[Lugstuff] Linux article for the Baltimore Examiner

[wscrivens123 at gmail.com]

Rick, a slight clarification. I use the word Group in my email, by this I  
mean my Church and not the Annapolis LUG. Thanks again, Bill

On Jan 3, 2011 2:47pm, William Scrivens <wscrivens123 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Rick,

> I'm brand new to the Annapolis LUG and only recently returned to Linux.  
> More than 20 years ago I played briefly with Unix, before DOS shifted me  
> towards the Windows wave.
> Over the past several years, I have been working with a program through  
> the Archdiocese of Baltimore that sisters local churches with churches in  
> Haiti. As part of this effort, our Church sent a preliminary computer lab  
> to a school in Haiti that consisted of refurbished Windows 98 machines  
> and software. We were able to deliver and setup a networked 20-computer  
> lab, with tons of spare parts for less than $270 a computer. The  
> electrical power worked, the local town accepted it, and some students  
> were given an opportunity to put their hands on a computer for the first  
> time.

> But, this was an experiment, and so far, a successful one. Now it is time  
> to think about the future, and a replacement lab. This is where Linux  
> comes into the picture. The fundamental question being explored by our  
> group right now, is it better for the long-term education of the Haitian  
> children to send an established commercial computer environment like  
> Microsoft or Apple, or would it be more beneficial to send open-source  
> based systems? For a basic computer experience and entry level knowledge,  
> it probably does not make a difference, and certainly Windows in  
> particular is well established in Haiti. But as far as a global education  
> and the possibility to look under the “OS hood” (so to speak) and  
> understand some of the more fundamental aspects of a computer, an open  
> source system has much to be desired.

> India is a good example of the benefits of technology for a poorer  
> country. India by luck followed a wave of blooming technology from a more  
> open attitude before Windows to a fully proprietary and dominant current  
> reality. Should Haiti be offered the same openness? These are the things  
> that are bringing me back to Linux, and Ubuntu and Fedora in particular.

> Hope this adds to you endeavor, at least from my personal take and novice  
> understanding. I'll be glad to discuss this more if desired.

> Thanks and please Remember Haiti.
> Bill



> On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 9:58 AM, Rick Wonders  
> rick.wonders at reliabledigitalworld.com> wrote:


> Hi Folks,



> My name is Rick Wonders, and I compose an Internet Business column for

> the Baltimore Examiner. I am also a proponent of Linux as a desktop

> alternative to Windows and Mac. As such, I am working on an article

> featuring local Linux User Groups, and would like to include Annapolis

> in the article.



> If any users would like to send me some information, such as whether

> most of your members are IT professionals, or just people like myself,

> who use Linux, I would appreciate any input.



> Thank all in advance for any help you can give.



> Sincerely,



> Rick Wonders

> rick.wonders at reliabledigitalworld.com



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