[Web4lib] Should the Gates Foundation Support Linux and Apple?

[Michael J. Dargan]

When our GF largesse appeared in 2003, the only restriction was that it be
used by the public and not staff.  I'm pretty confident that I could have
installed Linux on those Gateway workstations and no one would have cared.
I'm neither Microsoft bigot nor Macintosh weenie:  both are fine systems.
 However, it makes sense for the Gates Foundation to standardize hardware
and software to simplify support.  Frankly, the GF work in Iowa was
outstanding from beginning to end.

My 2 cents.

--mike

On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 9:11 AM, R. Wood <rw at ncf.ca> wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> On Wed, Sep 02, 2009 at 08:20:02AM -0400, Thomas Dowling stated:
> > On 09/02/2009 06:25 AM, Phil Shapiro wrote:
> > > Here's a think-piece blog post i composed this morning about whether
> > > the Gates Foundation should support the purchase of Linux and
> > > Macintosh computers in public libraries.
> >
> > If we all say "yes", what then?  Stop taking their money until they
> > give in?
> >
> > Thomas Dowling
>
> I'm curious to know what would happen if a computer donated by GF was
> accepted as a donation, and then summarily re-installed with Linux as
> the operating system (or even as a dual-boot system)?  Or is this
> 'forbidden' by the GF overlords?
>
> If this is not an option, then why wait for GF, who is
> apparently/logically beholden to the Windows operating system?  Just
> begin to 'do it yourself' (DIY), one PC at a time.  Arrange to start
> accepting donations of slightly older computers, and get some geeks from
> the local Linux User Group (LUG) to start installing Linux on them.
> Lather, rinse, repeat  :-)
>
> My $0.02,
> Raymond
> - --
> "Be Nice, or Leave - By Order of the Management"
> (Sign above door, Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield)
> GPG Fingerprint: 2E4D 8605 DD48 E80F F893  1C02 B65D 86D9 3B3C 0E03
> Encrypted E-mail Preferred
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
>
> iD8DBQFKnn0Ytl2G2Ts8DgMRAnVGAJ4xeCAxgfI8OSJiO8C2mK20CUMgywCgvZAm
> DXA251dHGtd1rjSZSZvJuGU=
> =r77N
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>


-- 
Michael J. Dargan
Reference & Technical Systems Administrator
Waterloo PL Wishlist: http://tinyurl.com/dywdkw
twitter.com/MikeDargan http://tinyurl.com/6bxx8q
Sent from Iowa, United States