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Re: [PLUG] (OT) Philadelphia Wireless
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On Thu, 20 May 2010, Kyle Winfree wrote:
> So at what point is someone on the list going to say "I (or the
> company I work for) will donate the machines if other plug members
> donate thier time?"
I am actually a member of a student organization at Drexel, TechServ,
whose primary mission to donate computers to people who otherwise would not
have them. If anyone knows of a library that is seeking or would benefit
from a donation please point them at us. Website:
http://dusers.drexel.edu/techserv/ Email: techserv@drexel.edu Phone:
215-253-8374.
We usually try to ship Ubuntu on the machines (in the past, we have made
shipped machines blank so people could use their own licenses (they
wanted to run some proprietary tax software that didn't work with WINE,
and they had a government grant to pay for licenses)) and it is generally
well received (well, there was one person who was unhappy about Windows
95 going away, but she would have been unhappy about any change at all).
Jack Hill
TechServ Treasurer
http://dusers.drexel.edu/techserv/
>
> --
> "May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows."
>
> On May 20, 2010, at 7:48 AM, Art Alexion <art.alexion@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Wednesday 19 May 2010 12:20:39 Mike Leone wrote:
> >> Because of ...
> >>
> >>> Machine Cost?
> >>
> >> That's usually why.
> >>
> >> My GF is a computer lab librarian. They use software like
> >> SteadyState or
> >> Fortres as guardian/lockdown software, which is Windows-based. They
> >> also
> >> get grants from the Gates Foundation. You can draw your own
> >> conclusions.
> >> :-)
> >>
> >> Also, they use the PCs for training - she's always giving into
> >> classes
> >> (I mean, REAL intro classes - this is a mouse. Here's how you move
> >> one.
> >> etc). And she also gives classes on things like Word - here's how to
> >> make a resume, send a job letter, etc. because that's what still
> >> wanted
> >> most - at least some exposure to MS office software, which is still
> >> ubiquitous.
> >>
> >> These are usually folks who can't afford computers for themselves,
> >> and
> >> so have never used one, except for ones at the libraries. And as
> >> you may
> >> imagine, the libraries aren't exactly overflowing with money for
> >> lots of
> >> PCs ...
> >>
> >>> free). Or at least have some Linux machines available for those that
> >>> don't mind using it.
> >>
> >> So buy some machines, and donate them to the library of your
> >> choice, and
> >> specify they use Linux only with them. Then the library will have
> >> some. LOL
> >>
> >> (while I said that sarcastically, that is how many libraries get
> >> PCs -
> >> donations)
> >
> > We have been looking into what VMWare used to call VDI, now View to
> > replace
> > shared desktops which tend to get trashed. They can serve Windows
> > or Linux
> > desktops, with non-persistent images. That is, every time a user
> > logs in,
> > they get a fresh desktop. There is some pretty durable, but cheap,
> > hardware
> > out there as well.
> >
> > This should be the future of libraries as it cuts down on
> > maintenance costs
> > while providing a choice of platforms. This isn't likely to get
> > there via the
> > type of donations Mike mentions, but a worthy grant from a
> > foundation or from
> > the hardware and software vendors.
> >
> > --
> > Art Alexion
> > ___________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> > Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
> > Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> > General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
> ___________________________________________________________________________
> Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
> Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>
___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
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