Edubuntu

[geekhelp4u]

Was curios as to who has installed this and how productive is it? Was thinking about offering an installation and setup service for clients who have kids! I think it would be a great promotional tool... Have an older computer lying around? Do your kids spend their time using your computer? Why not set them up with a computer of their own! Offer the setup fee at a very low price for existing customers, maybe free for high valued customers... any ideas on this?

 

[Jory]

Linux for kids is a great idea, but having to support it on a random selection of hardware is opening a can of worms. You're going to run into printer, modem, etc issues. If the customer understands your trading hardware compatibility for security than it's probably a good idea.

It would be a rock solid setup though. Give an 9 year old unrestricted access to the internet on a windows xp machine and see how long it takes to get malware. Then do the same thing with a linux distro where he doesn't have root. It would probably run for years without incident assuming it's behind a router.

Plus, kids are never to young to learn microsoft is evil and penguins are cute.

 

[darren1270]

I think it's a great idea... soo much so I had it a while ago...LOL The problem I see that you will be running into is this... It's not a windows machine. People will try to install windows programs and then will be calling you saying "Hey this computer isn't working yada yada yada... then you'll be stuck. You will have to make sure that the customer knows it is linux and not windows. Walmart had a linux pc that was selling for around $200 at Christmas time, can you imagine the people that bought these computers expecting to run some windows games or whatever on them?

All in all if you put together a package of information about linux and be totally honest with your customers it should be a good thing for you and a safe computing enviroment for their kids.

BTW I dual boot XP and Ubuntu....

Darren

 

[Holzster]

I have done just that as a linux user I know EdUbuntu is not only easy but very good.

Also check out the & read this link - I set this up at a church for them

http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/linux_terminal_server

 

[focuz]

I would leave it as an option but you have to remember that most clients aren't computer savy and would try to install things like AOL and you will be getting random calls that they can't get their emails or chat. And yes I know about gaim but how many other users will know how to use gaim instead or the super flashy branded AOL software.

 

[Artimus]

I did a case study on using Linux as a project for school. In this case, I evaluated it in the K12 environment.

The users I worked with disliked GNOME (Edubuntu's default display manager). The users did like a custom Kubuntu setup, though.

They had no problem adapting to it, but they stuck primarily to business tasks: No pirating, no games, no custom software. For regular use, it worked fine.

But I'd never want to have to support a Linux box for home users. I think you're going to get far too many phone calls asking "How do I do this?" That's to say nothing of new hardware or games.

And if your clients are anything like mine, at some point you will get a phone call... "My daughter asked if you could install something called 'Limewire' in Linux. Can you do that?"

 

[geekhelp4u]

And if your clients are anything like mine, at some point you will get a phone call... "My daughter asked if you could install something called 'Limewire' in Linux. Can you do that?"

Well, yes I can.. limewire is linux compatable!

 

[rnojonson]

good luck with that Edubuntu

I've been a Linux user in a sea of MS and Mac users for a while now. It is hard to convey that Linux is not MS. My sister was so concerned about cutting the MS cord. Friends always ask if they can run MS software on it or if it has MS games. I hate to say yes because of what it takes to do it. Apple fans have a saying, Mac is not a typewriter. People need to be told, regardless of how easy it is to use, Linux is not Microsoft. Because Linux does not have a well funded marketing machine to explain it, you who are offering it has to do the job. The live-CD helps, you can show/try Linux without risk. There are web sites like www.linuxalt.com that show what Linux apps are equal to MS apps. Or www.webi.org that show open source apps that run on both Linux and MS pc's. The realities of computers is that Linux is developed and marketed by users. Mac and MS pc users see themselves as customers rather than users. So I encourage you, make a good effort and good luck with that!!!!