
this year although it does continue to issue security patches.  There 
are several versions of Linux that one can download, burn to a CD, setup 
a server and install on as many computers as we wish because much of 
Linux is not only open source but LGPL or GPL.  The hard choice comes 
though when users of Linux go looking for software to do certain common 
things like for example watch a QuickTime movie (possible but a real 
pain) or play some common games (once again possible at times but a real 
learning curve).  Oh yes, I almost forgot what can be a real pain for 
some and that's printing.  Despite CUPS, LPRNG, and apsfilter, getting 
some printers to work properly can best be described as a nightmare in 
waiting, and inexpensive printers seem to be the worst offenders.  Still 
choosing the right ISP does allow one to surf for less than $12 per 
month over dialup, get access to email and all of the other little 
things.  Even dialup beats no access in that regard.

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